Serving in Worship

The Altar Guild tends carefully to the treasures of the church used in worship services. Their ministry includes polishing silver, cleaning and pressing linens, preparing the bread and wine for Eucharist services, setting up everything needed for worship, and caring for these sacred items afterward. Through their quiet and faithful work behind the scenes, the Altar Guild helps make our worship beautiful, reverent, and welcoming.

Altar Guild members serve on rotating teams throughout the month, so most teams typically serve about once each month. Holy Week, Easter, and Christmas require additional support, but the team rotation helps ensure these special services are shared across the group.

Serving on the Altar Guild is also a meaningful way to deepen your understanding of the history, traditions, and rhythms of both our parish and the Episcopal Church. No prior experience is needed — training and guidance are provided for all new members.

For more information email the Altar Guild!

Chalicists are lay ministers who assist with the administration of Holy Communion during worship. At St. Paul’s, Ivy, chalicists must be at least 16 years old, confirmed or received in the Episcopal Church, and faithful in worship and stewardship. Before serving, all chalicists complete a training process.

In different parishes, these ministers may also be called Chalice Bearers or Lay Eucharistic Ministers. When serving, chalicists wear a white vestment called a cassock alb (provided by the church) over their regular church clothes. The white garment symbolizes our baptism.

Chalicists serve as their schedules allow. Before each new month, the ministry leader sends an email asking for availability and prepares the serving schedule based on those responses.

For more information, email the Chalicist Guild!

Acolytes help lead worship at St. Paul’s, Ivy by guiding the processions into and out of the service, serving at the altar during Holy Communion, and carrying the cross, torches, and Gospel book in procession.

Youth in grades 6–12 are invited to join the Acolyte Guild. No experience is necessary, and training is provided! Acolytes sign up to serve on Sundays according to their availability and may even choose the role in which they would like to serve.

Many acolytes find that serving as worship leaders deepens their understanding of worship and helps them experience the service in a richer and more meaningful way. Come have fun learning, serving, and being part of Sunday mornings at St. Paul’s, Ivy!

For more information, email the Acolyte Guild!

Lectors are lay ministers with a gift for reading aloud clearly and confidently, sharing scripture, and helping bring the stories of our faith to life in worship. Most of our current lectors are adults, but we also have a growing group of youth lectors serving at St. Paul’s, Ivy.

Worried about pronouncing Biblical names? Don’t be! There are many helpful pronunciation resources available online, and most importantly, reading with clarity and confidence matters far more than getting every name exactly right.

Serving as a lector can also fit easily into a busy work, family, or travel schedule. Lector schedules are created one month at a time and are based on each person’s availability. Simply share the dates you are able to serve, and we’ll take it from there.

For more information, email the Lector Guild.

Ushers help guide the flow of worship by releasing people by pew for communion and assisting members of the congregation with questions or other needs. At larger services, ushers help ensure everyone has a place to sit by setting up chairs in the back of the church or parish hall for overflow seating. They also step in to assist in case of emergencies during the service.

Ushers serve according to their calendars. Before each month begins, the Head Usher emails the usher team to gather availability and then creates the monthly schedule based on those responses.

Serving as an usher is a wonderful way to get to know more of the parish by meeting and welcoming everyone who comes through our doors. Training with experienced ushers is provided, so no prior experience is necessary.

For more information, email the Ushers Guild!

Vergers have been known as “Protectors of the Procession” since the Middle Ages, when they used their virge (staff) to clear the way of errant animals and other obstacles so the procession could enter the church. Thankfully, their duties these days rarely involve clearing chickens out of the aisle.

At St. Paul’s, Ivy, vergers typically serve about once a month, depending on availability. They serve at both Sunday morning services, arriving around 7:45 a.m. and staying through the conclusion of the 10:30 a.m. service, with a generous coffee break between services.

Vergers receive training through a course offered by the Vergers Guild of the Episcopal Church, which usually takes several months to complete. Those in training are also able to begin shadowing experienced vergers before finishing the coursework. More information about vergers in The Episcopal Church can be found at vergers.org.

For more information, email the Vergers Guild!

Our Parish Choir is made up of singers with a variety of musical training and experience. All that’s required is the ability to read music and match pitch. Our Director of Music Ministries, Gabriel Rhys Simerson, is always willing to help anyone interested in learning to read music.

Instrumentalists are welcome too! We love incorporating all sorts of musical gifts into the life and worship of the parish, no matter your level of experience or how long it’s been since you last played. Our goal is simply to glorify God through music. If you play an instrument and would like to share your gift, we’d love to hear from you.

The Parish Choir rehearses on Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. and gathers Sundays at 9:30 a.m. to prepare for the 10:30 a.m. service, during our program year.

The Children’s Choir rehearses each Sunday from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. in the Children’s Chapel, during our program year.

One of the best ways to support our growing music program at St. Paul’s, Ivy, is by joining the Friends of Music, who volunteer to support the St. Paul’s, Ivy Concert Series, which offers free concerts for the community three or four times per year.

For more information, email Gabriel Rhys Simerson, Director of Music Ministries.

Learn more about our Choirs and Friends of Music!