The programs and committees represented here attempt to define the nature/purpose of their ministry and the type of new volunteer support that is currently needed. Groups are arranged in aphabetical order and you can either locate a specific group by scrolling down the page or jump directly to it by using the index to the left of the page.
As you come into the church on Sunday, you kneel and pray, and you enjoy the peace of this special building. Someone has arranged some of God's flowers, adding rich beauty to our place of worship. The silver chalice is set up and the crystal cruets with the wine and water are sparkling clean. The immaculate linens have been prepared and the colors of the season are present.
Your Altar Guild members are there and their work has been done to the Glory of God.
Four crews with a total of twenty members are serving the congregation and the clergy. All arrangements are made knowing that every detail should be perfect, so the worship will run smoothly. After the service everything is washed and cleaned. Albs worn by the clergy are laundered. Extra decorations are provided for Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and for weddings and memorial services.
The Altar Guild is a form of ministry for its members, who are serious about their privilege to serve the church in this way.
The bell choir continues its mission to enhance the worship of the church via mostly meditative pieces during the communion service. We play about once a month as our musical offerings become practices enough. We currently have five to six players who enjoy the music and the opportunity to srve in this way.
We are, however, limited in repertoire to a two octave range of bell music because of the size of our choir. Our dream is to gain three or more members and increase the selection of music we can offer from our rich collection. We also have a five octave range of bells that we would love to employ when we have sufficient players. We invite anyone from high school age on up who is interested to come down and try them with us. We reherse on Monday evenings at 7PM. If you have any questions, please talk to Jan Letson or to Pat Dare.
Chalice bearers are lay people instructed in aiding the celebrant of the eucharist in administering the chalice during communion. In the absence of acolytes, they also fill those roles often performed by acolytes when they are available. A rewarding ministry, being a chalice bearer can be unnerving at first, since one is "on stage" during a well-choreographed service. It is also very good spiritually for practicing of service to others. It is, however, a ministry that is always recruited by the rector. In this case, your interest in serving will be passed on to the rector for due consideration. If you are accepted for service, whether at 8 or 10:30, there will be sufficient training to acquaint you with our liturgical steps and turns. The rotation for service will depend upon your availability, but usually requests your service about twice a month throughout the year.
Maria Ridgway's English as a Second Language school is thriving. Because of an influx of new students, we need more tutors. It requires a commitment of only 2 hours, on Friday mornings, 10:00-11:30, then a social period 1o:30-12:00. No previous teaching experience is necessary. Registration of new students begin at 9:30 am.
We are considering a second class on Thursday morning. If you can join us either morning, please call me. It is an enjoyable 2 hours for our tutors, and a wonderful way to honor Maria's memory.
Please contact Carla Cornwell at (408) 720-0518
A Healing Minister is a lay person trained in the practice of prayerful, spiritual healing during the communion service. It is a ministry which demands a good deal of training, therefore the rector recruits new healing ministers. Your interest in this ministry will be passed on for Healing Ministers due consideration. When you are accepted for this service, you will receive your training and support from the other people involved in this most touching of Christian ministries. After your training, you can expect to be called on to serve about once or twice a month through the year, depending on your availability.
Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEM IIs) to the ill and infirm in our Parish are ministers who are specially authorized by the Rector and licensed by the Bishop to take the consecrated Sacrament at the close of the parish celebration on Sunday to those members of the congregation who, because of illness or infirmity, were unable to be present at the service. Special training in pastoral care is required for this Ministry and specific guidelines govern the conduct of this ministry.
Present LEM IIs at St. Thomas are Peg Prior, Paul Eustace, Ruth Rowe, and Jane Marguerite Russell.
It is a goal of this ministry to visit each sick or infirm member of the parish at least once per month.
This LEM Ministry presently is in need of several additional parishioners to support this form of pastoral care to our congregation. If you are interested in exploring this important work, please contact our Rector, The Rev. Wendy Smith.
The purpose of the Gardner Memorial Library of St. Thomas Episcopal Church is to provide a collection of books and other media to support the mission and programs of our congregation.
All books, gifts, and other media are selected and reviewed by the Library Committee to fulfill the following standards:
The library is maintained as a line item in the operating budget and by memorials, gifts of money, and proceeds from selected fundraising activities. A written report is given to the vestry and the parish at the time of the Annual Meeting.
Our needs: Currently we have a workday on Thursday from approximately 10:00 to 3:00. We are always interested in having someone join us for all or part of the day. If you are able to write a simple book review for the church newsletter, we would love it.
For nearly ten years this group continues to meet and explore the movement of the Spirit in our lives. Spiritual theology, Christian traditions, other traditions, our own paths and detours are disclosed and discussed in a non-judgemental, trust-building, faith affirming context. Scripture and books generating a dialog on spiritual discernment are used as a springboard to conversation.
A particular strength of the group is our multi-generational representation. From twenty-something to eighty- plus or minus, the points of view expressed have provided insights as valuable as better known authors.
Meetings are held on the second and fourth Saturday at 9:00 AM beginning with an optional light breakfast at 8:45 AM. We usually meet in the Library.
For additional information contact Rich Randolph.
Monday's Crew is a group of volunteers who meet from 2-4 PM on Mondays for gardening/maintenance of St. Thomas church. In the winter we check screens, lighting and indoor repairs. In the spring we tackle weeds, some small plantings and raking up debris. In the summer the main job is watering. In the fall it is primarily the raking and sweeping of leaves.
We need adults who are free most Monday afternoons and are able to endure light to moderate exercise. The work is not hard and the company is pleasant. Material wise, we need many more water hoses and the use of a gas leaf blower. Contact Linda Alcock for additional information.
Our newsletter, "Beyond a Doubt" (BAD) presents a monthly picture of activities and events at St. Thomas. Ideally, it accurately and interestingly presents our image of our church, showing the range of our activities and the diversity of our members.
Send materials for publication to the editor < jbuck1467@mindspring.com > or leave them in the "Newsletter" folder in the mailbox that’s at the back of the church on Sundays and in the office hallway during the week. The (loosely-enforced) deadline is the third Tuesday BEFORE the issue-date month.
I am also looking for someone to contribute graphics/cartoons/etc, and serve as a a backup editor. For more information, contact John Buck at jbuck1467@mindspring.com
Since its founding in 1983, Our Daily Bread has become one of the important outreach ministries in the diocese. The program serves hot, nutritious meals to hungry people without restriction. For the working poor, seniors or the disabled, these meals supplement meager incomes. For others, ODB represent the last strand in the social safety net. Currently the program engages more than 100 volunteers, including members of local churches and service clubs. ODB serves about 700 men, women and children every week. Despite storms, earthquakes, and remodeling, the program has never missed serving its noon meal. Financial and material support comes from individuals and families, service clubs, churches, corporations, Second Harvest Food Bank, and St. Thomas Church. The part-time program coordinator is David Barnes.
We have openings right now or in the not too distant future for the following:
| POSITION | DUTIES | SCHEDULE |
|---|---|---|
| SERVER | Serve the diners who eat at ODB. Hours start at 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM. At 12:30 volunteers begin cleanup wiping down tables, carts, etc. |
11 AM - 1:30 PM (time can usually be adjusted to accommodate their schedule. MONDAY - WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY - all or any individual day |
| CLEANUP | Help clean the dining room from 12:30 - 1:30pm. Remove flowers and S&P from tables, wipe tables - put away kitchen utensils,etc. |
12:30 -1:30 PM Their choice - Monday-Wednesday-Friday |
| ASSISTANT DISHWASHER | Use professional dishwasher to clean and sanitize dishes and flatware. | 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM Their choice - Monday - Wednesday - Friday |
Plan and stage Parish Events with the objective of promoting community within St. Thomas through social interaction. Our approach to this ministry is as follows:
We could use some extra help! In planning parish events we can always use an infusion of fresh ideas to keep our activities varied and interesting. When we stage our activities, a larger group will make the work go faster and a lot more fun. Please come to our meeting to see how you can help. We usually meet either in the library or at a private home on the first Tuesday of each month. Please call P. Dare or send an email to pdare5@comcast.net to find out where the next meeting will be held. The work is both fun and spiritually rewarding.
Pastoral Care volunteers provide assistance to members of St. Thomas Community by providing rides to doctor's appointments, church, etc; meals for those who are ill or recently hospitalized. Friendly visits to homebound pashioners. Additional smiling faces are always welcome.
Please contact Peg Prior if you can help
Readers are lay people who can read the one or two lessons, assigned for the Sunday Service, easily and clearly so that they may be readily understood by all. A reader may also be asked to lead in reciting the appointed Psalm after the Old Testament lesson. While being used to reading in front of people prepares one best for this ministry, having a pleasant way of presenting yourself while you speak is more important. Although there are a few liturgical points which must be attended to, the training is rather brief. After all, this is one of the most often noticed parts of the service and is easily visualized in preparing to read. After you have been accepted as a reader and depending on your availability, you can expect to be called on to serve about once a month through the year.
St. Thomas’ Senior Choir is composed of approximately twenty voices which are responsible for leading the music each Sunday at the 10:30a.m. service. Although we are not professional singers, we take tremendous satisfaction from our work and joy from the sheer delight of corporate music-making and serving God through our endeavors. Many of us have been together for a long time, but that does not mean we do not welcome newcomers. We are always looking for new voices to expand our choir. If you feel moved to join us, we encourage you to attend our rehearsals. Regardless of which part you may sing, a knowledge of note-reading is always an asset to a singer, but not essential. We rehearse on Thursday evenings in the church from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
For additional information contact Patricia Pietrzyk, Choir Director at (510) 489-2440
Learning with (and from!) our Children and Youth
At St. Thomas, Sunday School for children and youth is composed of opening and closing prayers with a lesson sandwiched in between. The format for the prayers is already established. The lessons come from an excellent published lectionary-based curriculum. Most Sunday's the lesson focuses on the gospel assigned for that Sunday.
Staffing for each group consists of a team of individuals who each teach once or twice a month. (Structuring the staffing this way allows each adult the opportunity to participate in adult church once or twice a month as well as learn with the children or youth.)
The teams teaching the children in grades 1 through 5 and the team teaching the Middle School youth need more teachers now. Those teaching the High School youth have committed to teach until the end of December. We will need new teachers beginning in January.
You do not have to "create" a lesson; structured materials are provided. You do not have to be an expert on the Bible or on religion or even on kids. You do need to be open to the love and lessons you will receive from those whom you teach!
For more information or to volunteer to teach, please see Rosemary Parker, our Family Ministry Director
Ushers are those who, coordinating with the greeters, meet people at the door with a friendly demeanor ready to give them a service program, answer their question, or guide them to wherever they wish to go. There are other tasks which ushers perform, taking the collection or assisting in the aisle during communion, but setting the tone of welcome to our community is the ushers' most important ministry. If you are interested, there is a short training session to acquaint you with the duties and eccentricities of the service. Depending on your availability, ushers serve one or two times a month through the year.
The St. Thomas Website provides an internet presence to tell visitors and seekers "Who we are, and what we are do." We also attempt to use it as a parish bulletin board to let members and friend look up useful information or to find out "What is happening?"
We are trying our best to keep the site attractive, friendly, and informative. Our staff consist of a webmaster and anyone who wants to contribute information or comments to help maintain and improve the website. If you can contribute, please contact Pat Dare at pdare5@comcast.net
The Welcome Committee's function is to provide a warm welcome to visitors and newcomers to St. Thomas. We do this by:
We would welcome help in any of these areas. Contact Cal Cornwell 408-720-0518 or send an email: calcornwell@yahoo.com