Lay Ministries

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Acolytes

Parish and school students from Sixth Grade on are welcome to serve as acolytes. The acolytes learn to assist the clergy in all liturgy, especially the Sunday services. Ongoing classes are held throughout the school year.  Each acolyte is asked to serve monthly.

St. Matthews has beautiful services with crosses, robes, torches and banners.  Each acolyte has the honor of being a part of the liturgy and praising God in our own special way.  Each person has a neat group of friends and it also looks great on your resume.

Acolyte Coordinators:Tom and Linda Doherty - Acolyte Coordinators

Lay Eucharistic Ministry

Lay Eucharistic Ministers assist the clergy in liturgical, educational and pastoral ministries.  Licensed by our Bishop, there are two degrees of lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEM).

A LEM I may read the day's lesson (Lay Reader) and administer the sacrament at any celebration of the Holy Eucharist (Chalice Bearer).

A LEM II may, directly following a celebration of the Eucharist, take the consecrated sacrament to members of the congregation who are unable to be present at the celebration, by reason of illness or infirmary.

Every Sunday you will see two Lay Readers and Chalice Bearers at each service.

Ministry Coordination: Doe Yates - Ministry Coordinator

Lay Readers

Lay Readers read the day's lessons during the services.

Ministry Coordination: Doe Yates - Lay Readers

Greeters

Greeters assist the Ushers in welcoming people to services, keeping a particular eye out for newcomers.  Greeters ask newcomers to fill out contact information cards, welcome them to Coffee Hours after the services, introduce them to parishioners or other newcomers, and generally make them feel at home.  The Greeters are sponsored by the Hospitality Committee, and generally serve at one or two services per quarter.

Being a greeter helps create a warm, welcoming environment on Sunday mornings and helps newcomers learn about our parish and feel at home.

Greeters Coordinators: Geri & John Blatt- Greeters

Ushers

Ushers assist at Sunday services and holiday services such as Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July.  Before the service begins, their duties include greeting arrivals, distributing the service booklets and making all feel welcome.

During the service, the ushers continue to greet late arrivals and assist in locating seating, when necessary.  Ushers take up the collection and carry the collection plates to the chancel steps for presentation to an acolyte and the celebrant.

During Communion, two ushers at the center aisle control the flow of communicants to the alter rail while the other two ushers stand at the side steps to assist communicants needing help on the chancel and side steps.

Usher Coordinator: Ron Gantvoort - Ushers