ALTAR GUILD
Service on the Altar Guild is a vocation. “It is not just another Church job.” It is a sacred ministry undertaken in love and dedication by men and women who are called by God to prepare and tend the places where the Body of Christ worships. The volunteer group of the parish is a ministry to care for the altar, vestments, vessels, and altar linens of the parish. Altar Guild members prepare the sanctuary for services, and clean up afterwards. Altar Guild members frequently supervise the decoration of the sanctuary of the parish with flowers. The Altar Guild “has a special role as the priest’s liturgical partner in making the worship life of the parish run smoothly.”
FLOWER GUILD
St. John’s believes that beauty elevates the worship experience; the Church is assisted by a dedicated corps of floral artisans, who weekly transform the Sanctuary with beautiful seasonal floral decorations.
The St. John's Flower Guild invites individuals who wish to donate flowers for the altar on Sundays to email the Parish Office (stjohnschurch@snet.net) to get on the Flower Calendar and reserve the desired date at least two weeks in advance. Also, let the Parish Office know if they are given as a specific memorial or thanksgiving so that the names can be included in the Prayers of the People. The Flower Guild will organize the floral arrangement. The cost is $75 and should be paid at the time of ordering. The contribution is considered tax-deductible and will be included in the Annual Giving statements for pledgers. If you are interested in helping with the Flower Guild, contact Susie Markert (swm288@icloud.com).
In Holy Week, the Lady Chapel is transformed into a likeness of the Garden of Gethsemane where people keep watch during the night following the Maundy Thursday services. On Rogation Sunday in the fall, the entire Church becomes a visual cornucopia of the harvest’s bounty. Pentecost Sunday is set ablaze with flowers in every hue of red…and Christmas each year is a visual expression of the season’s joy.
The Importance of Altar Flowers ~
The Episcopal Church’s most important liturgical season is the one that starts on Shrove Tuesday and ends on Easter Sunday. The weeks that lead up to Easter are filled with liturgical music, altar flowers, vestments, and altar cloths that reflect the passion, suffering, mystery, and, ultimately, the ecstasy of the Christ and His resurrection. The coordination of all these elements is sacred. Coming to services and seeing how all these coordinate to reveal, impress and convey Christ’s passion is paramount to our personal connection with our Lord and the Easter resurrection meaning.
Along with the sacred music of the season, altar flowers provide a visual impression of the music and the church service. The glorious flowers, music, and other decorations which adorn St. John's at Easter are offered in celebration of the resurrection of Christ and to glorify God. As this Easter tradition is made possible by generous offerings from our parish community, we invite you to make a donation that will enhance the beauty of our worship space during the highest celebration of our Christian year.
If you would like to make your donation using PayPal, please click HERE. Contact the Church office with your flower dedication information.
St. John's thanks you!