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Lay Ministries

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Worship

Please use the form on the "Contact us" to learn more about our ministries at St. Francis.

Altar Guild

The Altar Guild is a volunteer group which works under the guidance of the vicar and whose ministry is to care for the altar, vestments, vessels, and altar linens of the church. Altar Guild members prepare the sanctuary for services.

Acolytes

Acolytes assist with the worship services. Teens and adults are part of the mix for this ministry. Training is available.

Lay Readers and Chalice Bearers

The Lay Readers read the assigned lessons for the day at the worship services. The chalice bearers help administer the chalice at Communion. Training is available.

Choir

Our Choir members are all volunteers who provide leadership for the congregation in the worship of the Lord through music. Rehearsals are at 7 p.m. on Thursday evenings. During the summer, a “Come & Sing” choir is planned with no worries about robes, processionals or rehearsals.

Ushers

The ushers work in teams, greeting people and handing out the service bulletins as worshipers enter the church. The ushers also bring forth the elements for communion, take up the offering, and assist at the end of the service.

Christian Community Opportunities

Brotherhood of St. Andrew

The Brotherhood of St. Andrew (BOSA) is an international ministry of men within the Anglican Communion organized into local chapters. The Brotherhood is made up of men who adhere to the disciplines of prayer, study and service. The St. Francis chapter meets monthly for worship, breakfast and business. Some of the projects and activities undertaken by our chapter are: support of St. Francis Academy (a residential facility for at-risk children located in Salina, KS), construction of the St. Francis Labyrinth, and support of the Diocesan prison ministry. Our chapter encourages all men to join with us for worship and breakfast at 8:00 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month.

Daughters of the King

The Daughters of the King is an Order for women who are communicants of the Episcopal Church, or churches in communion with it, or churches which are in the Historic Episcopate. Members undertake a Rule of Life, incorporating the Rule of Prayer and the Rule of Service. By reaffirmation of the promises made at Confirmation, a Daughter pledges herself to a life-long program of prayer, service and evangelism, dedicated to the spread of Christ's Kingdom and the strengthening of the spiritual life of her parish. Women that wish to explore the discipline of a Daughter should talk with a Daughter.

Prayer Chain

The Prayer Chain is made up of members of the parish that are intercessors; they bring before God the needs of members of St. Francis or others who may need special prayers. Anyone needing special prayers can obtain the name of a member of the Prayer Chain from the parish bulletin board. This is a ministry that can be on your schedule.

Kitchen Angels

The Kitchen Angels is a ministry to parishioners in time of need due to illness, new baby, a death in the family, etc. Men and women participate in this ministry. Preparation and delivery of meals is on a rotation schedule. This ministry is a very meaningful way to help others.

Outreach Opportunities

St. Martin’s Outreach

Throughout the year, St. Francis co-hosts Sunday breakfast with St. Michael and All Angels at St. Martin’s day shelter the second Sunday of odd-numbered months. On the days we serve, clients and volunteers participate in a brief worship service conducted in English and Spanish, and over two hundred men, women, and sometimes children regularly receive breakfast. St. Francis is thankful to all the volunteers who serve breakfast and all those who contribute food and other needed items including casseroles, fruit, milk, juice, cookies, tableware, and paper products. The clients at St. Martin’s are always very appreciative of what we do for them, and we pray for your continued support for this ministry.

The Storehouse West

The Storehouse is a food bank program which distributes food to anyone needing a food safety net in their time of need. St. Francis collects food to be delivered to The Storehouse. Baskets for donations of food can be found in the narthex. The first week of each month, the food donations are taken to Storehouse West for distribution. There are special in-gatherings at Thanksgiving and Christmas in addition to Christmas gift baskets, which provide much needed assistance to many families in need. From the very first, The Storehouse's mission was to pursue a simple Biblical mandate...

"For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink... I was naked, and you gave me clothing..." Matthew 25.

Kairos Prison Ministry

Kairos Prison Ministry is an international organization which addresses the spiritual needs of incarcerated men, women and children, their families and those who work in the prison environment. Kairos sprang from the Cursillo movement and is supported by volunteers from Cursillo and those other movements that consider Cursillo as their root.

Pastoral Care

Lay Pastoral Care Teams

Care teams provide support and contact with members who are ill, the elderly, those who cannot attend services and the bereaved. They also call or visit those who are hospitalized. They do not take the place of the Vicar, but are a liaison with and extension of the congregation of St. Francis. Training and ongoing support for the teams and assignments are given by the lay pastoral care coordinator.

Lay Eucharist Ministers (LEM)

Lay Eucharist Ministers go from a Sunday Holy Communion or other principal celebration of Holy Communion to share the sacrament with members of the congregation who were unable to be present at the celebration because of illness or infirmity. Lay Eucharist Ministers are licensed by the bishop to administer the consecrated elements of the Eucharist. Parishioners should call the church office when they would like a LEM to bring the Eucharist to them.