Ongoing Ministries
(If you are interested in serving in any of these areas of ministry, please call the contact person.)
Acolytes
Jim Lindsey (410-561-4433) and Sandy Benson (410-661-4880)
Open to adults, families and children in sixth grade and above. An opportunity to serve as leaders and assistants in the liturgy at the 8 and 10 a.m. services on Sundays and holidays, as well as other special occasions such as weddings and funerals. Training offered to be a crucifer, torchbearer, and/or assist at the altar.
Adult Education
Clergy liaison - The Rev. Janice Gordon-Barnes (410-252-2711)
This committee offers various types of adult education on Wednesday evenings, following a potluck supper.
Altar Guild
Martha Robinson (410-252-1277)
Open to men, women, couples and families. This behind-the-scenes way of serving entails care and placing of the vessels and linens that grace the altar, lectern and pulpit, for any worship service. Teams work in pairs and usually only serve for one month out of the year.
Bible Studies
Janice Gordon-Barnes (410-252-2711)
7:15 a.m. Fridays, 10:45 a.m. Wednesdays
A very special way of growing closer to God and other Christian seekers. Involves challenge, fun, learning, fellowship and prayer -- all in an hour! People at all stages of their spiritual journeys are welcome, irrespective of knowledge or lack thereof.
Building and Grounds
Susan Escobedo (410-321-4899)
Susan, our Jr. Warden, oversees the care of our physical property - chapel, church, columbarium, Church House, offices, Sunday School, parking lots and all the grounds around. Volunteer help of all kinds is always needed and very welcome. Do not be shy about contacting Susan. Our Lord was a carpenter, so physical work is an equally good way to worship our Creator.
Chalicists
Janice Gordon-Barnes (410-252-2711)
Open to anyone 17 years or older. A chalicist is one who offers to parishioners the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at any service of the Holy Eucharist. Each parish is allowed a limited number of people who can serve in this special way, and each chalicist serves a three-year term.
Choir
Eldean Krieger (410-252-2060)
The Bible enjoins us to “make a joyful noise unto the Lord” and the adult choir (15 years or older) leads our services of worship with hymns and anthems. Rehearsals take place on Thursdays from 7:30 to 9 p.m. (from September through May) and while the ability to read music is a plus, it is not a necessity. The fellowship experienced by choir members enriches the opportunity to serve in this way.
Christian Responsibility
Suzy Beck (410-668-3796)
This committee is the umbrella committee for a variety of outreach programs that include Adopt-A-Family, Habitat and the Assistance Center of Towson Churches.
Coffee hour committee
Carol Franz (410-667-4830)
Open to anyone. This is an opportunity to provide refreshment after the 10 a.m. Sunday service. People work in pairs or in families to provide coffee, tea and munchies, usually two Sundays a year.
Communications Committee
Ed Hewitt (410-661-6013)
This committee maintains the website, publishes the Cupola each month, prepares the Sunday bulletins and alerts the local press about parish activities.
Endowment Committee
Ellen Fish (410-339-7521)
This committee oversees the care of our endowment in order that future generations might feel financially secure, but also so that monies might be immediately available for various special outreach needs. Obviously a comfort level with figures and knowledge of the market and its vagaries are critical skills needed to serve on this committee.
Finance Committee
Bob Ash (410-252-3951)
This committee oversees the finances of the parish and develops the annual budget.
Flower Committee
Mary Birckhead (410-821-5250) and Betsy Ring (410-337-5513)
This committee constantly says it has the most fun! Working singly, or in pairs, the members on this committee prepare flowers for the altar in the chapel and the church every Sunday. They are also available for weddings and funerals. At Christmas and Easter, everyone works together and glorious creations emerge.
Greeters / Newcomers
This team greets new people on Sundays, introduces them at announcement time and follows up with a call or a visit. The Newcomer Incorporation team is in process of forming.
Human Relations committee
Bill Boden (410-771-6866)
To ensure fair and equitable employment and evaluation, this committee has orchestrated and printed a Personnel Policy Manual. Members are also available, when needed, to facilitate communications between employees.
Inquirers' classes
Janice Gordon-Barnes (410-252-2711)
These classes are offered after the 10 a.m. service on the second Sunday of each month and run from October to May. They are offered to help people become familiar with the Episcopal Church and its vagaries. It is also offered as a refresher course for anyone who is interested.
Journey to Adulthood
Ann Rowe (443-570-9351)
This six-year Christian formation curriculum is designed for our young people aged 12 to 18. It is divided into three two-year components. Rite 13 celebrates the gift of manhood and womanhood and provides a foundation for the entire program. J2A builds on the Rite 13 years by training young people in six skills of adulthood (listening, assertion, negotiation, research / information management, partnership and leadership). Finally, YAC builds on the previous four years of the program by enabling the young people to practice their newly acquired skills in the context of a supportive parish community. The youth are offered the opportunity to be confirmed by the Bishop in the J2A years.
Lay Eucharistic Ministers
The Rev. Janice Gordon-Barnes (410-252-2711)
LEMs are specially trained parishioners who go out once a month, taking the sacrament to our shut-ins, or those in hospital.
Openers
Pete Hartman (443-330-5333)
These members arrive at church at 7:30 a.m. on Sundays to open the doors of the chapel, the church, the Sunday School rooms, etc.
Prayer Chain
Betty Schmuck (410-821-8937)
When someone is to have surgery, or if someone needs special prayers for whatever reason, this group of people is notified. One person calls another, and so the person in need is surrounded by the love and caring prayers of people they know, or perhaps have never met.
Readers
The Rev. Janice Gordon-Barnes (410-272-2711)
About 30 people are on the Readers' list. Usually three people are assigned for each Sunday, on a rotating schedule, and they are responsible for reading the two lessons and the prayers of the people.
Receptions Committee
Carol Davis (410-296-1952) and Joan Chaney (410-828-0859)
As part of our pastoral care, this committee was initially formed to offer receptions in the Parish Hall to families after funerals. It is also available to do other receptions as needed.
Stewardship Committee
Denise Noll (410-256-9332)
This is small committed group of members believes stewardship is a year-round state of mind. Each Sunday, they put a “stewardship thought” in the bulletin to keep this understanding in the forefront of the congregation, and in the fall they create something stimulating to make us aware of its wider implications.
Sunday School
Ann Rowe (443-570-9351)
The Sunday School offers regular curriculum, interspersed with short sessions that are multi-faceted. There is a strong group of teachers, many of whom have served for several years. Nursery care is offered. Classes start with the 2-year-olds and go up to fifth and sixth grade. Sunday School runs from September through May.
Ushers
Mike Pepper (410-561-8308)
Individuals and couples serve as ushers, greeting people with bulletins on Sunday mornings, showing them where they can find specific areas, taking up the collection and helping people at communion time.
Worship Committee
The Rev. Janice Gordon-Barnes (410-272-2711)
This creative group seeks to educate people and offer them the opportunity to deepen their faith. It focuses its creative energies on specific seasons, such as Lent, or services, such as the Blessing of the Animals, but also takes time to review regular worship offerings and responds to comments or concerns from the parish.
Youth Ministry
Ann Rowe (443-570-9351)
The primary goals of our youth ministry are to reach our youth, to connect them with us and the wider Christian community, to help them grow in their faith, to challenge them to discover their ministry; and to honor God with their lives. We attempt to achieve these goals through fun activities that support the Journey to Adulthood curriculum, service projects, fund-raisers, Diocesan retreats and an annual ski trip.