the word: Ministry Teams–doing the work of the church
by Wendy Beth Oliver
Have you ever driven through a small town, seen a few houses and businesses along the main street, and then turned off onto a side street and realized there were whole neighborhoods you couldn’t see when you drove through? And even another commercial district? Sometimes I feel that experience is similar to our experience at Saint David’s. Beyond our sanctuary there are individuals and groups who are busy giving rides, making meals, getting flowers for the altar, promoting stewardship, hosting newcomer brunches, improving the building, and so much more, but you don’t see this from the pew or Zoom screen.
So how do we organize these efforts, bring in more folks to participate so no one gets overwhelmed or burned out, and get the word out? Prior to COVID we had put together Ministry Teams and were beginning to implement them. When the pandemic disrupted our lives and our ability to gather, many folks kept doing the work of the Ministry Teams, but we lost some of the structure and communication. Since then some of the vestry members have changed and some folks have moved away. We are now returning to the sanctuary and figuring out how to navigate health and safety with our need and desire to be together. It’s time for us to revive the Ministry Teams and create an organization that will be resilient and responsive.
Our 10 Ministry Teams are set up to have a guiding question, a team lead, and a vestry liaison to keep the vestry informed and make sure identified issues are raised to the vestry and Kerlin, when needed.
- Parent Engagement
- How do our children engage in their faith?
- Lead: OPEN
- Vestry liaison: Anne Parks
- Worship and Liturgy
- How do we worship God in a way that heals, transforms, and delights?
- Lead: Julianna Machell
- Vestry liaison: Kerlin
- Finance (Money and Stewardship)
- Building
- How do we make sure that our building is supporting our mission?
- Lead and liaison: Rachel Klein, junior warden
- Pastoral Care
- How does the community of Saint David’s care for those who are part of the body of Christ here with us?
- Lead: Barbara Brecht (interim)
- Vestry liaison: Kieran Cannistra
- Adult Formation and Discipleship
- Newcomers and Hospitality
- How do we welcome those who show up to worship God with us? How do we welcome them into the life of the church?
- Lead: Matt Taylor
- Vestry liaison: Barbara Brecht
- Justice and Mercy
- How does the community of Saint David’s reach out into our neighborhood and the world?
- Lead: Kari Stanley
- Vestry liaison: Cass Cole
- Altar Guild
- How do we make our Worship Services beautiful and sacred?
- Lead: Kim Felder
- Vestry liaison: Kerlin
- Technology and Communications
- How do we enable all parishioners to worship and engage in the work of the church?
- Lead: Wendy Oliver
- Vestry liaison: Ned Hayes
While we work on reviving the teams and their ministries, I will be helping to coordinate their efforts. Most of these teams already have a lead and vestry liaison but we are still searching for someone to fill the role of Parent Engagement Team Lead. If you are curious about or interested in the role, please email me (wendybeth.oliver@att.net) or send me a text 206-707-1300. If you are interested in joining any of these teams, please contact me or the lead who is listed. I’ll be hosting a meeting for the team leads and their liaisons soon. Building these teams will take some time and effort, but I hope you will all consider joining a team and participating in the life of our beloved community in a new way. Many hands do make light work.
Blessings,
Wendy
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Book reading returns June 30
