Parish Ministries
The lay people of our parish are involved in several ministries that serve our church and our community. Among them are Mission and Outreach, pastoral visitation, liturgical ministers, choir, altar guild, Christian formation, fellowship, buildings and grounds, welcome/
hospitality, and Helping Hands Circle.
Mission and Outreach
The ministry of our Mission and Outreach team includes interactions on the local, national, and international levels:
Locally, our small but well-stocked food pantry provides non-perishable items to anyone who comes to our door. Food pantry hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to noon. All food is donated by our parishioners.
Each Christmas, in concert with the chapter of St. Vincent de Paul at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Webster, we provide toys and clothing to families in need. We also provide food for a complete Thanksgiving dinner for up to eight families in the area.
Every Monday morning from 8:30-9:30 a.m., our Pastor conducts a 12-Step focused Bible Study for any interested people from the community who are in recovery. On the third Tuesday of each month from 8:30-9:00 a.m., Pastor Janice also leads a Recovery Prayer Service. All are welcome to attend.
Nationally, our parish has established a sister relationship with the Lakota people in an Episcopal mission church on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. We send warm clothing and other needed items each fall to the Church of the Holy Cross in Pine Ridge. We also provide them with children’s books for their library.
Our international outreach efforts take us to the continent of Africa, and the country of Kenya. Here we have established sister relationships with two churches: PCEA Bethel Church in Naromoru, and St. Mark’s Karuangi Church. In addition to weekly prayer, our parish has sent funds, children’s books, and clothing to the people of these two churches in an effort to help meet some of their basic needs.
Pastoral Visitation
Our pastor currently makes the pastoral visits to our shut-ins and any hospitalized parishioners. However, we currently have one Lay Eucharistic Visitor who is licensed to bring Holy Communion to those who are not able to come to church. We also have several long-standing parish members who make social visits to our shut-ins.
Our pastor and one of our Lay Eucharistic Ministers currently visit three nursing homes in the area each month, where they celebrate a service of Holy Eucharist.
Liturgical Ministers
Our liturgical ministers include Eucharistic Ministers, acolytes, lectors, greeters, and Eucharistic Visitors. Eucharistic Ministers participate in the service by offering the chalice to communicants during the distribution of Holy Communion. Acolytes participate in the service by assisting the priest at the altar, and by leading the procession and recession. Lectors read the lesson from Hebrew scripture, the Psalm, and the Epistle lesson. Eucharistic Visitors take the Holy Communion directly from the Sunday service to shut-ins.
Choir
Our choir is currently comprised of ten adults who sing selections primarily from the 1982 Hymnal, as well as traditional service music. Our current organist, Mr. Roland Malboeuf, has played for our congregation for nearly 40 years. He will be retiring in September, 2012. In the coming months, we will be adding the use of a keyboard and other instruments, as well as hymns from other hymnals. A member of our Youth Group will be playing the keyboard.
Altar Guild
Members of the Altar Guild are responsible for the preparation of the altar prior to the Sunday service of Holy Eucharist, as well as for funerals, weddings, and baptisms. They take care of our sacred vessels and altar linens, and arrange altar flowers and plants on Sundays and Holy Days. Currently, we have three dedicated Altar Guild members.
Christian Formation
Our parish provides an “across the lifespan” approach to Christian formation (see Christian formation elsewhere on this website). Parishioners work together with the Pastor to develop and teach classes.
Welcome Ministry
The goal of our welcome ministry is to provide a welcoming environment and experience for those new to our parish. We have recently put together “welcome gift bags” for those who visit us, and one of our long-time parishioners, Bill Jones, crafts beautiful pendant crosses from the wood of old chestnut pews which are given to visitors, new members, and the newly baptized.
Hospitality/Fellowship
Members of this ministry plan and organize a variety of social activities for parishioners and members of the local community. Pot-luck dinners, breakfasts, holiday dinners, etc. allow us to gather and share not only our faith, but fun and fellowship as well.
Helping Hands Circle
This ministry evolved out of the creation of prayer shawls by several members of the parish who got together once a week to knit and crochet. The prayer shawls are given to those who are sick or shut in. Over time, the group has added more crafts to its repertoire, including the making of Anglican prayer beads and handcrafted Christmas ornaments. The ornaments are hung on the Christmas tree in the nave of the church, and taken home by parishioners. The prayer beads and other crafts are sold in order to provide income to our mission and outreach ministry.
The group is currently comprised of five members who meet every Tuesday morning from 10:00-noon from September to June. They are always looking for additional members to add to their ministry.
hospitality, and Helping Hands Circle.
Mission and Outreach
The ministry of our Mission and Outreach team includes interactions on the local, national, and international levels:
Locally, our small but well-stocked food pantry provides non-perishable items to anyone who comes to our door. Food pantry hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to noon. All food is donated by our parishioners.
Each Christmas, in concert with the chapter of St. Vincent de Paul at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Webster, we provide toys and clothing to families in need. We also provide food for a complete Thanksgiving dinner for up to eight families in the area.
Every Monday morning from 8:30-9:30 a.m., our Pastor conducts a 12-Step focused Bible Study for any interested people from the community who are in recovery. On the third Tuesday of each month from 8:30-9:00 a.m., Pastor Janice also leads a Recovery Prayer Service. All are welcome to attend.
Nationally, our parish has established a sister relationship with the Lakota people in an Episcopal mission church on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. We send warm clothing and other needed items each fall to the Church of the Holy Cross in Pine Ridge. We also provide them with children’s books for their library.
Our international outreach efforts take us to the continent of Africa, and the country of Kenya. Here we have established sister relationships with two churches: PCEA Bethel Church in Naromoru, and St. Mark’s Karuangi Church. In addition to weekly prayer, our parish has sent funds, children’s books, and clothing to the people of these two churches in an effort to help meet some of their basic needs.
Pastoral Visitation
Our pastor currently makes the pastoral visits to our shut-ins and any hospitalized parishioners. However, we currently have one Lay Eucharistic Visitor who is licensed to bring Holy Communion to those who are not able to come to church. We also have several long-standing parish members who make social visits to our shut-ins.
Our pastor and one of our Lay Eucharistic Ministers currently visit three nursing homes in the area each month, where they celebrate a service of Holy Eucharist.
Liturgical Ministers
Our liturgical ministers include Eucharistic Ministers, acolytes, lectors, greeters, and Eucharistic Visitors. Eucharistic Ministers participate in the service by offering the chalice to communicants during the distribution of Holy Communion. Acolytes participate in the service by assisting the priest at the altar, and by leading the procession and recession. Lectors read the lesson from Hebrew scripture, the Psalm, and the Epistle lesson. Eucharistic Visitors take the Holy Communion directly from the Sunday service to shut-ins.
Choir
Our choir is currently comprised of ten adults who sing selections primarily from the 1982 Hymnal, as well as traditional service music. Our current organist, Mr. Roland Malboeuf, has played for our congregation for nearly 40 years. He will be retiring in September, 2012. In the coming months, we will be adding the use of a keyboard and other instruments, as well as hymns from other hymnals. A member of our Youth Group will be playing the keyboard.
Altar Guild
Members of the Altar Guild are responsible for the preparation of the altar prior to the Sunday service of Holy Eucharist, as well as for funerals, weddings, and baptisms. They take care of our sacred vessels and altar linens, and arrange altar flowers and plants on Sundays and Holy Days. Currently, we have three dedicated Altar Guild members.
Christian Formation
Our parish provides an “across the lifespan” approach to Christian formation (see Christian formation elsewhere on this website). Parishioners work together with the Pastor to develop and teach classes.
Welcome Ministry
The goal of our welcome ministry is to provide a welcoming environment and experience for those new to our parish. We have recently put together “welcome gift bags” for those who visit us, and one of our long-time parishioners, Bill Jones, crafts beautiful pendant crosses from the wood of old chestnut pews which are given to visitors, new members, and the newly baptized.
Hospitality/Fellowship
Members of this ministry plan and organize a variety of social activities for parishioners and members of the local community. Pot-luck dinners, breakfasts, holiday dinners, etc. allow us to gather and share not only our faith, but fun and fellowship as well.
Helping Hands Circle
This ministry evolved out of the creation of prayer shawls by several members of the parish who got together once a week to knit and crochet. The prayer shawls are given to those who are sick or shut in. Over time, the group has added more crafts to its repertoire, including the making of Anglican prayer beads and handcrafted Christmas ornaments. The ornaments are hung on the Christmas tree in the nave of the church, and taken home by parishioners. The prayer beads and other crafts are sold in order to provide income to our mission and outreach ministry.
The group is currently comprised of five members who meet every Tuesday morning from 10:00-noon from September to June. They are always looking for additional members to add to their ministry.
Our Services
Sunday
- 10 am Service of Holy Eucharist-Rite II (Sept.-June)
- 9:00 am Service of Holy Eucharist-Rite II (July & August)
- 4th Sunday of every month-Service of Holy Eucharist with Healing
Nursery Care and
Sunday School
- 9:45 a.m. Nursery care available (Sept.-May)
- Nursery care available upon request (July & August)
- 9:30 a.m. Sunday School (Sept.-May)
Quick Info
The Church of the Reconciliation
5 North Main St.
Webster, MA 01570
Get Directions
Phone:
508-943-8714
Office Hours:
Mon-Fri
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
and by appointment
5 North Main St.
Webster, MA 01570
Get Directions
Phone:
508-943-8714
Office Hours:
Mon-Fri
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
and by appointment
