Our Ministries
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Our Ministries
Jesus said, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18) “Jesus said to him [Peter], ‘Feed my sheep.’ . . . After this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’” (John 21:17b; 19b)
Using Peter as a metaphor, Jesus is telling us that each one of us is the foundation of the church and expected to continue Jesus’ own ministry towards one another and the needy.
This Section is designed to acquaint you with some of the ministries available at Emmanuel. These ministries support the worship of the church, Christian formation, parish fellowship, and taking care of each other and those in the community around us. If you wish to learn more, please contact the individual listed for each ministry, or contact the church office at admin@emmanuelnewport.org, or 401-847-0675.
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical ministries support the worship of the church. A large number of people provide their time and talents.
Acolytes
Acolytes are called to exercise their ministry to the honor of God and the well-being of their church. We encourage our young people to become acolytes and to participate in our services. Age requirements are individually determined, however, a child must be able to sit through the hour of the service and be large enough and responsible enough to perform the required duties. Children around the age of 7 or 8—and occasionally earlier—are usually able to do so.
Contact: Bobby Gaines, Verger/Acolyte Master
Altar Guild
The Altar Guild prepares God’s table for various celebrations in the liturgical year.
- Set the altar for every service
- Clean and press the linen
- Polish the brass and silver
Time commitment is thirty minutes before and after the service and one to two hours every other month for polishing. Anyone over the age of 13 is invited to become part of this ministry. Contact: Paula Ottilige or Jeanette Rideout
Choir
“Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise.” Ps 66:1-2. For more information on the choral opportunities at Emmanuel Church, please see the Music page.
Eucharistic Ministers
Eucharistic Ministers assist the celebrant at the Eucharist on Sunday mornings and special services as assigned. Responsibilities include:
- Arriving at least 15 minutes prior to the service to get vested
- Selecting two individuals from the congregation to bring the elements from the entrance of the church to the altar at the Offertory
- Processing and recessing with the choir and clergy; sitting in the sanctuary during the service
- Being prepared to read a lesson or the prayers, if necessary
- Distributing the consecrated cup to those receiving Communion
- While there is no age limitation, the individual must be mature enough to understand the nature of the ministry of assisting at the altar, and be capable of holding the cup, moving up and down steps, bending over frequently, and able to sit quietly through the service. Contact: Ellen Vadney
Lectors
Lectors are the dedicated readers who make the Word of God and Prayers of the People more accessible to the Body of Christ at Emmanuel.??Read the Word of God and Prayers of the People at the 10 am service and occasional special services.??The main requirement is the ability to read audibly and speak clearly. Anyone may become a Lector. Lessons are provided in advance so you are able to prepare before you read. Contact: Church Office
Ushers
Ushers welcome all who come to church on Sunday, distributing bulletins, assisting people with seating if desired and answering questions for visitors and newcomers. They are the parish’s hosts throughout the service. Ushers should arrive 20 minutes before the service to:
- Check the side doors (south & rear north) to make sure they are unlocked in case of fire and adjusted for ventilation, if needed. Coordinate wuth the Rector to make sure the alarm is disarmed on the rear north door (handicap ramp) before opening the door.
- Get service bulletins to hand out from the table in the vestibule. If you start to run short (can be a problem at Christmas and Easter), check the chapel for extras, and remember that young children can do without.
- Encourage people to enter the church to ease congestion in the vestibule.
- Open both sets of doors when the choir files in to begin the service; close after entry.
- Find an attendance slip on the oblation table and take count. Be sure to give the completed slip to the designated oblation bearers.
- Collect offerings in plates found at the first pew on either side.
- Carry the plates up and present them to the acolyte during the offering hymn, with the child carrying the Sunday School offering walking between you. After the acolyte takes the offerings, exit to the right and return to the rear of the church.
- Ushers no longer control the flow of communicants to the altar rail. Instead, one usher should offer help to those who need it coming down the steps from the Sacristy until the other usher takes communion and relieves him/her at the steps. The usher being relieved should be the last of the congregation to receive.
- Do a quick sweep of the pews after the service, pickup bulletins left behind, put away hymnals left out, relock side doors, etc.
- Contact: Church Office
Christian Formation Ministries
This is our new name for Sunday School and Adult education classes. There is a life-long continuum of learning and growing in the Christian faith that begins at Baptism. Formation is accomplished in a number of ways, some formal, some informal.
Each fall, we begin an exciting program of musical training for children based on the Royal School of Church Music curriculum. There are two components: musical instruction and religious instruction with children attending one afternoon each week after school and participating in the 10:00 service on Sundays.
Children benefit and grow in many ways, spiritual, social and intellectual when they engage in this work together. It is also a source of fun and the beginning of the development of life-long skills and interests. All children are welcome to join this program even if they are not currently attending Emmanuel Church.
Sunday School classes for children in the primary and intermediate grades are conducted on Sunday mornings at 9:30. Children join their families during the 10:00 service for Eucharist or attend following the 9:00 service. Our curriculum introduces our young people to the Bible, the faith and the traditions of the Church at appropriate levels of their development and understanding.
There is an Adult Bible Study at 9:00 to discuss the lessons that will be heard at the 10:00 service each week. Background, relevance and individual insight are elements of the discussions.
Our Sunday Salon meets after the 10:00 service generally on the first Sunday of each month, but check the calendar each month. This group is led by members of the congregation who gather together to explore different approaches to bible study, prayer, spiritual study, journaling, meditation, blogging, and other ways we come closer to Christ in our lives.
Plans for our teenagers are in progress.
Stay tuned for developments as they evolve this fall. Contact: Rector
Vestry
“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 1 Cor 12:7. Our Mission Statement says: “Emmanuel Church is a dynamic faith community committed to sharing God’s love. Our mission is to equip people to live as disciples of Jesus through worship, spiritual formation, and outreach into the wider community.” We try to fulfill this by being active communicants – which means regularly attending worship services, contributing financially to the support of the church and giving of our time and talent in any number of ways. Serving on the Vestry is one way to share our time and talent. The Vestry are the elected lay leaders of the parish:
• Senior Warden
• Junior Warden
• Treasurer
• Assistant Treasurer
• Clerk
• Six At-large members
To be nominated for office, a person must be a communicant in good standing of Emmanuel, have reached his/her eighteenth birthday and be pledging or contributing financially to the needs of the church. Elections are held at the Annual Meeting, usually on the last Sunday of January. Regular Vestry meetings are held at 6:00 pm on the third Tuesday of each month, and are open to all who wish to observe. Anyone wishing to make a presentation must contact the Rector or a Warden during the week prior to the meeting to be included on the agenda. Contact: Senior or Junior Warden
Fellowship Committee
Although the Fellowship Committee helps coordinate and plan our calendar of social events, we continue to depend on many individuals and groups within the parish to organize and run the events themselves. These have ranged from movie nights and costume parties, to potlucks, picnics, fundraisers and “firesides.” The latter are a pleasant Emmanuel tradition: small groups, organized by random drawing, who meet periodically for simple meals and good conversation in each others’ homes. We have always enjoyed having a good time together.
Contact: Lil Hargrove
Tuesday Group
Each Tuesday, after the 10 am Eucharist, we get together for fellowship while we work on projects for the Christmas sale. The receipts from the Christmas sale support various local charities in the name of Emmanuel Church. Depending on the needs of our community, we offer help wherever we can:
- Setting the tables for the monthly Soup’s On kitchen ministry
- Filling and delivering attractive May baskets to the shut-ins and elderly
- Making small cat blankets for the Robert Potter League
- Contributing requested items for Lucy’s Hearth
Open to men and women, the only requirements are a sense of humor and a taste for tea and cake (and you don’t have to know how to sew!) Contact: Nancy Allan
Pastoral Care Committee
“If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.” 1 Cor 12:26. Participants in the Pastoral Care ministry take care of our members. Their activities may include:
- Participating in the e-mail prayer list
- Serving as a Eucharistic visitor to take communion to shut-ins.
- Being on a “call me” list to provide light refreshments following a funeral, etc.
- Making a meal (or more) for a parishioner who is ill.
- Offering a ride to worship services or other church functions for those in need of transportation.
- Taking someone to a doctor’s appointment, or grocery shopping, etc.
- Preparing pre-cooked meals which may be left in the church’s freezer for use whenever a need arises.
- Many other ways in which we can serve Christ in each other.
- Contact: Debbie DeAscentis
Girls Friendly Society
“Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2) The Girls Friendly Society, founded in England by Mary Elizabeth Townsend in 1875, was brought to the United States in 1877. It is an international service-oriented, non-profit organization for girls and young women of any race, religion or nationality, which focuses on helping girls develop through worship, service to others, study, and recreation.??Emmanuel’s GFS branch began November 1, 1905 and is the only branch still meeting in Rhode Island. Meetings are held on Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30 pm and girls ages 6-14 are invited. Contact: Nonie Gilmore
Outreach & Hospitality Ministries
Outreach
The Outreach Ministry is an umbrella group that generates, promotes and encourages a number of projects. For more information on Outreach projects, see the Outreach page. Contact: Carol Dutton
The Spanish Ministry
Our Spanish Ministry is in a developmental stage. We offer once-weekly Spanish classes at a beginning and an intermediate/review level to prepare parishioners and others to communicate with local Spanish speakers,to be aware of cultural differences, and to be acquainted with techniques for teaching English as a Foreign Language. We have also been active ecumenically in presenting programs on immigration law and immigrant problems, and collaborating in the work of the diocesan Hispanic Ministry. Contact: Deacon Ann Pelletier
Coffee Hour
Serve on a volunteer basis to provide light refreshments for the Sunday morning coffee hour and at occasional special events. Members rotate on an average of once every three months, depending on the number of volunteers. Responsibilities include providing simple treats such as cookies or fruit and cheese, juice or punch, making coffee, setting up and cleaning up. Come in about a half hour early to set things up and stay for about a half hour to clean up. You can also volunteer just to bring treats and set up, or just to clean up! Contact: Lil Hargrove
The Case of the Missing Ministry
Do you have a special interest or skill that you would like to offer or that you would like to see pursued that is not among the ministries seen here? Please let us know how you would like to become more involved here at Emmanuel Church. Contact: Lil Hargrove
