Worship Ministries

Acolytes

Youth and adults are trained to serve as acolytes and torchbearers. These dedicated servers add to the beauty and pageantry of the worship. Often, acolytes are crossed trained as Crucifers, Lay Readers or Lay Eucharistic Ministers permitting them to serve more than one role in a service.

Altar Guild

This group of dedicated men and women prepare all things that are necessary for the celebration of Holy Eucharist and other sacraments and offices of worship. Most of what is done is invisible to the congregation and is meant to be so. This ministry is often described as behind-the-scenes, but is of utmost importance to our service as Episcopalians.

Crucifers

Youth and adults are trained to serve as Crucifers who carry the cross during the processional and recessional parade. They also hold the Gospel for the Gospel reading, assist the priest at the Altar during Eucharist and organize the placement of the Lay Eucharistic Ministers for the communion. Often, Crucifers are crossed trained as Lay Readers or Lay Eucharistic Ministers and serve more than one role during a service.

Healing Ministry

Prayers for healing with the laying-on-of hands are offered during worship at both services by trained lay ministers and clergy during the Communion of the People. Parishioners come forward to the healing station; without asking for any information, healing ministers make the sign of cross on the individual’s forehead, place hands on the person’s shoulders and pray a prayer from the prayer book.

The ministry of healing with the practice of laying-on-of hands originated in the bible. It has been a tradition of the Church for centuries.

Lay Readers

Adults and Youth are trained and licensed by the diocese to read the lessons and offices of the church.

Lay Eucharistic Minister

A Lay Eucharistic Minister (LEM) is a lay person trained and authorized to administer the Consecrated Elements at a Celebration of Holy Eucharist under the direction of a Deacon or member of the Clergy. Often, Lay Eucharistic Ministers choose to receive training as a Lay Reader, Acolyte, or Crucifier and serve two or more roles at a Sunday service or funeral.

Lay Visitors

The Lay Visitors make contact by phone or visit persons in our parish who are unable to attend church. These contacts are separate from and in addition to visits by the clergy. Requests for a visitor can be made through the “We Can Help” button found at the bottom of this page.

In addition, palm crosses during Holy Week and small Christmas baskets are delivered to shut-ins by the Lay Visitors. Christmas and Easter cards, signed by parishioners, are sent to shut-ins and those for whom distance or travel to church is presently difficult. Parishioners are also honored on their birthdays at our Sunday worship.

Eucharistic Visitors

Trained and licensed by the diocese, these parishioners take communion to parishioner who are sick, homebound, hospitalized or are extended care residents. Eucharistic Visitors are commissioned by the deacon or a member of the clergy at the conclusion of the Eucharist with a prayer authorizing them to take the sacrament to those who were unable to be present with the community. As we say, “We who are many are one body because we all share in the one bread and one cup.”

Requests for a Eucharistic Visitor can be made through the “We Can Help” button found at the bottom of this page.

Liturgy Committee

Liturgy is how we worship God. When we worship God, we seek to offer our thanksgiving for the many gifts and benefits we enjoy in our community and in our lives as followers of Jesus. When we worship we also seek to petition God to assist us with our needs and to assist those whose needs we bring before God. Our Liturgy committee exists to help us express our worship of God in language and imagery that we find both meaningful and inspiring. Membership on the Liturgy Committee is not exclusive; but it does expect that one is committed to promoting the wellbeing of everyone in our All Saints’ community of faith and not just the special interests of a few.

Prayer Shawl Group

The busy fingers and prayerful hearts of this group provide knitted and crocheted shawls and lap robes for those in physical and/or spiritual need or who are celebrating a significant event in their spiritual journey. As these are completed they are gathered and blessed. As a reminder of God’s love, over fifty shawls and lap robes have “wrapped” parishioners, friends and family members in the warmth, love and prayers of All Saints.

All Saints’ Public Square Advocacy Group

The All Saints’ Public Square Advocacy Group is a group which was organized to address current issues of social justice. This group came into existence during the pandemic in response to the shooting of George Floyd and others and with the aim of addressing the issues of violence, the school to prison pipeline and mass incarceration as they affect the local Pontiac community. Meetings have been held with leaders of local organizations who are actively working with Pontiac residents who have been incarcerated in the past or who are newly returning citizens. Opportunities for employment, counseling and housing have been presented to participants at subsequent Community Breakfast meetings. As discussion with our local partners continues, we hope to explore additional avenues where All Saints’ may be of service in addressing the needs of the many returning citizens in the Pontiac community.

Torch Bearer

A special type of Acolyte is the Torch Bearer. Youth enjoy adding to the worship pageantry being a torch bearer during the processional, recessional and Gospel reading.”

Ushers

This dedicated group of devoted and very dependable parishioners serve as ushers and greeters for worship, funerals and special events.