Family Group Task Descriptions
Family Group Task Descriptions
Family Group Leader
Arrive at 10:30
- Turn on the lights in the sanctuary and unlock the side door
- Locate the bulletins at the back of the sanctuary
- Welcome those who are arriving early for choir rehearsal or to help with coffee making or ushering
- Take note of people who are attending for the first time and welcome them. Ask if they would give you their names and contact information so the church can be in touch. Please invite them to stay for the coffee hour and offer to take them there after worship
- Help give out bulletins in the sanctuary if needed
- Ensure that hearing assist headsets are offered to people. They are located on the computer console at the back of the church
Following the fellowship time:
- Lock the outside doors
- Walk around the church and turn off all lights, including those in the washrooms
Greeters and Ushers
Two are needed (family groups may greet together)
Arrive by 10:40
Please wear a name tag
One greeter will stand at the glass door entrance. One greeter will stand at the front doors.
- Welcome children and tell parents about the nursery care provided in the Nursery Room and about Sunday School which begins part way through worship. Children are welcome to participate in the nursery or Sunday school and they are welcome to stay in worship if they prefer to do that.
- Welcome visitors and invite them to refreshment time following the service. Help them find their way to the sanctuary by going through the Gathering Room and/or upstairs.
- Give people a bulletin (these can be found at the back of the sanctuary).
- Greeters at the side door should respond if someone needs to use the lift. The key is kept in the photocopy room, upstairs, in the secretary’s mailbox.
- One person can come forward during the opening hymn to light the Christ candle. There is a brass lighter on the wall at the back of the sanctuary. There are matches near the candle in case the flame goes out too soon.
- The candle is extinguished during the singing of the last hymn.
- Take up the offering during worship and bring it forward as the offertory is sung. There is often a special piece of music being played during the offering. If you are finished receiving offerings, stand at the back of the aisle and come forward when the musician starts to play the Offertory and the people stand to sing. Wait for the minister to pray a short prayer of dedication and then return to your seats.
- Pick up bulletins and tidy the sanctuary following worship.
Scripture Reader
One person (normally) will read the lessons for the day. Scripture passages for the week are included in the Bulletin, which is printed on Thursday - call the church office or your family group leader for information.
You may find it meaningful to read the passages prayerfully each day prior to Sunday as a spiritual practice.
Minute for Mission
One person will read the story for the week or you could consider using a video clip.
On communion Sundays or when the service is very full, the Minute for Mission may be omitted.
Prepare Communion
- Buy a small loaf of bread for the table and cut another larger loaf into good-sized pieces for the baskets. Rice cake is offered in a separate basket for anyone who is gluten intolerant.
- If there is grape juice in the fridge, you are welcome to use it in the pitcher; otherwise, please buy a new bottle of grape juice. Please fill a small individual communion glass with water also.
- Communion ware is stored within the large communion table; please wash it and return it after worship.
- There is a special cloth for the large table when it is used and a plastic table protector.
- The finished table should have a small loaf of bread on a tray and a pitcher of juice, two baskets of bread, covered, a container of rice cakes, two goblets for juice, a small individual communion cup of water.
Communion Servers
Normally three people are needed for communion on the first Sunday of the month. Occasionally this changes – we have communion on Easter Sunday, for instance and twice on Christmas Eve.
- Come forward to the communion table after the minister has broken the bread, poured the wine and called people to share. There will be two baskets of bread and two cups of grape juice.
- We practice intinction – each person takes bread, dips it in the cup and eats it.
- The choir is served first and then the congregation comes forward and forms a semi-circle at the front. Those people receive communion together, return to their seats and a new group forms at the front.
Coffee/Tea/Juice after Church
Normally two people
Arrive about 10:30
- Instructions for making coffee are on the cupboard door near the sinks and a booklet of detailed instructions will be with the coffee hour supplies
- Coffee, tea, cold drink mix and sugar are stored in a plastic box below the counter to the right of the dishwasher
- Please make sure there is milk or light cream for the Sunday
- Mix up juice
- Let the church office know if any supplies are running low
- Put out coffee cups and glasses for juice, sugar bowls and prepare creamers to fill
- Put water in tea kettle for tea; be prepared to leave worship in the final hymn to make tea, etc.
- Clean up and do the dishes in the dishwasher. It helps to turn the dishwasher on as the coffee hour begins so it can warm up.
- Dishes should be air-dried rather than dried with a dish towel.
- When washing is complete, turn the switch at the bottom of the dishwasher to ‘drain/off’ and push the handle down so the machine is emptied. Please leave the door open to dry
Supply Cookies or a Treat for Fellowship Time
Purchased cookies/snacks are fine. For a special time of year, something special could be made. Please bring the treat to church on Sunday morning