ST. JAMES CHURCH ALTAR GUILD

   St. James Altar Guild consists of nine dedicated members who carefully prepare our Sanctuary for worship. We believe that a clean and beautiful Sanctuary enhances and enriches worship for our congregation.

Each member of the Guild takes responsibility for this ministry one month of the year (and for some, for two months). We set    up for Holy Communion; we place flowers in the Sanctuary; we clean and dust the Altar area; we clean linens after each service; we make sure the appropriate candles are set out and are filled with oil; we change the frontals and other hangings according to the church seasons. We decorate our church at Easter and Christmas, and we clean and strip the Altar on Maundy Thursday. We keep a check on Altar supplies to make sure they don’t run out.

   We “officially” meet twice a year for sharing information, for instruction, and for discussion. These meetings are usually followed by a “brass cleaning bee” before Easter and Christmas (and as needed between these major holidays).

 We see ourselves as “God’s housekeepers”, and try our best to give our labors in God’s Sanctuary as an offering to the Lord, who always deserves our very best.

Etsuko Schulenberg

Altar Guild Coordinator