Part of our communal life is lived by our being good stewards of the gifts we have been given by God.

A good Steward is someone who
     Receives God’s gifts gratefully,
     Cherishes and tends them in a responsible and accountable manner,
     Shares them in justice and love with all,
     Returns them with increase to the Lord.

  Every year we re-commit ourselves to various ministries, retire from some or try new ones.      This recommitment is our conscious choice to share our gifts and talents with others.

ALL MEMBERS OF THE PARISH (children, youth, and adults) are asked to turn in a completed MINISTRY SHEET. This will let us know if you want to:

• C - continue in your current ministry
• N - become involved in a new ministry
• R - retire from a current ministry.

Areas of particular need:

• Catechists & Substitute Catechists
• Cursillo Coordinators
• Newsletter Editor

New Ministries to consider:

• Lifelong Formation Committee
• Altar Linen Ministry
• Information Technology
• Quilters Ministry
• Stewardship Committee

Ministries that could use more help:

• Welcome Ministry
• Homebound Ministry

 

What’s next? Prayerfully discern how God is calling you to serve. Print and fill out the sign-up sheets found here, pick some up at Church, or fill out the form below. (One per person) Bring your ministry sign-up sheet back to Church on January 16/17 for ministry commitment weekend. Call Donna at the parish office with any questions about the ministries in this booklet (899-5342)

Hands of Mercy Ministries Prayer Network Bereavement Ministry Funeral Meal Ministry Ella Cochran Food Panty Hospital Visitor Home Help & Small Repairs Welcoming Ministry Transportation Eucharistic Ministers for the Homebound Homebound Ministry

Please Note: We encourage everyone, child, youth and adult to turn in a ministry sign up sheet. It is important that you let us know you want to be involved in or continue a ministry.   Short training sessions are provided for various ministries. You will be contacted by the ministry coordinator. Look for notices in the bulletin also.   Commitment times for Ministries with rotating schedules are dependent upon the number of volunteers within the various ministries. The more people in a ministry, the less time per person.

 Ministry Commitment Form 

Name: 

Phone: 

Email:  

Thank your for giving of your time and talent. Mark all the ministries you plan to start, continue or retire from.

Please bring this completed form back to the church on January 16/17 for our Annual Ministry Commitment Sunday

 ADMINISTRATIVE MINISTRIES 

Building & Grounds Committee
Concerned with maintaining church property by offering service or expertise. Meets 2nd Wednesday of each month.

Finance Council
Provides input regarding church finances.  Meets monthly.  Knowledge and experience in finance necessary. Council currently full. Submit name for reserve list.

Landscaping
Helps with upkeep of the church grounds and flower beds.

Office Help/Clerical Support
Fills in to answer phones, light office work, data entry as needed.

Parish Communications

Information Technology
Maintains and updates the parish website and social networking site while continuing to advance the parish in various forms of electronic communication to better proclaim the Gospel to members of the parish and to the wider community. Meetings are set on the basis of need.

Mailings/Phone Calls
Helps with cards for small mailings or make phone calls for a specific project.

Newsletter
Help stuff, fold and address our quarterly newsletter.

Newsletter Editor Area of particular need
Receives articles for quarterly newsletter. Edits and arranges layout using MS Publisher. 10 / 15 hours quarterly. Work from home.

Pastoral Council
Shares responsibility with pastor and staff for the spiritual life of the parish. Through pastoral planning sets goals in the areas of prayer leadership and service. Acts as the primary convulsive voice of the parish. Advisor to the Pastor. Meets monthly.

Stewardship Committee
Works to create an environment of welcome and gratitude in which parishioners discover their God given strengths and through gratefulness give back to God by sharing their strengths. Oversees annual parish ministry sign up. Helps to educate the parish members about stewardship: a way of life rooted in gratitude and a sense of Christ-centered living while carrying out our mission as Disciples. Meets monthly.

 CHRISTIAN FORMATION MINISTRIES 

Adults Growing in Faith Together (AGIFT)
Plans and promotes adult faith formation/education opportunities. Meets on 2nd Wednesday of the month.

Baptismal Preparation
Prepares and teaches parents and godparents before having their children baptized. Leads a two-hour session once a quarter.

Lifelong Faith Formation
Studies, strategizes and implements a holistic vision for lifelong faith formation for the parish. Meets 3rd Tuesday of month.

Parish Library
Helps to catalog, organize and maintain the collection of books, videos, audio tapes, CD’s and DVD’s.

Pre Cana Program
Prepares engaged couples prior to their marriage. Working with a Leadership couple, Team couples give a 30 to 45 minute talk on some aspect of marriage as part of a 6 hour program. Pre Cana at Our Lady of Mercy is in September.

R.C.I.A. - Adult Initiation Team
Prepares adults for baptism or full communion in the Catholic Faith.

R.C.I.A. Sponsor
Supports adults in their preparation for baptism or full communion in the Catholic Faith.

Religious Education Aide
Assists teachers in the ministry of Catechesis.

Religious Education Catechesis Area of particular need
Provides formal religious education classes, sacramental preparation, retreats, and other opportunities for children and teens to grow in their faith.

Vacation Bible School Program
Conducts the weeklong summer Bible fun for children, (pre-school through grade 8). Both teachers and aides needed.

Youth Advisory Board
Discusses upcoming events, service projects and the direction of Youth Ministry. Students in grades 7-12 meet monthly.

Youth Ministry Support Team
Adults help plan events, retreats and activities for the Youth and take an active roll in the activities planned. Meet as needed for events.

 APOSTOLIC MINISTRIES 

Altar Linen Ministry
Ensure adequate supply of linens for Masses by collecting, washing, and pressing the Altar linens , albs and altar cloth on a weekly basis. Work at home. Monthly rotating schedule.

Babysitting (please indicate preference)
  For parish events During 11:00 Mass
Watches children during parish functions and/or during the 11:00 Sunday Mass. As needed.

Bereavement Ministry
Assists in the process of bereavement by visitation with the family before and after the funeral, visits the funeral home, provides security watch or child care. Assists at funeral Mass as greeter, lector or server. Rotating schedule, commitment times vary.

Funeral Meal Ministry
Helps prepare & serve funeral meals or provide desserts, casseroles or other condiments. Times vary depending on number of funerals.

Home Help & Repairs
Provides cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, yard work, minor auto and home repairs on an emergency basis.

Homebound Ministry Ministry that could use more help
Provides contact with homebound parishioners though visits, cards, sending weekly bulletin or phone contact. Approximately 1 - 4 hours per month.

Hospital Visitor
Visits the sick in hospitals or nursing homes. Visiting times individually determined, approximately 6 hours per quarter.

Knights of Columbus
Local Council of an International Catholic Men’s beneficent society. A family oriented service organization that is dedicated to the Church, and supports the local community and the youth of Our Lady of Mercy.

Lenten Soup Supper
Assists in preparing and serving a simple soup supper on Wednesdays during Lent.

Peer Ministry (See below)
Shares life experiences with other parishioners going through similar experiences; providing a presence of support & love on a one to one confidential basis. First name and phone number would be listed in a public parish directory. People willing to offer support on sensitive issues can give their names for an unpublished resource list that would be confidentially coordinated by members of the pastoral staff.

Prayer Shawl Ministry
knits or crochets shawls in an atmosphere of prayer and fellowship. Shawls are prayed over and given to people who are sick or suffering and in need of loving, prayerful support. Meets weekly Tuesday afternoons or Thursday evenings.

Quilters - Patchwork of Friends
Works on quilting and sewing projects that benefit the parish and the larger community. E.g. Festival Quilt, Project Linus which distributes quilts to children and babies in need, bedding for refugee ministry, and occasional altar linen needs. Meet weekly / as needed

Sister Parish Committee
Maintains relationship with and supports our sister parish; educates Our Lady of Mercy parishioners about our Sister Parish's culture and life. Meets second Tuesday of each month.

Social Justice Committee
Studies the Church’s mission and teachings of social justice, raises awareness of social justice issues to the parish community and works to help change unjust social systems.

Transportation
Provides rides to homebound parishioners to weekend Masses and church events. May also be asked to drive for appointments (on an emergency basis only).

Welcoming Ministry Ministry that could use more help
Welcomes new parishioners to the parish; helps connect them to the community. Can involve meeting a family at Mass, sending a card and helping with new member meetings.

 SPIRITUAL LIFE & WORSHIP MINISTRIES 

Altar Servers - Mass Time:    6:00 8:30 11:00
Assists at Sunday and special Masses. Rotating schedules.

Children’s Liturgy of the Word
Leads the young people of the parish in prayer and hearing the Sunday readings in a manner appropriate to their age. (kindergarten through second grade) Approximately 20 minutes during 11:00 am Liturgy on rotating schedule.

Church Enviornment -- Decorating
Assists in preparation of the environment in the Worship Space and Gathering Space. Need men in particular.

Eucharistic Minister - Mass Time:    6:00 8:30 11:00
Assists with the distribution of Communion at Liturgy.

Eucharistic Ministry to Sick & Homebound
Takes Eucharist to the sick or homebound.

Greeter - Mass Time:    6:00 8:30 11:00
Welcomes people as they enter our Church. Assists with special functions happening immediately before or after Mass. Rotating schedule, approximately one Mass every six weeks.

Lector - Mass Time:    6:00 8:30 11:00
Proclaims the Readings at Liturgical celebrations. Rotating schedule that varies with each Mass. Approximately one Mass every 6 to 8 weeks.

Legion of Mary
Fosters devotion to Mary and undertakes apostolic works in service of the church. Visits nursing homes and help with Mass at the Ball Pavilion. Active members meet every Saturday at 9:00 am. Auxiliary members support the Legion by their prayers. We are especially in need of new active members.

Offertory Counter
Counts the weekly offerings.

Music Ministry
Cantor, Choir Member, Musician: Provides music for Liturgical celebrations to support the assembly’s singing. Rehearsals specific for each group.

Prayer Network   AM PM
Prays for those in need as requested. Sign-up for either the morning or evening Prayer Chain. Usually daily, or as prayer requests are received by the coordinators.

Small Christian Communities
Small groups of people who meet in various homes to pray, share their faith, and look for ways to support the larger Church and one another. Meeting times and days vary, weekly or bi-weekly.

Usher - Mass Time:    6:00 8:30 11:00
Take up the collection at Mass, seats people, and distributes the bulletin. Makes sure church is in order for the next Mass by putting song books away, picking up stray papers in the pews, etc.

 SOCIAL OUTREACH MINISTRIES 

Ella Cochran Food Pantry
Helps unload delivery truck on Tuesday mornings and distributes food on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. Donations of food, paper products and money are always needed. (Usually collected on the First Sunday of the Month.) Looking for people who are willing to be on call as needed for Tuesday mornings or third Wednesday of month from 8:30 am—1:00 pm

Refugee Ministry
Serves as "family and friends" to refugees who are new to the United States. Small but necessary services for these people include: advice on parenting, transportation to church or religious education, assist with filling out job applications, etc.

 PEER MINISTRIES 

 OTHER: 

Cursillista Area of particular need
Promote and support the Cursillo movement within the parish.

Scrip Shopper Card Program

Help with one time events

 Prayer for the Parish 

I am unable to participate in a ministry at this time, however, I offer my prayers for the parish.