Altar Guild

On Sunday mornings everything is set for communion, flowers are in place, and the sanctuary is ready for worship.  The sanctuary also has to be set for baptisms, weddings and funerals and decorated  at Christmas and Easter. All of this could not happen without the Altar Guild!

The Altar Guild is the liturgical partner of the Priest. it is important to maintain a prayerful attitude in preparing the Altar for worship each week. We care for the objects used in worship. We handle them carefully and respectfully, because these objects have been dedicated in prayer for use in worship for the glory of God. We also care for the sanctuary of the church. The work of the Altar Guild is to ensure that our sanctuary reflects the holiness and the joy that we all create together in our worship

 The Altar Guild is a “Behind the Scenes” group of men and women who come together in teams to prepare the sanctuary for worship.  Serving on the Altar Guild is a ministry and one of its functions is to enhance the parish’s worship experience.  Every member offers different gifts in serving on the Altar Guild - some enjoying arranging flowers, others are “experts” at polishing the brass, and others enjoy caring for the linens that are used every week. You don’t have to arrange flowers or clean the linens – there are plenty of other duties that you can do.  Members are assigned to teams and the teams normally meet together to prepare the sanctuary. There is no “membership” requirement!  We have four teams so that each team is “on duty” one week a month.  We welcome men, women, and youth to join the Altar Guild.  In the summer we even have a husband and wife couple who serve on one of the teams!  Please prayerfully consider joining the Altar Guild and sharing your gifts and talents.  Please contact the church office at 828-963-4609.

The National Altar Guild Association Prayer

Most gracious Father, Who has called me, Your child, to serve in the preparation of Your Altar, so that it may be a suitable place for the offering of Your Body and Blood. Sanctify my life and consecrate my hands so that I may worthily handle those Sacred Gifts which are being offered to You.   As I handle holy things, grant that my whole life may be illuminated and blessed by You, in whose honor I prepare them, and grant the people who shall be blessed by their use, may find their lives drawn closer to Him Whose Body and Blood is our hope and our strength, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.