Below is a description of the many volunteer opportunities available at Zion.

Altar Guild:

The primary duty of the Altar Guild is to prepare for Communion and assist in the Sacristy during Communion. Two or three members of the committee meet in the Sacristy the day before Communion, change the paraments, if necessary, and set the altar for Communion. Members serve in the sacristy for both services on Sunday. On the third Sunday of the month when Communion is served by intinction during the 10:30 a.m. service, they set out the appropriate elements between services and put them away following the service.

Each member of the guild serves twice a year, usually not consecutively. There is a monthly chairman and one or two assistants. If there are altar flowers or flowers from a funeral, the guild puts them out as well. At Easter and Christmas the guild arranges the lilies and poinsettias.

For baptisms the guild is responsible for filling the font, putting out the baptismal napkin and candle, and placing the baptismal banner by the font.

The guild launders the Communion linen, and the acolytes’ and assistants’ robes when necessary. It dusts the altar and surrounding area and checks to see that the altar candles are filled with oil.

The co-chairmen of the Altar Guild have a few more duties, such as replenishing the Communion supplies, taking the altar cloths to the laundry and preparing the schedule for the year.

Being a member of the Altar Guild is a wonderful way to serve and to become better acquainted with members of your church

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Children’s Ministry:

There are several opportunities for members to serve the Children’s Ministry programs. Some programs run through the school year and require a longer term commitment of time. Others are short-term and volunteers may be needed for only a few hours.

Other children’s programs may also be scheduled throughout the year and volunteers are always appreciated. If you enjoy helping children grow in their faith there are many opportunities at Zion for you to serve. For more detailed information on these programs, please contact Jeanne Thomas, Director of Children’s Ministries.

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Church Council:

A person may serve on the Church Council if they have been a member of the church for two years. Council terms are three years and members also serve on one of the standing Committees (Adult Ministries, Building & Grounds, Communications, Children’s Ministries, Finance, Human Resources, Long Range Planning, Multi-Cultural Ministries, Special Ministries, Youth Ministries).
The Council meets the third Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Council Members are also required to attend the yearly Council retreat.

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Committees – Ministry/Support:

The following committees report to the Church Council and have responsibility for guiding and supporting the congregation in their area of interest. Each year, following the Annual Meeting, the Church Council meets to re-organize and to establish committee membership for the coming year. If you have an interest in serving on one of these committees, please speak to any of the pastors or to a Church Council member.

Support Committees:

Other Committees:

Ministry Committees:

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Greeters:
Volunteers greet the congregation before the 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. services. Greeters serve once in each six-month period. They are asked to be at church 20-30 minutes before the service. Two greeters are assigned to each service so that people arriving at the main entrance and the elevator entrance may be greeted. Greeting is very enjoyable and provides an opportunity to meet new people. It’s a great chance for new members to get acquainted with the congregation.

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Hospitality Committee:

The mission of the Hospitality Committee is to extend a welcoming hand to all people. We believe this is what Christ would have us do as individuals and as a priesthood of believers, and that our hospitality helps us to “make Christ known.”

Our purpose is to offer hospitality to both members and visitors alike, and to build and maintain an hospitable environment and attitude throughout our church building and our ministries – where everyone feels like an integral and vital part of Zion’s church community.

This committee plans and arranges for the Celebration of Faith Sundays (on the fourth Sunday of each month), when one of our members shares with the rest of the congregation the story of their faith journey and their service to God through the ministries of Zion Lutheran Church. This committee also plans other special events which extend a welcoming hand, that can help everyone feel comfortable in our worship, our fellowship, and our work. Our ministry is exciting because it evolves as we create different ways to do this!

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Lay Assistant:

The Lay Assistant serves on Sunday mornings during the worship services by assisting the pastor with the liturgy and by leading the Prayers of the Church. On the first and third Sundays of the month they assist in serving Communion.

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Lay Lectors:

Lay Lectors read the Sunday morning scripture lessons at the 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. worship services. Volunteers may do both services or may choose to do only one. They meet with the pastor at 7:15 a.m. on their Sunday morning to discuss the day’s service. Lectors usually serve one or two Sundays every six months.

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Music Ministry:

Music is a wonderful gift from God and it is one of our greatest gifts to share with others. We have many musical groups that help to inspire others and praise God during our worship services. You are invited to be a part of our music program at Zion! Listed below are rehearsal times for each group:

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Nursery:

Helpers in the Nursery are needed from 8:00 - 11:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings. We play, read stories and attend to babies’ needs. Children in the Nursery range in age from newborns to 3 year olds. If you enjoy spending time with babies and toddlers and have a loving heart to comfort them when Mom and Dad leave for Sunday School or worship services we would welcome you as a volunteer in the Nursery.

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Office Volunteers:

The front office at Zion is staffed by lay volunteers Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. until noon and from 1:00 p.m. until the office closes at 4:30 p.m. Office volunteers play an important role in the weekday activities of our church by assisting the staff with various clerical duties from answering the phone to assembling Sunday bulletins to assisting with bulk mailings. They are usually the first ones to greet those who come to church during the week day. Previous office experience is helpful, but not necessary – we’ll gladly train you. Come, join our team.!

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Pantry:

Our pantry serves those in need of food who live in the 61104 zip code area. The hours are Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:00 to 11:00 am. Volunteers help check people in and assist them with their food needs. They also help keep the pantry shelves organized and sort through the donations of food from members of the church and community. This ministry continues to be an important source of help for our neighborhood.

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Prayer Ministry:

What is prayer? Prayer is simply a conversation with God. He is present in all our life , not only during worship. God needs us to be His hands and His feet here on earth. That is why it is so important for us to pray for one another. We invite you to become part of Zion’s Prayer Ministry team! To find out more about intercessory prayer, our workshops on prayer or to join one of our Prayer Chains contact our Prayer Team Leader Judy Lindstrom in the church office.

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Service Committee:

Members of the Service Committee set up, serve and clean up for the Coffee Hours held following most funeral services. Families provide the food and coordinate the arrangements through the Service Committee Chairperson. Volunteers are asked to serve on a rotating basis; the time commitment varies depending on how many funerals there are throughout the year.

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Sound Booth:

Service in the Zion sound booth consists of setting and adjusting the proper volume levels during the Sunday worship services, as well as at various other selected services throughout the year. Additionally, we record and edit the one-hour, 10:30 am Sunday service to 30 minutes for later playback on FM radio station WGSL 91.1. The radio broadcast is at 2 p.m.

There are several teams of operators consisting of two individuals, one monitors the in-church volume, the other handles the recording and editing of the service. Typically, each two-person team serves every three to four weeks.

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Ushers:

Ushers are the “ambassadors” of the church. Every Sunday morning they distribute the bulletins with a smile and a handshake. They know most people and call them by name. They are in charge of making sure the church is secure before, during and after each service. They are available to assist anyone in need. They are familiar with the church so that they can make visitors feel welcome and comfortable. They are willing to serve at funerals and other services, in addition to Sundays, throughout the year.

The basic duties of ushers are unlocking doors, turning on lights, distributing the worship bulletins and collecting the offering. There is an “Usher’s Guidelines” print-out available for anyone interested in serving as an Usher. All specific duties are listed there, and there is, of course, “on the job training.”

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Visitation Teams:

Every other month, the Visitation Teams (usually 2 members) are assigned three or four shut-in members to visit in their homes or at their care facility. These visits help these special members maintain their contact with our church family. During the Easter and Christmas holidays, they take gifts made by the Zion Girls. If you have a free afternoon or morning every other month, our shut-in members would enjoy visiting with you.

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Youth Group Volunteers:

Volunteers are needed on the second and third Sundays of the month at 9:30 or 10:30 a.m. and from 7:00-9:00 p.m. on Sunday evenings to help with our youth group. On Sunday morning we need adult leaders to help lead Bible studies. In the evening we need help with various activities (movie/discussion night, mini-putt, etc.). The youth group usually meets in the Youth Center. However, on occasion we meet in people’s homes. A calendar of activities is posted on a monthly basis.

On Wednesday evenings, during the school year, our 7th and 8th grade Confirmation classes meet. Volunteer mentors are needed for each child to assist and encourage the youth through the two year program. Many of the children in our Confirmation classes come from one parent families and an adult mentor can have such a positive impact on their faith journey. Many mentors spend one-on-one time outside the class with their youth getting to know them and developing a bond of friendship and guidance.

Our youth are special and your help is needed to help nurture their growing faith.

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To volunteer for any of these ministries or committees, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Bea Hakes at 964-4609 or 399-6124.