Ministries

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven …

(St. Matthew 5:16)

“The Light of Orthodoxy is not lit for a small circle of people. . .it is our obligation to share our spiritual treasures, our truth, our light, and our joy with those who do not have these gifts. This duty lies not only on pastors and missionaries, but also on lay people, for the Church of Christ, in the wise comparison of St. Paul, is a body, and in the life of the body every member takes part.” (St Tikhon)

St Anne and All Saints of Worcestershire has many ministries where we serve our church, the local community and wider area. We hope that everyone in our church can find a ministry in which to participate.

The list below gives a brief description of the ministries of the St Anne and All Saints of Worcestershire. Please look at this list and decide where your talents can be best used. Once you have decided where your talents can be best used, please speak to Melangell or email enquiries.allsaintsworcs@gmail.com.

The ministries allow us to pledge our talent as our expressions of our faith in God and thanksgiving for all that He has done for us. The ministries also provide us with a way to fulfil our duties to bear fruit, feed the hungry, help the sick, and use our spiritual gifts to edify the Body of Christ.

Liturgical Service

  • Altar Servers: serve in the altar assisting the clergy

  • Head Chanters: prepare for the Divine Services by finding the correct hymns and readings for the season or day of the year and chant the liturgical hymnody during the church services.

  • Chanters: under the direction of the head chanter, chant the Divine Liturgy and the fixed hymnody of the Divine offices.

  • Prosphora Bakers: bake the prosphora, the bread used for Holy Communion.

  • Readers: read the appointed scriptures and psalms and other readings during Divine Services.

  • Caterers: serving refreshments after the Divine Services.

  • Flower Decoraters: prepare and arrange flowers in the church for major feasts.

  • Cleaners: set up and clean the church before, and pack away and clean after, Divine Services.

Education and Youth

  • Adult Catechism: classes for catechumens – those preparing to join the Orthodox Church.

  • Adult Education: teaching of the Faith to adults – ongoing teaching of adults in the church and teaching at the Thyateira Midlands Ecclesiastical Seminary.

  • Scripture Study: leading weekly scripture study.

  • Sunday School: teaching of children at the monthly Sunday School.

  • Youth Camp Leader: serving as leaders at the Archdiocese Youth Camp – Camp Saint Sophrony, and organising local family camps for the church, and other local churches.

Maintenance, improvement and general jobs

  • Help with regular maintenance of the garden.

  • Help with setting and taking down the gazebo for events.

Service to those in need

  • Philoptochos: (meaning “lovers of the poor”) participate in the church’s philanthropic ministries by caring for the poor, the sick and the suffering.  Organising regular fundraisers for charitable purposes and providing practical and pastoral care.

  • Visitation and Care for the Elderly and Infirm: visit people who are sick, in care homes; provide support and care including transport to appointments, grocery shopping etc.

Outreach Ministries

  • Bookstall and Library: Order stock and care for and expand the bookstall and library.

  • Guides: lead local group visits to the church, explain its history, and introduce the Orthodox Church.

  • World Mission: Coordinate the filling, collecting, and distribution of T4U Christmas shoeboxes. Develop links with other international charities, e.g., the International Orthodox Christian Charity.

  • Visitor Welcoming: greet new visitors to the Divine Services, make them feel welcome, and provide information about the Orthodox Church.

  • Daily Church opening: open the church during the day and be available to welcome visitors.

  • Worcester Churches Together: serve as our church’s representative for Worcester Churches Together.

Mission

  • Writing: write booklets on the lives of local saints, blogs for the website, content for social media, history of the church etc.

  • Media: make films, podcasts, etc about the Orthodox Church and the Church of St Anne and All Saints of Worcestershire. Take photographs of events for media channels.

  • Pilgrimage: plan and organise pilgrimages to local holy places to make our local saints and sites known to people in Worcestershire and the surrounding area.

  • Church planting: plan and organise Divine Services in other parts of the county such as Evesham and the market towns of Worcestershire.

Pilgrimage

  • Organise pilgrimages to holy places outside of the UK.

Administration

  • Fundraising: Participate in fundrasing event, activity planning and management; event leader; event worker.

  • Church Council: Be willing to serve on the Church Council. Members will be nominated and the Council members will be elected biannually.