Server's Schedule

Click here to see the current Server's Schedule.

The Vestry.  In the Episcopal Church the Vestry acts as "agents and legal representatives of the Parish,' administering the temporal affairs of the church, electing and calling the Rector, and maintaining the church and all other buildings and properties belonging to the church.  Additionally, at Grace Memorial, the members of the Vestry take an active leadership role in the lay ministries of the parish.  They are servants of the mission of the Church, help the Rector to develop a vision for the work of the church and oversee its various ministries, seeking to involve all persons in the ministry of Christ in the church and beyond.

Grace Groups.  Most of the ministries at Grace Memorial take place within the structure of the ministry teams called Grace Groups.  Each Grace Group has a coordinator who envisions ministries, gathers people together to do them, and then reflects up the experience.  All one needs to do to join a Grace Group is just contact the Grace Group Coordinator and participate in the group's ministry in the church or the community.  The current Grace Groups are as follows:

• Christian Formation - The Christian Formation Grace Group is responsible for all the educational ministries of the church and includes Sunday School teachers, helpers, Vacation Bible School coordinators, youth workers, and adult class leaders.  We have an active and vital group of education leaders in our church.
• Community Life - This ministry team coordinates newcomer ministries, plans fellowship events and receptions, and is in general attentive to bringing us together as a community in ways that will enrich our common life.
• Finance - The Finance ministry team is comprised of a group of people with interests in helping the church manage its finances. This group draws up the yearly budget, monitors expenditures, conducts the yearly audit, and performs such other ministries as suggested by the temporal needs of the church.
• Inreach - This is a team of people who are in ministry to those within our church family who are in need of basic pastoral care; team members visit the hospitalized or shut-in, send cards, and are generally attentive to the pastoral needs of the people of the church.
• Outreach - The Outreach Grace Group is responsible for ministries to the larger community and has lately been involved in the Pumpkin Patch and Caritas, both worthy projects which serve those beyond the church doors. People with a passion for ministry to the world are encouraged to become a part of this Grace Group.
• Stewardship (Coordinator:) This team is responsible for ongoing stewardship teaching and for preparing stewardship programs; people with a passion for understanding and communicating the fullness of stewardship and who are interested in deepening their own journey in stewardship, will want to become a part of this Group.
• Worship - The Worship Grace Group is comprised of people who serve the church in its various worship opportunities; members of the group include Eucharistic Ministers, Readers, Acolytes, Altar Guild members (Music ministries, while a part of this Grace Group, are listed separately below).
• Music - Grace Memorial has enjoyed a long history of excellent music programs. Currently, our music ministries include a growing and thriving Choir which sings at the 10:30 Sunday Eucharist and on other occasions as appointed. We are interested in instrumental support for our services. A youth choir also sings on special occasions. If you have an interest in being a part of any of our music programs, please contact us at 985-345-2764.

Grace Memorial Organizations:

ST. MARGARET’S SERVICE GUILD
St. Margaret’s Guild is for all ladies who are members of Grace Memorial. They meet the second Tuesday of each month, September through May, usually at 10:00 a.m. and usually in the Parish Hall or one of the member’s homes. Their primary focus is as a service guild. For example, coordination and organization of visitations for funerals is one of their functions. They also contribute, both monetarily and/or with physical participation, in various programs which are a part of church activities; Bible School and Caritas are two of those occasions. There is also usually some sort of fund raiser to finance their contributions. This is a group which welcomes all to join them for spiritual growth, socialization, friendship and service.

LAYMEN’S LEAGUE
The Laymen’s League is open to all men of the church. There are no membership requirements other than your desire to participate. The annual gumbo supper is the sole fundraiser with the proceeds dedicated to various church needs. The Laymen’s League Brunch has become an annual event and includes our entire church family. The group either hosts or assists with various church events during the year. There are no regularly scheduled meetings, however periodic social events are held where organization business is discussed.

ST. CLARE’S GUILD
This guild is composed of a group of ladies who enjoy needle pointing and other forms of stitchery. The church has benefited from their talent through beautiful cushions and upholstery. The poor have received lovely Afghans that were crocheted or knitted.

ALTAR GUILD
The Altar Guild is composed of dedicated persons, who faithfully serve at our Lord’s altar. Their duties include preparing the altar for all church services, along with laundering and repairing altar linens, as well as creating and repairing vestments.

How to become a member:

If you are a confirmed Episcopalian, have been attending another Episcopal parish, and desire to make Grace Memorial your church home, contact the Parish Office to ask the Parish Secretary to request a letter of transfer from your former church. We will need to know the name and city of the former church.

If you have been attending a church in another denomination and are a baptized Christian, please request that you be entered as a baptized member in our parish register. Then, if you desire to proceed into fuller membership in the church, the next step is to enter into the preparation process for Confirmation. At confirmation, you re-affirm your faith and are welcomed as a confirmed member of the Episcopal Church by the Bishop. At Grace Memorial, Inquirer’s Classes are offered periodically to prepare persons for confirmation; please contact the Church Office to find out when the next Inquirer’s Class begins.

If you have just begun to attend church and/or are unbaptized, Grace Memorial can prepare you for baptism. Please contact the Rector for information on being baptized.

In all cases, you are considered an active member of Grace Memorial, whether or not you are confirmed, if you are regular in attendance at worship, participate in the life and ministry of the church, and, according to your ability, financially support the work of the church.

All members of Grace Memorial may participate in any of the programs, ministries, and activities of the church with this exception: only persons who are confirmed communicants in good standing (that is, confirmed in the Episcopal Church with one’s membership at Grace Memorial, regular in worship, active in the life of the church, and financially supportive of its ministries) may vote at the annual parish meeting or serve on the Vestry.