WORSHIP

Are you looking for a fun family worship experience, an ecumenical Sunday School, and a theology complex enough to allow you to ask questions and explore your own spirituality? The Episcopal Church in Almaden offers two opportunities for worship on Sunday mornings. Our 7:30 a.m. Eucharist is short, sweet and to the point followed by a coffee hour for socializing and discussion. Our 11:00 a.m. family Eucharist (10:30 in the summer) offers great music, laughter and hope. During the school year we have joint Sunday School with our sister church, the Almaden Valley United Church of Christ. Each service includes readings from the Old and New Testaments.  You can find a copy of these readings on The Lectionary Page. We also welcome you to any of the special services during Lent, Holy Week, Easter and Christmas, and at various other times during the year. Those wanting to be more actively involved in assisting with worship at ECA may want to consider one of the following opportunities:

Acolytes - serve at the altar with grace and poise, handling the vessels at the Priest's direction, leading processions and assisting the clergy as needed at the Lord's altar. All active youth of the parish are welcome to serve. Please contact Taylor Mills if you are interested in receiving training to become an acolyte. see Matrix

Altar Guild - is a ministry of preparing and maintaining the vessels and vestments used at the altar. Members are trained and assigned to a rotating team that is responsible for the services during a given week. If you would like to participate in this ministry, please contact Elaine LaVallee and Betty Wood.

Music - comes in several forms. First, we have our traditional choir, which sings at our 11:00 a.m. family service. Our music director, John Leslie, leads this choir. Practice is once a week on Thursday nights. Another music tradition at ECA is our Folk Choir, which is directed by Andy Kerr. This choir accompanied by guitars, mandolin, bass, harmonicas, and violin, sings once a month, usually the second Sunday of the month at the 11:00 a.m. family service. Practice for this group is usually the night before at a potluck supper at the Kerr's.  We also have a Children's Choir, which practices on Saturday mornings.

Youth Sundays - Regularly scheduled for the fourth Sunday of each month, our young people are given opportunities to try different roles of service at ECA.  All interested youth should be sure to let Jim McPherson or Bryan Bond know how they might like to be involved.

There is no Kids' Breakout scheduled on Youth Sundays.

Lay Readers - are communicants who serve as readers and chalice bearers during the services on Sunday. They may also serve at occasional offices such as Morning Prayer, times of special prayer and at baptisms. Lay readers are under the direct supervision of the rector, attend training prior to serving, and receive a copy of our Illustrated Lay Readers Guide. This ministry is open to anyone of middle school age or older. Anyone interested in becoming a lay reader should contact Jenny Hoyt, this ministry's lead, or our rector, Stephen Mills.   see Matrix

Gayle & Dave Byers

Ushers - help newcomers, distribute worship materials and assist communicants. Each person serves on a rotating three-member team. This is an excellent place to begin a ministry of service in the congregation, and if more than one member of a family wishes to participate, schedules can be arranged so they serve on the same team. Please contact Dave Byers if you would like to join this ministry and serve as an usher. see Matrix

Kids' Breakout - Kids' Breakout is an opportunity for the younger children of ECA to leave the sanctuary after the announcements in the 11:00 a.m. service. The children will have some supervised activity time and then return up to the sanctuary before the offering so they may complete the service with their families. Activities for the children include crafts, music, games and outdoor play. If you have any creative ideas or talents you could share with the children, please let us know. Breakout is open to children up to and including 5th grade. (There is also a nursery available the entire service for younger children).

We need parent volunteers to sign up on a rotating basis to supervise Kid's Breakout. Two adult volunteers are needed each week. It is not necessary to have a child attending Breakout to supervise. If you are interested in "cross covering" for AVUCC Breakout, so that you would not miss your own service, please mark it on the sign up sheet. We also would like any middle school or high school youth who want to volunteer to sign up individually. Please sign up at Coffee Hour or call Leslie Rousseau.

Healing Services - are held on the third Sundays of each month during the 11:00 am service.

Nursery - service is provided for children up to 3 years of age each Sunday at the 11:00 am family service and at some activities through the year. Our nursery has been newly renovated to meet the needs of our young families. If you would like to volunteer to help out with the nursery, please contact our coordinator, Pauline Gilligan.

Worship Committee - this committee includes the heads of each of the above ministries. It meets about four times a year to plan and coordinate the worship activities at ECA. The Worship Committee is led by Sandie Mueller.

Can't remember which Sunday you're scheduled to help out at church?   Check the Worship Matrix.

Sunday Fellowship Come to the Fellowship Hall to enjoy a snack and say hello after the Sunday Service.
	Freshly Brewed Coffee (regular and decaf) Assorted Teas and Hot Chocolate	Coffee and snacks are served each Sunday by our Coffee Hosts.  The Sunday Hosts are individuals and families who have signed up on a rotational basis.
Come Join Us in Christian Fellowship