Worship Our worship ministry consists of several sub ministries: Liturgy - Liturgy at the regular Saturday evening and Sunday morning worship is according to the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. A service bulletin, reflecting the seasons of the Church year, is provided at all major services. At other times material drawn from authorized sources may be used as permitted by General Convention. Music used at choral services may be both traditional and contemporary. A choir assists in leading the choral services. Ushers and Greeters welcome visitors and members to the church and seek to make attendance as rewarding as possible. Readers are trained to read at public worshipbring the scriptures to life. Acolytes, drawn from among our young people, assist with the conduct of our Sunday worship. Chalice Bearers assist with the distribution of Communion. Lay Eucharistic Ministers take communion to those at home, or in the hospital, and who are unable to attend church. Altar Guild is responsible for preparing the church for worship and for decorating the church for special occasions. Prayer Chain group prays for those in particular need and presents those names at the regular Thursday Eucharist Other Ministries Grace Church carries out its work and worship through the sacrificial commitment of its people in the ministries they voluntarily undertake. Many ministries take the form of individual action within the community, others through the programs of Grace church. Hospitality Hospitality was one of the most significant aspects of the ministry of Jesus. We seek to follow his example. Hospitality can be as simple as members inviting friends, neighbors and acquaintances to come with them to Grace Church, welcoming folk when they arrive, or providing support at times of joy and sorrow. It also includes providing loving support for those who are ill at home, in the hospital, or nursing homes. Some of the areas of hospitality are: Welcoming New Members Family Care Wedding and Funeral Service Receptions Special Events Co-ordination Organizing Coffee Hour after Services Encouraging use of the Parish Hall and room facilities Christian Education Grace Church is committed to regular, informed and open study of the many facets of Christian faith and life. It seeks to be inclusive in the scope of the material used. There are regular study classes. Check our Events section for the details of current opportunities. There is a regular children's program during the main service on a Sunday. Buildings and Grounds A group of JuniorWardens and volunteer members address repairs and upkeep of the church buildings and property. Suggestions concerning building and grounds improvements are always welcome. Horizons An annually appointed group of people plan for the future physical needs of Grace Episcopal Church. Needs are determined, prioritized and then projected into the church's long-range development plan. These needs include special projects and expansion planning. Finance Each Episcopal Church is supported from the regular contributions of its members. Members are asked to review the level of their giving each year through a Stewardship campaign. It is the task of the Vestry, elected at the annual meeting, to manage those funds. The day today management is done through a treasurer. The treasurer oversees all church finances, authorizing the payment of all bills and operating expenses. Tellers, working under the supervision of the Senior Warden, assist with the accounting for offerings and donations. Outreach Ministry Commitment to the wider community of city and worldis a primary focus of the work of Grace Church. It is expressed in a number of different ways and is a developing and changing ministry. Some of that commitment is exercised by individuals in the many ways members are involved in the community from hospital volunteers, through community projects offering training in life skills, and work with young people. As a church community, time, energy and funding are provided for the Hava-Care project. The project is directed toward those who are in crisis need, seeking as far as possible to sustain folks through difficult times in their lives. It is managed through the Interagency Council (928-453-5800) on our behalf. It is a program open to all people without any strings attached. Grace Church maintains a small food bank and contributes to other agencies. The first Sunday of the month is designated particularly to receive contributions. A "Paper Ministry" enables those who need to fill in forms (other than tax returns!) for Social Security claims, and many other applications. A call to the office will put you in touch with this service. Through the ministry of the Deacon, Rev. Steve Patterson, we maintain a live commitment with the juvenile prison service in Kingman and Phoenix. THe young people are regularly visited and worship conducted. Grace church is blessed with fine buildings and these are made available to a wide variety of groups from Parents of Awesome Children, to Addicts Anonymous, to Literacy Council, a Mom's Club, and a wide variety of personal interest clubs, from singers to bird fanciers. New projects continue to develop as need and personnel becaome known. If you would like to be a part of any of these important ministries, contact us at Grace Episcopal Church. There will always be an area in which your time and skills can help turn vision into reality.