Nurture and Challenge Your Spirit
a member of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
NURTURING OUR COMMUNITY
by using our gifts in ministry
in and beyond our faith community
Providing opportunities for the multitudes on Cape Ann whether you're giving back or asking for help.
St. John’s shines with grace and excellence in many ways, but none more brightly than in our service to people in the wider community. Humility is seeing ourselves the way God see us and we humbly offer our gifts to our neighbors. Our discipleship takes the form of serving others with the gifts we have been given while sharing our faith. We share our campus with community partners including the Coalition for Domestic Violence Awareness, Sorellanza Sisters in Song, 12 step programs, Cape Ann Climate Coalition and neighborhood card groups. We feed the food insecure weekly and offer special worship and education involving relevant and timely justice issues.
Below are ways you can get involved in sharing your gifts with us
If you are interested in participating in any of these ministries, please email Marge
WORSHIP
Lector
This ministry involves reading the scripture selections during the Sunday service. Lectors are provided the readings a few days in advance. Lectors may also be called upon to read for special services other than Sundays. No training is involved, and scheduling is flexible based upon availability. This is another way to be an active participant in the Sunday service.
Altar Guild
Provides an opportunity to feel a part of the service, the Altar Guild is responsible for preparing the church for Sunday services, as well as special holidays and other services. Duties include: filling candlesticks with oil, preparing the service vessels, and setting up elements for communion, cleaning the vessels following the service, preparing a home communion kit if needed, and tidying the sanctuary. Members meet on Saturday at a time that is convenient, and scheduling is flexible.
Ushers and Greeters
Often the first contact coming into the church on Sunday, ushers greet everyone entering the building, distribute the weekly worship bulletin, and collect contributions. Additional responsibilities include: bringing the bread and wine during the offertory, identifying parishioners needing additional assistance during the service, and securing the church at the end of the service.
If you enjoy singing, all ages, all voices, and all instruments are welcome to join in Saint John’s music ministry. The choir is not a “members only” club. Rather, it is open and loving to all who want to share their gifts and talents. Choir members usually meet on a weekly basis to rehearse, but anyone can join for one Sunday a month, or just Easter or Christmas. If you play any instrument, from trumpets to drums, you are welcome. To be a part of a ministry that “tugs on people’s hearts,”
Choir/Music Ministry
Flower Guild
Keeps the church decorated all year long. This includes: providing flowers on the altar for worship every Sunday, decorating the church for Christmas and the Easter seasons. Flowers are obtained from various florists, and parishioners with gardens provide flowers in the summer months. It’s an opportunity to be creative while helping to prepare the worship space. Scheduling is flexible.
Lay Eucharistic Ministry
This is an opportunity to be an active participant in the Sunday service. This includes assisting the priest during Sunday services by offering the bread and wine with the priest, distributing the wine during communion, and any other rituals conducted during the service. A brief tutorial is provided to go over the logistics. Scheduling is flexible based on an individual’s schedule
Acolyte
Assists the priest during the Sunday service by carrying the cross during the processional and recessional. Also assists the priest in preparing the altar by receiving the bread and wine during the offertory, preparing the altar, and helping in the distribution of the bread and wine during communion.
A brief, hands-on training is provided.
Scheduling is flexible based on the individual’s schedule.
Worship Team
Gather quarterly to offer suggestions to guide the Priest in Collaboration and the Director of Music for special liturgies, and thematic worship )one Sunday each month focusing on a theme or the lectionary using visual, audio or kinesthetic enhancements during worship).
OUTREACH
Regal Rummage
This is a volunteer ministry that offers gently used clothing and foot ware for men, women, and children at a lower cost than retail stores. Some home goods, such as sheets and towels, are also available. It provides an opportunity for Saint John’s to assist families in the Cape Ann community that are in need of affordable clothing. Other than sales, volunteers assist in organizing, folding, and hanging stock.
The shop is open Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, from 10 am to 2 pm, and is staffed by one to two volunteers. Scheduling is flexible. (Note: A Spanish speaking volunteer would be greatly appreciated.)
Thrift Shop
Open three days a week, (10-2 pm Wednesday, Friday, Saturday), the Thrift Shop serves as a means of outreach to the Gloucester community by providing an array of household and other items at a reasonable cost. Duties include cashiering, bagging, sorting donations, and arranging merchandise front room supervision, and inventory. Scheduling is flexible. Contact: Gwen Kopka gwenkopka@comcast.net
Visit our Thrift Shop page >
Sunday Food Collection
A basket included in each Sunday Service Offertory is donated to the Open Door each week to be added to the shelves in their food pantry. Donations help to fill the gap in the assortment of food available and provide much needed nutritional support to our community.
All food items NOT IN GLASS CONTAINERS are welcome but, please check the expiration date. We also accept diapers, baby wipes, as well as women's sanitary products. Please bring 1-2 items to church with you and drop them in the basket.
Open Door
The mission of The Open Door is to alleviate the impact of hunger in our community. To accomplish our mission we use a variety of practical strategies to connect people to good food, advocate on behalf of those in need, and engage others in the work of building food security
Visit the Open Door >
Action Lunch Program
The Action Lunch Program provides a bag lunch for guests of the Action Shelter in Gloucester. St. John's has been involved in this ministry for nearly 20 years! Without this lunch many would not get a mid-day meal on Sunday.
Volunteering includes preparing 20 bag lunches that include a simple sandwich, small drink, chips and fruit. The lunches are delivered to the shelter after 5:00pm and are distributed on Sunday morning. All participants can be reimbursed for expenses and we'd be happy to help anyone through their first time participating!
The Grace Center is a grant-funded, faith-based program serving the at-risk community of Cape Ann. Breakfast and lunch are provided, as well as engaging activities such as Bingo, discussion groups, arts and crafts, music, and movies.
A social worker and staff work closely with other agencies in town to ensure the guests needs are being met. To learn more about Grace Center visit their website.
FORMATION
Men's Bible Study Group
This group of gentlemen meets every Wednesday from 7:00 am–8:30 am in the Thompson Room, St. John's Church, 48 Middle St, Gloucester, MA 01930 to review the readings for the upcoming Sunday service and reflect on their meaning. This results in a lively discussion that provides additional insight as they prepare to participate more fully in the weekly services (often this group go out for breakfast at Two Sisters following the meeting).
No preparation is necessary and materials are provided. All men are welcome.
Cursillo Reunion Group
This group meets the First and Third Tuesdays 4:30pm to 5:30pm in the Thompson Room of St. John's Church, 48 Middle St, Gloucester, MA 01930 and provides an opportunity for members of St. John's community to grow in faith and spirituality. It encourages participants to live out their Baptismal vows. Following an initial Cursillo weekend retreat, members of the group meet twice a month to share how each person has encountered and exercised their faith.
No preparation is necessary and materials are provided.
All are welcome.
HOSPITALITY/FELLOWSHIP
Welcome Team
Offers hospitality to newcomers to help them feel part of the community of faith. Based on the all-important message in the Gospel of offering hospitality to all and creating an enriching experience, the team meets once a month or as needed, in person or via Zoom, to discuss ways to welcome new members to Saint John’s community.
Ms. Fixits
Started in 1990 as the Housekeeping Committee, this group of volunteers works together on Mondays from 9:00am–12:00pm as needed to clean, paint, and repair anything that needs minor work in the church and on its grounds.
When projects are assigned, the Ms. Fixits will be called upon and after work they get together for lunch in the parish hall.
Coffee Hour
Working in teams, coffee hour occurs following the Sunday service. Participation in this ministry provides parishioners with an opportunity for social contact and fellowship. Teams are scheduled on a rotating basis (usually once a month), and determine what food they will serve (e.g. fruit, cheese, baked goods).
PASTORAL CARE
Lay Pastoral Care Team
Our vision is to provide a ministry of hope and caring so that no member of our congregation need be alone. We hope to visit the ill at home or in the hospital, support those going through a life crisis, maintain contact with those unable to attend church due to illness or disability, support friends and family involved in care giving, and comfort the bereaved. We do this in person by listening, praying, or offering home communion.