Lay Ministries

The ministries of Holy Nativity touch the hearts of each and every parishioner and visitor that walk through our doors. There are many opportunities to become part of our church life here and participate in one of these groups. We encourage you to prayerfully consider sharing your God-given talent and become a lay ministry leader. If you have any questions please call the church office.

Fellowship and Food

Supper Club: Once a quarter a supper club mixer is held and everyone is placed in a supper club group. Your group will meet once a month at a person’s home or at a restaurant. This is a great way to meet new people and find out more about your fellow parishioners. Contact: Mary Ellen Pettis at 785-6245.

Young Adult Supper Club: Groups meeting monthly in homes or a restaurant. These groups change quarterly.

Receptions: This ministry helps in decorating and setting up for receptions on Sunday or for special events throughout the year. (We need a leader)

Men’s Softball: The men of Holy Nativity play softball in the church league of Panama City. Games are during the week at Oakland Terrace Park during softball season. Contact: Steve Dick at 913-0339.

The Lunch Bunch: The women of Holy Nativity are invited to lunch every third Friday to a local restaurant. (We need a leader)

Sunday Sweets: Parishioners can signup to bring sweets for Sunday mornings to be served with coffee and juice. Contact: Edyth Brown at 265-4009.

Silver Saints: If you are retired or 65 years old or older come and have lunch and great conversation every month. There is always a special program or speaker. Contact: Jim Hixson at 769-9021.

Special Events for Adults: Special trips are planned, for example, Beth Moore Conferences for the women and Promise Keepers for the men. (We need a leader)

Book Club: Once a month the church’s Book Club meets at a parishioner’s home where they discussed the selected book of the month. Contact Betty Grammer at 763-5095

Annual Meeting: An annual celebration of the parish held each January.

Annual Church Picnic: help plan this fun yearly event.

Episcopal Church Woman: The ECW meet every first Sunday of the month at 9:15 am in the Parish House. They also take part in social events, meetings, and mission projects.

Administration

Desk Ministry: Parishioners are scheduled to volunteer in the church office to assist the church staff. Contact: Jacqueline Elton at 747-4000.

Finance Committee: Quarterly meeting reviewing financial statements of the Church.

Convention Delegate: for Annual Diocesan Convention.

Landscape and Grounds: a new/restart ministry assisting wth the design and maintenance of our grounds.

St. Joseph’s Guild: a new/restart ministry to provide support in the maintenance and repair of our physical plant.

Vestry: the governing/advisory board of the parish.

Computer/website: assists in updating and maintaining website and office computers.

Tablecloths Ministry: to take home cloth tablecloths for cleaning and return.

Building Committee: to work with architects in implementing our long range plan.

Lay Weeders: families will be given a certain area/plot for the church grounds to keep up and look nice.

Evangelism

Newcomers Committee: This committee meets every week and reviews visitor records and makes plans to follow-up. All visitors and newcomers are visited after they worship with us and they are given a welcome mug and information about our church family. Contact: Hercules Pettis at 785-6245.

Welcome Table: Every Sunday volunteers are in-charge of the welcome table. It is supplied with information for both visitors and members. Contact: Hercules Pettis at 785-6245.

Newcomer’s Social: Socials are planned throughout the year to welcome our new members to Holy Nativity and this gives them a chance to meet us and learn about their new church home. Contact: Hercules Pettis at 785-6245.

Worship

Chancel Choir: The adult choir currently sings at the 10:30 am service and at special services during the year. Rehearsal is on Thursday nights at 6:30 pm.   Contact: Marqua Brunette at 769-9034.

Rite One Choir: This adult choir currently sings at the 8:00 am service and at special services during the year. Rehearsals are on Thursday nights at 5:30 pm.  Contact: Marqua Brunette at 769-9034.

Children’s Choir: The children’s choir sings often on Sunday mornings at the 10:30 service and at other special occasions. Marqua Brunette, Director of Choirs, at 747-4000.

Instrumentalists: to assist in our musical offerings during the year.

Organ Guild: to assist and be apart of a committee that maintains our organ.

Acolytes: Acolytes are youth and adults that assist in worship by carrying torches and the cross while processing, recessing, and during the reading of the Holy Gospel. They assist during in the offertory and with Eucharist. This is an important ministry that is needed during our time of worship. Contact: Mary Bonham at 763-7828.

Lay Eucharistic Ministers/Chalice Bearers: Chalice Bearers are licensed by the Bishop, and they assist the Priest during worship by helping with different parts of the service including serving communion. They are also trained as Lay Eucharistic Ministers where they can provide communion to the homebound and sick that are unable to attend a worship service. Contact: Joe Ciccarelli at 265-9276.

Lectors: Lectors are parishioners who are scheduled to read the First Lesson at the 10:30 am service. Contact: Joe Ciccarelli at 265-9276.

Intercessor: Leads Prayers of the People during Sunday services.

Greeters: Greeters are parishioners who are scheduled to assist the ushers at both worship services to welcome everyone and introduce newcomers and visitors to the Priest. Contact: Terry Jangula at 874-2382.

Ushers: Ushers are parishioners who are scheduled to assist in the worship services by taking attendance, passing around the offering plates, & guiding the congregation during communion. Contact: Terry Jangula at 874-2382.

Altar Guild: The Altar Guild is responsible for setting up the Altar area for any service in the church, including decoration for church holidays and putting out our bulletins. Contact: Inge Churchill at 265-6744.

Healing Ministry: Currently one person from this ministry is available at the communion rail after the 8:00 am service and before the 10:30 service for anyone to come up for healing prayers. Contact: Sandy Ciccarelli at 265-9276.

Nursery: The nursery is open on Sundays 7:45 am to 12:00 noon and during other events and meetings that are scheduled. We have a preschool, toddler, and infant area. Contact: Suzanne Grossman at 747-4000.

Children’s Chapel: The children through 5th grade have their own chapel service during the 10:30 am worship service on Sunday mornings where they can listen and learn in their own way. They begin worship with their parents in the Nave and recess out after the children’s story. They return during the announcement time of the service.

Flower Guild: A new ministry providing flowers for services and parish events.

Pastoral Care

Stephen Ministry: A Stephen Minister is a specially trained parishioner that is assigned to help someone in need of counseling or in a time of grieving. Contact: Rosemary Lockard at 874-0140.

Lay Eucharistic Ministers: They are licensed by the bishop the same as Chalice Bearers. They are trained to provide Communion to people who are unable to attend a worship service due to illness or who is homebound. Contact: Shirley Niquet at 265-2833.

Prayer Chain: People participate in receiving calls in a chain for special or urgent prayers. Contact: Sarah Austin at 763-4555.

Meal Delivery: Meals are delivered to the sick, people recovering from illness, families with new babies, and when there is a death in the family. Contact Max Dannecker at 763-2683.

Healing Ministry: Currently one person from this ministry is available at the communion rail after the 8:00 am service and before the 10:30 service for anyone to come up for healing prayers. We also offer a time for prayers of healing twice a month during the 10:30 am worship service. Contact: Sandy Ciccarelli at 265-9276.

Mary-Martha Circle of The Episcopal Community: The Episcopal Community was formed in Feb. 2010 by women from around the country to share their spiritual journeys and mutually encourage each others faith. Contact: Marilyn Hauser at 896-7320.

The Order of Daughters of the King: This lay order is open to all baptized Anglican women who take vows of Daily Prayer and Service. The DOK meet once a month to serve our local parish and to pray for the spread of god’s Kingdom, our pastors, the needs of our church, it’s parishioners, and their loved ones.

Cursillo: A diocesan three-day “renewal retreat” of learning, worship and formation.

Service or Missions and Outreach

This committee meets monthly to provide funds to the community from their yearly budget. They also plan mission and outreach activities in our community and sometimes throughout the United States and world. Contact: Gayle Ahrens at 235-4265.

Education Ministries for Adults, Youth, and Children

In any of Holy Nativity’s Christian Education settings there are many opportunities to share your God Given gifts. Listed below is a list of some of the offerings for our Ministry of Education.

Sunday School, Wonderful Wednesday program, Special Events and trips, Cursillo, Happening, and other Diocesan events, Home Groups, Library, Communion Classes, Confirmation Classes, Ladies Bible Study, Nursery and Children’s Chapel

Please click on the Education tab for more information on our education offerings for all ages.