Every person who walks through our big red doors (or visits our Web site) is a gift from God, bearing his or her own unique gifts. Below are different ways that St. Paul’s Parish members and friends may offer (or discover) their talents.

Free Farmers’ Market

The St. Paul’s Free Farmers’ Market ministers to those in need of food. It is staffed by volunteers and is open the third Saturday each month. Each time it is open, the Market provides about a week’s worth of groceries to, on average, about 100 local households. To volunteer at the Free Farmers’ Market contact the Church Office at 330.725.4131

Parish Office Staff

We are always looking for office volunteers to assist in a a variety of tasks. Contact Marianne Thomas, 330.725.4131

Liturgical Leadership

Acolytes, Eucharistic Ministers (chalice bearers), Lectors (readers), and Litanists (prayer leaders) all assist in public worship. There are always opportunities to lead in the liturgy. Contact the Rector or Linda Garman, Vestry liaison for Worship, through the Church Office, 330.725.4131

Altar Guild

The members of the Altar Guild, also known as “Sacristans,” maintain the altar and its furnishings, prepare the worship space for public and private liturgies, and otherwise work with the Rector and other liturgical leaders to ensure the smooth flow of our worship. Contact the Altar Guild Director, Kim Kelly, through the Church Office at 330.725.4131

Christian Education

There are many opportunities to volunteer with the children of St. Paul’s Parish. Sunday School teachers for all age levels are needed throughout the year, as are adults to mentor our teens through the Episcopal Youth Club. All volunteers for children and youth programs periodically re-take the “Safeguarding God’s Children” training program, geared to preventing and responding to child sexual abuse in everyday life and ministry. To volunteer, call Director of Religious Education Mary Anthony at 330.725.4131

Membership Ministries

Building stronger ties among all members – current, inactive, and potential -.is the work of the whole community. However, volunteers are always needed for a variety of specific tasks such as

Bulletin Board Curators
Coffee Hour Hosts
Communications Support
Fellowship and Hospitality
Idea People
Inactive Member Liaisons
Newsletter Writers and Editors
Parish Picnic planning and support
Photography: taking pictures, scanning prints, organizing displays, albums
Prayer Lists & Prayer Chain
Telephone Pastors
Ushers
Visitor Greeters

If you would like to volunteer for any of these ministries, or others that you can envision but which are not listed here, call the Church Office at 330.725.4131 speak with the Rector.

Pastoral Care

Although the Rector is the professional pastor of the parish, he is not the only pastoral minister at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Every baptized Episcopalian promises in the Baptismal Covenant to “seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself.” (BCP, Page 305) This means we all take a pastoral interest in one another. At St. Paul’s Parish there are three major ministry groups of volunteers focusing on pastoral care:

Eucharistic Visitors, who bring the Blessed Sacrament to at-home or hospitalized members. To join the corps of Eucharistic Visitors, leave a message for coordinator Kim Kelly at the Church Office, 330.725.4131

The Knitting Circles, which make and supply prayer shawls for those dealing with illness, injury, or loss; baby blankets for newborns; and hats, scarves, and mittens to those in need, primarily merchant seamen through the Episcopal Church’s Seamen’s Institute. Leave a message at the Church Office for Melinda Rucinski to join the Tuesday evening Happy Clickers. Leave a message for Nancy Morgan to join the May Gresham Circle on Thursdays at noon. Call the Church Office, 330.725.4131 to so so.