Altar Guild

Our Altar Guild is a valuable part of our worship experience. Because of their attention to detail and organization, our altar is an area of beauty in our Sanctuary and reminds us that God is always near. Below are the duties of the Altar Guild. If you have an interest in being a part of this team, please contact the church office.

Regular Duties

  1. Change altar paraments in the Sanctuary as required (paraments and schedule are in Sacristy).
  2. If flower preference has not been specified, contact flower donors.
  3.  If no one has signed up for a particular week, contact the church office to see if there are any other arrangements for paying.
  4. Order Sanctuary flowers from Regina, (630) 904-0164, 152 W Gartner, Ste 112, Naperville 60540.
  5. Make sure candles are filled in the Sanctuary.
  6. Let the office know when supplies (oil, wicks, candles) are running low.
  7. Mend and clean soiled paraments as needed.
  8. Change water in used altar arrangements and move them to The Welcome Center for one week. After one week, dispose of the flowers, clean the vases, and leave them on the counter nearest the Benton Street entrance for pick up by Celidan.
  9. After Communion Sunday:
    • pick up and dispose of discarded communion cups left in the pews.
    • check that the pews are stocked with pens and attendance pads as needed. These supplies are kept in the usher closet at the back of the sanctuary. Notify office staff when supplies are running low.

Palm Sunday

  1. Order 200 palms from Concordia Supply six weeks before Palm Sunday.
  2. Upon arrival, the palms must be removed from the box and kept upright in a chilled area (garage, perhaps).
  3. The day before Palm Sunday, place the palms in two baskets stationed by each of the entrance doors at the back of the sanctuary. Do not “split” the palms unless they are very thick. It is welcoming for Altar Guild members to hold the baskets and offer the palms to congregants as they enter.
  4. After the second service, place a basket holding the remaining palms in the Welcome Center.
  5. After a week, dispose of the leftover palms.

Good Friday

  1. Before the Good Friday service, put the large black fabric found in the sacristy closet on the altar.
  2. During the Good Friday service, remove the paraments from the lecterns, as well as the wooden candle holders and wooden cross from the altar. Store in the sacristy.

Easter Saturday

  • On Easter Saturday, return the white paraments and brass candlesticks and cross to the altar in preparation for Easter Sunday.

Easter Flowers

  1. Check with Indy Mitchell at Countryside Flower Shop, 815 459 8130, in February about what’s available and pricing (due to allergies, the decision has been made not to purchase lilies).
  2. Church office to create an insert for ordering flowers/online form for the three weeks prior to the deadline.
  3. Give numbers to Countryside Flower Shop by the deadline (numbers will come from church office) and arrange for delivery on Holy Saturday, remind them to water the flowers just before they deliver.
  4. Give the invoice to the church office.
  5. Use the large rolling metal cart from the kitchen to transport delivered flowers to the Sanctuary.
  6. Set up flowers in the Sanctuary.
  7. Water any flowers that seem dry.
  8. If Good Friday service is in the Sanctuary and flowers had to be delivered sooner than Holy Saturday, remove the flowers from the Sanctuary and put them back on Holy Saturday
  9. Continue to water flowers weekly until the Sunday after Easter.
  10. The Sunday after Easter, any leftover plants are to be placed in the Welcome Center.

Sundays in the Park

  1. Take flowers from the office to the park at 9:00 am and place them on the altar.
  2. Bring flowers to Welcome Center after worship.

Thanksgiving Altar

  1. Altar gets decorated for the Sunday the week before Thanksgiving.
  2. Decorations in Room 103 (craft room).
  3. Decorations get removed on Thanksgiving Friday or Saturday (coordinated with Christmas decorations).

Christmas

Christmas poinsettias

  1. Order three to four pots of poinsettias.
  2. The poinsettias go on the altar for the first Sunday in December.
  3. Water the poinsettias every week.
  4. The poinsettias get removed before the first Sunday in January.

Christmas Eve

  1. Candles for Silent Night for family service and late service.
  2. Candles are in baskets in Room 103.
  3. Check the condition of the candles and prepare 150 candles, place in two baskets.
  4. If more candles are needed, ask the church office to order them from Cokesbury. If more liners are needed, ask the Church Office to order them from Concordia Supply.
  5. Baskets to go in the back of the Sanctuary.
  6. Put candles back in Room 103 after Christmas Eve services.
  7. Children’s Ministry will supply glow rods.