As Episcopal Christians, we Serve our families, our parish, and our world in the name of Christ.

At Grace that means a lot. We have a long history of service in our local community. A number of local charities and institutions have begun their life here, either at Grace or through her members living their faith in their daily life and vocations. Grace as a Church supports local and international missions, and many of her members support far more.

Please contact the office for opportunities to serve. Below you will find a comprehensive list of places to serve within and outside Grace. Not every ministry is your calling, nor is every opportunity for every person. Let us help you find a place to further the work of God’s kingdom.

Our current ministries include:

WELCOME

All God’s Daughters (a ministry group of women for fellowship, prayer & education)
Building Maintenance (lend a hand in facilities repair & upkeep to maintain our campus as a center for mission)
Coffee Hour (promote fellowship and the building of the Body of Christ by hosting a coffee hour after a service)
Grace Hikers (experiencing God’s creation in seasonal fellowship out on the trails of northern Michigan)
Grace Notes (promotes ministries and communication of the parish through editing & designing newsletter)
Grace Notes (facilitating the delivery of congregational life through mailing- prepare newsletters for bulk mailing)
Membership record keeping (Helping to maintain contact with members by entering data on computer)
Men’s Group (a ministry group of fellowship, prayer, & service work)
Nursery Care (organize & direct care of children 4 & under during meetings, services to allow parent to serve and worship)
Office Volunteers (expand the effect of Grace’s ministry by assisting with various tasks in office)
Parish Life (promote fellowship and the building of the Body of Christ by event planning for fellowship)
Pastoral Care (sharing Christ’s love through visits to the homebound, hospitalized, and other facilities)
Special Events (extending a ministry of hospitality and welcome while assisting at funeral luncheons, receptions, parties)
St. Fiacre (a fellowship of prayer and care as members maintain gardens & grounds)
St. Theo Amity Guild (a fellowship ministry group of men for fellowship, prayer & education)
Usher (assisting the worship of God’s people by greeting, seating worshippers, collecting offerings, helping and guiding.)
Website (promotes ministries and communication of the parish through coordinating, designing, maintaining website information)
Welcoming (extending the ministry of hospitality to all by planning activities to welcome newcomers)
Women’s Readers’ Circle (a ministry group of women’s fellowship and book study)

WORSHIP

Acolyte (facilitating the worship of God and administration of the sacraments by assisting the priest during church services)
Adult Choir & Children’s Choir (facilitating the worship of God and administration of the sacraments by providing musical support at church services)
Baker ((facilitating the worship of God by baking bread for Eucharistic services)
Catechist (building up the Body of Christ by helping prepare candidates for baptism & confirmation)
Centering Prayer (praying for the people of God by weekly contemplative prayer gathering)
Daughters of the King (a ministry of women of prayer, service, & evangelism)
Grace Harmony (singing praises to the Lord and facilitating worship through a small ensemble offering contemporary selections of praise and thanksgiving)
Healing Team (a ministry of healing prayer and the laying on of hands followed by an anointing with blessed oil)
Intercessor (facilitating the prayer life of the parish by leading the prayers of the people at services)
Lector (Bringing Scriptures into people’s lives by reading the lessons at services)
LEM – Lay Eucharistic Ministers (facilitating the worship of God and administration of the sacraments by distributing communion during the service)
LEV – Lay Eucharistic Visitors (facilitating the worship of God and administration of the sacraments to the homebound)
Prayers of the People (deepening the prayer life of the parish by composing the prayers for weekly worship)
Service Participant Scheduler (facilitating the worship of God and administration of the sacraments by scheduling the service participants monthly)
St. Anne’s Altar Guild (facilitating the worship of God and administration of the sacraments by preparing sanctuary for services)
Wedding Coordination (extending a ministry of hospitality and service by assisting in planning weddings)
Worship Planning (Deeping the faith of the parish planning services for Sundays & seasons of worship

STUDY

Benedictine Spirituality (develop a spiritual discipline and rhythm in your daily life using the Rule of St. Benedict)
Bible Study (join daytime & evening opportunities for Bible Study)
Church School (training the next generation of disciples on Sunday mornings by teaching children aged pre-school to 5th gr)
Grace Based Parenting (helping parents in raising morally strong and spiritually motivated children)
Grief Support (“Bearing one another’s burdens” by guidance and prayer at times of loss)
Library (facilitating study and deepening of faith by maintaining church library)
Quiet Mornings of Recollection (expanding faith by attending occasional mornings of quiet prayer)
Spiritual Direction (deepening faith and discipleship through personal spiritual growth)
Youth Group Leaders (facilitating the next generation of disciples by guiding middle school – high school aged youth)
Grace Springs Center for Spirituality (offering classes and retreats for exploring one’s faith journey)

SERVE

Accounts Payable aAiding the stewardship of the parish by paying bills for the church)
Alternative Gifts (enable giving and ministry through annual holiday gift program)
Blood Drives (a stewardship ministry promotes life through Northern MI blood program)
Columbarium (a ministry of assisting families at times of loss and maintaining records of the Columbarium)
Contributions (facilitating stewardship through giving by posting & tracking giving to the church)
Crop Walk (a ministry of service to the hungry by participating/organizing annual walk for world hunger in fall)
Episcopal Peace Fellowship (promoting the peace of the Lord through justice issues)
Finance Committee (a stewardship ministry to oversee & direct church finances & budget)
Food Pantry (a service and discipleship ministry that distributes food to community)
Foundation (a stewardship ministry that promotes legacy giving and the future advancement of the Gospel)
Friday Lunch (a service and discipleship ministry that provides a weekly community meal)
Jubilee House (a ministry to assist at drop-in center for the homeless)
Memorial Funds (a stewardship ministry that advances the Gospel by coordinating & acknowledging the receipt of memorial gifts)
Needs Pantry (a service and discipleship ministry that takes stock and purchases items for personal needs pantry)
Prayer Shawl Ministry (a prayer and fellowship ministry that knits shawls for healing & celebration)
Safe Harbor (a ministry to the poor and homeless by assisting with meals & overnight shelter)
Stewardship (facilitate discipleship through stewardship of time, talent and treasure)
Vestry (serve as a leader in guiding the parish’s ministries)
Convention Delegate (act on behalf of Grace Church in the Deanery & at the Diocesan Convention for the advancement of the Gospel in our region)

It’s about following Jesus, really.

29 Thursday Sep 2011

Posted by The Very Rev. Daniel P. Richards in Serve, Welcome

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Welcome to the GracePage. We are a growing, energetic Episcopal church in downtown Traverse City, Michigan. This is a little marker about who we are and what we are about.

We are a deeply liturgical people. Episcopalians do love their liturgy (structured worship). Our Book of Common Prayer may be the best little thing Anglicanism has given the Christian world. It is at once guide to common worship, daily prayer, devotion, and history and catechism, homework folder, guidebook, and lifelong companion. Our Prayer Book is not meant to be left in the pew. We bring our own and we take them home.

If you are new or just don’t have a Book of Common Prayer, the Very Rev. Daniel Richards, otherwise known around here as “Daniel”, wants you, implores you, impels you to take one home. I know this seems like a crazy thing to do, but we are about discipleship here, and equipping the saints, ala. Paul of Tarsus. We want you to experience the full depth and beauty of the Episcopal tradition of Christianity, and we believe that you’ll be back for more.

So get to know us a little through the pages here, and come join us for worship, and begin a lifelong walk of faith.