Worship Assistants
“When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up” 1 Corinthians 14:26
We have plenty of opportunities to aid in worship. These roles can be occupied by anyone in the congregation. If you have any interest in performing one of these roles, please get in touch with our Director of Music Ministries, Graeme Shields for more information and access to the schedule.
Readers
We encourage Readers from the assembly to share the weekly lectionary from the lectern at our Sunday morning services. These readings are sent out ahead of time and meant to be looked over and practiced by the Readers. Along with the readings, Readers receive a pronunciation guide and a lecter’s guide for good practice. Reading the Word of God for our assembly in worship is a great privilege and responsibility.
Communion Assistants
The Communion Assistant aids ministers in the chancel in distributing communion to the assembly. Plentiful guidance is provided from worship leaders in the chancel. Often, a reader for a service will also be a Communion Assistant. The two responsibilities never happen concurrently in worship, meaning they can logistically and reliably be done by the same person.
Assisting Ministers
This is a more present and involved role during worship and involves residing in the chancel during worship with the Presiding Minister and Preacher. Some of the chief responsibilities include leading the Prayers of the People, setting the table before Communion, and leading the Offertory Prayer. This rewarding experience showcases the important distinction that worship leaders are called out of the assembly, not over or against it.
Cantors
The psalms were written to be sung, and Redeemer engages in this practice. Singing the psalm helps to realize the beautiful tradition that has been passed down for generations of listening, singing, listening, singing, and listening during the Word in our pattern of worship. The cantor leads the singing of the psalm from the lectern, providing psalm text for responsorial singing with the assembly as well as leading psalm refrains that we all sing together. Cantors receive the music for the psalm ahead of time and practice with the Director of Music Ministries before the service as needed.
Ushers
Ushers are often the first faces that new parishioners encounter at Redeemer. This important role involves greeting the assembly as they enter the sanctuary and offering them a bulletin for worship. During the Offering, Ushers guide the plate through the congregation. They also conduct parishioners from their pews up to the rail for Communion. Finally, Ushers are responsible for unlocking and locking doors, plugging in and unplugging coffee pots, and checking the pews for debris after services. Fortunately, Ushers are on teams and can rely on each other and substitutes to make sure everything gets done after each service.