Volunteer
Welcome to Shared Ministry at Gloria Dei!
Shared ministry is a model for embracing our congregation’s mission as a responsibility not just of staff and key leaders but also of every member. Shared ministry celebrates the unique gifts and experiences each member has to offer and invites those gifts into service. It offers opportunities for ministry that nurture and develop their gifts and areas of interest in ways that advance our shared mission and foster our growth as a community and as individuals.
How is God calling you to serve the mission of Gloria Dei? We invite you to think about and identify your skills, talents and experience to note areas of interest you care about. Reflecting on these and looking at the opportunities to serve with Gloria Dei, you will be asked to share the ministries in which you are currently involved and those in which you would newly like to be involved. These inventories will be submitted to Gloria Dei.
What happens with the forms? Members of the Shared Ministry Committee will contact you to further discuss any new involvements you desire and connect you with the leaders of those ministries. The information is entered into the Gloria Dei membership database. Demographic information will be checked for accuracy.
Why should I complete these inventories each year? It is a good practice to reflect each year on how we want to share in the ministries of Gloria Dei. We recognize that new skills are developed from time to time and interests can change. We support that when a person decides to serve with a specific ministry, one is not signing up for life and may want to serve in a new way from time to time. As members desire involvement in new ways, the Shared Ministry Committee will connect them with those ministries. When needs occur throughout the year, we want to reach out to those who have the skills to share or have present day interests that coordinate to the need. It is also one way to keep your demographic information up to date.
PLEASE COMPLETE BOTH STEPS BELOW
STEP ONE
GIFTS AND PASSIONS
Use our Gifts and Passions Survey to tell us what skills, talents, and experience you have to share for the sake of God’s mission, and to let us know what issues you feel most passionate about.
STEP TWO
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
Review the ministry opportunities below. Then use our Ministry Interests Survey to tell us which ministries you are currently involved with and which ones you would like to learn more about.
Administrative Ministries
Communications Committee
The Communications Committee develops communications strategies and materials that publicize and promote the ministries at Gloria Dei with the support and direction of staff. Specific areas of focus include earned media and advertising opportunities; website maintenance; support for other committees, teams, and ministry areas of this congregation.
Offering Counter
Offering counters work as a team, usually on Monday mornings, to record and count offerings and contributions, providing accounting control for cash/check receipts and deposits.
Office Support
Office Support may include various tasks, such as answering phones, greeting guests, handling clerical tasks such as proofreading, using Microsoft Word/Publisher, and duplicating/assembling Sunday bulletins or other materials. Volunteers on Saturday mornings are scheduled to serve regularly or semi-regularly. Volunteers during the week are on-call and contacted to help when regular staff are unavailable.
Shared Ministry Committee
The Shared Ministry Committee supports the ministries of the congregation. Members coordinate and monitor gift, passion, and interest inventories, and organize ministry fairs. They maintain a volunteer database and coordinate volunteer opportunities for all Gloria Dei members.
Caring and Healing Ministries
Blood Drive Volunteer
The volunteer assists the blood drive coordinator in planning for, and working on, tasks assigned at the American Red Cross blood drive hosted at Gloria Dei each year.
Card Ministry Team
Team members gather about once a month to make cards for various church needs. Card-making materials are made available. Completed cards are used by staff and ministry leaders for distribution.
Diamond Jubilee Volunteer
The Diamond Jubilee is an annual celebration dinner and program usually held in May or June and hosted by the congregation. It honors members seventy-five years of age and older. Volunteers plan the menu, shop for groceries, prepare food, serve the meal and provide clean up. Servers may be youth working under adult supervision. Volunteers are also needed to provide transportation for guests if needed.
Faith and Food Volunteer
Volunteers are on a mailing list, and when a food need is present, they are notified and decide whether they can assist with meeting that need. Volunteers typically respond to requests from the Post-Hospitalization, Grief, New Arrival Ministry Teams, as well as the pastoral staff.
Funeral Reception Volunteer
Volunteers prepare for, serve, and clean up after funeral reception luncheons, and provide warm hospitality to funeral guests.
Grief Support Ministry Team
The team works with members of the congregation who are grieving losses, contacting them at the time of loss and/or 4/6 weeks after the loss to express sympathy on behalf of the congregation, providing listening and compassion.
Hope in Recovery Team
Members seek to bring awareness to addiction-recovery issues, reach out to those in need, and offer a place of solace for participants. Volunteers participate in team discussion and offer a devotion and/or written piece to submit to the office for publication.
Mental Health Ministry Team
Members work together to promote mental health awareness by planning and hosting events focused on mental health topics and lessening the social stigma of mental illness.
New Arrival Ministry Team
Members identify individuals who are having, or have had, recent additions to their families by birth or adoption and reach out by sending a handmade card, emailing, phoning, or visiting in person to offer meals, prayer shawls, or other items to welcome the child.
Post-Hospitalization Ministry Team
Members act as the heart and hands of the congregation, expressing care and concern to individuals following a hospitalization or release from a transitional care unit. On behalf of the congregation, team members make visits or phone calls or send cards to congregation members recently hospitalized.
Prayer Shawl Ministry Team
Members (“prayerful knitters”) knit or crochet prayer shawls that are donated to members of the congregation who are going through difficult times in their lives. Prayer shawls are often given by the Grief Ministry Team, Post-Hospitalization Team, pastors and parish nurse, though anyone may request a prayer shawl.
Quilting Ministry Team
Members of all skill levels gather in fellowship on Thursday mornings and/or work from home to make or contribute to the creation of quilts, most of which are distributed to Lutheran World Relief, ELCA Disasters, Lutheran Social Service and/or organizations supporting people in need such as hospitals, shelters, and camps for the disabled.
Visitation Ministry Team
Members visit and/or bring communion to individuals who are unable to be in church in person.
Facilities Ministries
Facilities Committee
Members meet as a committee monthly to plan for maintenance, upkeep and future use of the Gloria Dei building and grounds.
Landscape Gardening Volunteer
Volunteers help care for the foundation plantings, perennial gardens, and the container plantings in the courtyard.
Faith Formation Ministries
Faith Formation for All Ages
Art Team
The Art Team’s mission is “to enhance our spiritual growth and expand our faith by experiencing the transcendent power of the arts.” Art Team members continually explore new ways to introduce church members and visitors to art that reflects Gloria Dei’s mission and identify as a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation. This can include exhibitions, gallery discussions, forum presentations, and docent-led museum visits. The committee also manages non-liturgical art in the church building. Team members contribute according to their diverse qualifications and interest.
Library Volunteer
Library volunteers staff the library on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, on a rotating basis. Volunteers greet patrons, assist with book selection, check books in and out, add items to the catalog, create labels and cards, shelve books and design topical book displays. Additional tasks include an annual collection review and special projects. Volunteers meet as a group as needed, to discuss projects, plans and book purchases.
Adult Faith Formation
Sunday Forum Planning Team
Members work together to identify topics and plan for speakers in Sunday Morning Forum, keeping in mind the mission of Faith Formation at Gloria Dei.
Third Chapter Planning Team
Members plan events and ministries for people 55 and older, recognizing the unique spiritual, emotional and physical gifts and challenges of this age group, and keeping in mind the mission of Faith Formation at Gloria Dei.
Children and Family Faith Formation
GAPP Co-Teacher
GAPP stands for “Grace and Promise People”. GAPP co-teachers have the awesome opportunity to offer their energy, abilities, knowledge, skills, and gifts to 5th and 6th graders. The preschool Sunday School co-teacher’s primary responsibility is to create a safe, loving, warm, and engaging environment for preschoolers and to teach stories of faith, songs of faith, and prayer.
GAPP Small Group Leader
GAPP stands for “Grace and Promise People”. GAPP small group leaders have the awesome opportunity to develop personal trusted relationships with 5th and 6th graders. The small group leader’s responsibilities are to nurture friendships with and among young people, seek their spiritual growth, help them make a personal application of the lessons, help them see how God is active in their lives, and model an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ.
Java with Junior Program
Members work with the program coordinator and the children’s ministry director to host events that provide a warm and friendly atmosphere for young and new families to network and build community within the church.
Preschool Sunday School Assistant
The preschool Sunday School assistant’s primary responsibility is to help create a safe, loving, warm, and engaging environment for preschoolers. Assistants also help with lessons and activities when requested by classroom teachers. Assistants make sure that each child feels he/she is an important part of the Gloria Dei community, helping them know and trust God and love Jesus.
Preschool Sunday School Co-Teacher
The preschool Sunday School Co-Teacher’s primary responsibility is to help create a safe, loving, warm, and engaging environment for preschoolers, and to teach stories of faith, songs of faith, and prayer.
Sunday School Song Leader
The song leader facilitates a welcoming and worshipful large group gathering for Sunday School kids in 1st – 4th grades from 9:30 -9:45 A.M., before they move to Water Tower rotations.
Vacation Bible School Volunteer
A team is developed each year to plan and facilitate Vacation Bible School. VBS operates on a rotational model. Children visit five stations each day. Teachers prepare a new lesson every day for elementary and preschool children. An assistant helps teachers with lessons and activities. Other volunteers serve as managers, each of whom are responsible for the overall function and safety of a group of approximately 20 children. Managers also supervise youth who serve and friends and helpers to younger children.
Water Tower Guide
The guide plays a very important role in the Water Tower program for children in 1st – 4th grades. Children travel to a different workshop and different teacher every week. Guides accompany the same group of children for an entire year, providing continuity and a personal trusted relationship with the children.
Water Tower Teacher
The Water Tower program serves children in Grades 1-4. Teachers have the awesome opportunity to offer their energy, abilities, knowledge, skills and gifts to children. The teacher’s primary responsibility is to teach children within their area of interest, nurturing knowledge, understanding, spiritual growth, and transformation of children, and helping them to fall more deeply in love with God. The Water Tower consists of a number of rooms, each used to offer a different learning experience during a rotation of 3-4 weeks. A teacher repeats the same experience in the same workshop during the weeks of rotation, with adjustments made for age appropriateness. Each week a different age group or class experiences the workshop. It is the task of the teacher to be prepared for the lesson, to make sure the workshop is ready for the experience, and to teach the children.
Youth and Family Faith Formation
Confirmation Mentor
Adult mentors meet with one mentee from 9th or 10th grade for the purpose of fostering faith formation throughout the school year. Mentors commit to helping the mentee nurture peer friendships, seek their spiritual growth, help them make personal application of the lessons, help them see how God is active in their lives, and model authentic relationships with Jesus Christ.
Confirmation Small Group Leader
Small group leaders meet with small groups of 4-8 students throughout the school year to nurture peer friendships, seek their spiritual growth, help them make personal application of the lessons, help them see how God is active in their lives, and model authentic relationships with Jesus Christ.
Youth Mission Trip Chaperone
The chaperone serves as an adult guide for the week of the summer mission trip, leading teens in various friendship-strengthening activities that lead up to the trip, including fundraising, driving, Bible study, and conflict resolution.
Finance Ministries
Budget and Finance Committee
Committee members provide oversight of the financial records and affairs of the congregation, reporting on the financial status to the Congregation Council on a regular basis.
Stewardship Committee
Committee members help plan and execute the annual stewardship efforts of Gloria Dei. Members emphasize, promote and engage this congregation in an understanding of the stewardship of our lives as a response to God’s grace.
Music Ministries
Alleluia! Choir
Alleluia! is a choir for children in kindergarten through 2nd grade. Members sing and help lead worship at four or five Sunday morning worship services each season.
Chancel Choir
The Chancel Choir is the principle adult choir at Gloria Dei. Chancel Choir members sing and help lead worship at one Sunday morning worship service each week and at major church festivals, and perform at special musical events.
Gift of Music Recital Team
Members help organize, promote, and host Gift of Music recitals and post-recital receptions.
Handbell Choir
The Handbell Choir provides special music at worship services one Sunday a month.
Matins Choir
Matins singers come together once a month to sing and help lead worship at the 8:15 a.m. Sunday worship service.
Schola Cantorum Choir
Schola Cantorum is a choir for children in grades 3 – 6. Members sing and help lead worship at Sunday morning worship services at least once a month.
Outreach Ministries
Beacon Housing Team
Beacon Housing is a collaboration of congregations united in action. The Gloria Dei team works with the collaborative to create houses and advance equitable housing. Members meet monthly and additionally participate in a variety of activities and trainings through the collaborative.
Caring for Creation Team
Members promote more sustainable practices in individual lives and around the Gloria Dei facilities, and advocate for public policy addressing climate change.
Food Market Delivery Driver
Volunteers deliver food donated by members of Gloria Dei to the Francis Basket Food Market, serving hungry neighbors in our community.
Giving Garden Volunteer
Volunteers plant, tend, and harvest the raised vegetable garden beds in the boulevard along Highland Parkway. The vegetables grown in the Giving Garden are donated to Francis Basket Food Market, providing fresh produce for hungry neighbors living along West Seventh Street.
Global Mission Team
Members facilitate the congregation’s global relationships with Guatemala and Tanzania, planning trips and coordinating communications and support. Members also provide educational and outreach opportunities for the congregation.
Habitat For Humanity Building Volunteer
Volunteers assist with the on-site building or rehabilitation of a Habitat for Humanity home.
Habitat For Humanity Food Volunteer
Volunteers provide lunch for one of the days during the two-week build. Volunteers respond to requests if they are able to assist with meeting the need.
Habitat For Humanity Site Host
The host greets all build volunteers, helps with various non-build tasks throughout the day, and directs volunteers providing lunch to ensure build volunteers are fed daily.
Immigrant Justice Team
Members plan and coordinate Gloria Dei’s activities in support of immigrants, working in collaboration with the ELCA’s AMMPARO and Guardian Angels networks, the Saint Paul Area Coalition on Immigrant Justice, the Advocates for Human Rights, Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, ISAIAH, ICOM, and others; and coordinate congregational service and advocacy on behalf of immigrants and refugees.
ISAIAH Core Team
Team members work with other congregations and ISAIAH leadership in planning strategy for the group. ISAIAH’s mission is to live out our Gospel values in the public arena by advocating for racial and economic equity at the local, state, and national levels.
Loaves And Fishes Volunteer
Volunteers prepare and/or serve an evening meal at the Dorothy Day Center once every other month (on the fourth Wednesday of even-numbered months) or as needed.
Mass Produce Distribution Volunteer
Volunteers serve as representatives of Gloria Dei, assisting with Neighborhood House’s distribution of thousands of pounds of fresh produce at the Francis Basket Food Market. Shifts last about three hours on a weekday afternoon, approximately 2-3 times per summer.
Project Home Volunteer
Volunteers choose any of a variety of services to provide to our guests at a specific time during the month of December, when Gloria Dei hosts the Project Home overflow homeless shelter, or during the month of June, when Mount Zion hosts the Project Home overflow shelter.
Racial Justice Committee
Members develop a strategic plan and coordinate Gloria Dei’s activities in support of racial justice and equality. There are monthly meetings with additional meetings and participation in activities as needed.
State Fair Water Welcome Volunteer
Volunteers distribute bottles of water to Minnesota State Fairgoers waiting for the bus at the State Fair Park and Ride operated out of the Gloria Dei parking lot.
Weekend Backpack Program Volunteer
Volunteers collect, pack, and/or deliver bags of nutritious food to children in need at Highland Park Elementary.
Welcoming Community Committee
Committee members work together with other ministry areas to evaluate and enhance our external and internal signs of welcome, build and sustain relationships within the church, and build relationships with the community, all while promoting and delivering our congregational mission of welcoming within and beyond Gloria Dei.
Worship Ministries
Altar Service Team
Volunteers make certain the altar, choir, and baptismal font areas are clean and prepared for use in worship; dress the altar, the pulpit, and the lectern in paraments appropriate to the liturgical season; set up for communion and clean communion ware after services of Holy Communion; and launder communion linens, as needed.
Assisting Minister
The Assisting Minister aids in leading worship at Gloria Dei, says the prayers, and serves wine at Holy Communion.
Children’s Worship Materials Provider
The Materials Provider prepares and maintains the children’s worship bags by sorting, cleaning, and restocking contents, including keeping books and materials both age-and seasonally appropriate. The provider makes certain that children’s Bibles are in the pew racks and that ribbon sheets are available for marking pages in Bibles and hymnals.
Communion Assistant
Communion assistants distribute bread, wine, or grape juice at Holy Communion during worship at Gloria Dei.
Communion Bread Baker Team
Team members meet at church as needed to bake communion bread.
Lector
Volunteers read lessons from the Old and New Testament in worship at Sunday morning worship services and on other occasions.
Prayer Team
Members serve with a partner to pray confidentially for, and with, individuals who seek prayers for themselves, loved ones, or the world. The Prayer Team participates in the services on one Sunday each month, and team members are scheduled online.
Sacristan
Volunteers assist with the logistics of worship services and provide guidance for acolytes.
Sanctuary Attendant
The volunteer cleans and tidies the sanctuary during the week in preparation for the Sunday morning worship services.
Sound Engineer
Sound engineers operate the sound system for worship services in the sanctuary.
Usher/Hospitality Team
Ushers/Hospitality Team members welcome people to worship, collect and secure offerings, direct the flow of participants in Holy Communion, and help worship to function smoothly and gracefully.
Visual Design Team
Members oversee the decoration and appointment of the sanctuary for worship; plan and implement seasonal decorations; and manage the visual design portion of the worship budget. Members have a mix of creative and practical skills related to art and design. The team meets as needed with the Worship Committee, staff, or the Art Team.
Worship Committee
Committee members support the congregation’s worship life by attending committee meetings to coordinate worship services and seasonal observances. This includes overseeing recruitment, training and support of all worship assistants, including readers, communion assistant’s, ushers, altar guild, and acolytes.
Worship Livestream Volunteer
Volunteers operate cameras, soundboard and switcher for the livestream during in-person worship services. Training provided.
Worship Volunteer Scheduler
The scheduler manages the online system that prepares schedules for worship volunteers (ushers, communion assistants, lectors, etc.)