Blood Drive Volunteer

Blood Drive Volunteers assist in planning and supporting tasks assigned on the day of American Red Cross blood drives hosted at Gloria Dei each year. These tasks may include greeting donors, helping them sign in using the Red Cross computerized system, and offering refreshments to donors after they are finished donating.

Card Ministry Team

Card Ministry Team members gather about once a month to make greeting cards for various church needs. Card-making materials are made available. Completed cards are used by staff and ministry leaders for distribution.

Faith and Food Volunteer

Faith and Food Volunteers prepare meals for members in need as identified by the pastoral staff, Grief Support Ministry,  New Arrival Ministry Team. The Team lead will reach out to members when a need arises.

Funeral Reception Volunteer

This ministry allows family and friends of the deceased to continue fellowship following the funeral service and involves a large and enthusiastic group of volunteers. Volunteers help with setting up and cleaning up after the luncheons, attending to details so that the family can focus on being present with each other to honor their loved one. Funeral luncheons are generally held in the fellowship hall. Smaller receptions for coffee in the Gathering Place. Most luncheons are held during the week between 10:00 and 2:00 so time commitment is minimal.

Grief Support Ministry Team

Members of the Grief Support Ministry Team connect with members of the congregation grieving loss. Contact is made at the time of loss and at intervals of 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years after the loss to express sympathy on behalf of the congregation and provide listening and compassion.

Mental Health and Hope in Recovery Team

The Mental Health and Recovery Team seeks to bring awareness to mental health disorders and 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. The team meets on the second Tuesday of each month, August through May.

New Arrival Ministry Team

New Arrival Ministry Team members identify individuals who have had recent additions to their families by birth or adoption. They reach out by sending a handmade card, emailing, phoning, or visiting in person. They offer meals, prayer shawls, or other items to welcome the child.

Prayer Shawl Ministry Team

Prayer Shawl Ministry Team members (“Prayerful Knitters”) knit or crochet prayer shawls donated to congregation members who are going through difficult times in their lives. The Grief Ministry Team, Post-Hospitalization Team, pastors, and parish nurse often give prayer shawls, though anyone may request a prayer shawl.  Anyone can also help themselves to a shawl from a basket outside the parish nurse office. The Prayerful Knitters include congregation members and others from the community. They meet at church for knitting, conversation, and chocolate the first Thursday of every month from 6:30-8 p.m.

Quilting Ministry Team

The Quilting Ministry Team includes members of all skill levels who gather in fellowship on Thursday mornings and/or work from home to make or contribute to the creation of quilts. These quilts are distributed to Lutheran World Relief, ELCA Disasters, Lutheran Social Service, and organizations supporting people in need, such as hospitals, shelters, and camps for the disabled.

Visitation Ministry Team

Visitation Ministry Team members visit and bring communion to individuals who cannot be in church. The visits can be in a home or a facility and the date and time are agreed upon by both the homebound person and team member.

Facilities Committee

Facilities Committee members meet as a committee monthly to plan for maintenance, upkeep, and future use of the Gloria Dei building and grounds.  The committee normally meets the last Monday of every month at 5:15 and has twice a year walk abouts.  They also join for planting, weeding, and other opportunities to enhance the grounds and building

Landscape Gardening Volunteer

Landscape Gardening Volunteers help care for the foundation plantings and perennial gardens. There are both spring and fall clean up days, usually 2-4 hours on a Saturday morning.  There is one morning a week that the volunteers gather which is decided by the group.  Any gardening/weeding/thistle control can be done on the gardener’s own time.

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, accept donations, shelve books, design topical book displays, maintain Little Library and assist with special projects.

Sunday Forum Planning Team

Sunday Forum Planning Team members work together to identify and schedule speakers to lead and address topics during Sunday Morning Forum. They support the mission of Faith Formation at Gloria Dei, which strives to meet people where they are by providing sustained opportunities to discover connections between God’s story and their own stories within the context of various communities.

GAPP Co-Teacher

GAPP stands for “Grace and Promise People.” GAPP co-teachers have the tremendous opportunity to offer their energy, abilities, knowledge, skills, and gifts to 5^th and 6^th graders during our Sunday School hour. The teacher’s responsibility is to teach young people using a prepared lesson plan, which engages them in interactive and delightful learning activities. Lessons nurture understanding, spiritual growth, transforming the young and helping them fall deeply in love with God.

GAPP Small Group Leader

GAPP stands for “Grace and Promise People.” Small group leaders have the opportunity to develop personal, trusted relationships with 5^th and 6^th graders during our Sunday School hour. 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.

Preschool Sunday School Assistant

Preschool Sunday School Assistants help create a safe, loving, warm, and engaging environment for preschoolers. Assistants help with lessons and activities when requested by classroom teachers. Assistants ensure that each child feels they are an integral part of the Gloria Dei community, helping them know and trust God and love Jesus.

Preschool Sunday School Co-Teacher

Preschool Sunday School Co-Teachers help create a safe, loving, warm, and engaging environment for preschoolers. They teach stories of faith, songs of faith, and prayer.

Sunday School Song Leader

Sunday School Song Leaders teach the children songs for the Christmas Program. This usually takes place starting in late October through December during regular Sunday School hour, 9:30 -10:30 a.m.

Vacation Bible School Volunteer

Assist a camp counselor during the week of VBS as they lead crafts, singing, games and more to our elementary children. Or help teach the preschool curriculum.

Water Tower Guide

As the Water Tower teacher rotates each group week to week, our Guides stay with the same group to help provide consistency and focus on relationship building. No prep involved. Guides come to hang out with the children and assist the teacher as needed.

Water Tower Teacher

Water Tower Teachers have the tremendous opportunity to offer children their energy, abilities, knowledge, skills, and gifts. 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 several 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.

Confirmation Mentor

Confirmation Mentors meet with one mentee from 9th or 10th grade to foster 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

Confirmation Small Group Leaders meet with small groups 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

Youth Mission Trip Chaperones serve as adult guides 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.

Budget and Finance Committee

Budget and Finance Committee members oversee the congregation’s financial records and affairs, regularly reporting on the financial status to the Congregation Council.                                                                           

Stewardship Committee

Stewardship Committee members plan and execute the annual philanthropic 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.

Alleluia! Choir

Alleluia! is a choir for children in kindergarten through 2^nd grade. Members sing and help lead worship at four or five Sunday morning worship services each season. Rehearsals are Wednesday evenings at 5 p.m.

Chancel Choir

The Chancel Choir is the principal adult choir at Gloria Dei. Chancel Choir members rehearse Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. and help lead worship at the 10:45 a.m. Sunday morning worship service each week September to May. They also sing at significant 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 rehearses two Saturdays per month provides special music at worship services one Sunday a month. Experience is welcome, but not necessary.

Matins Choir
Matins singers perform one Sunday a week at the 8:15 service. Rehearsal is at 7:30 a.m. the day of the performance.

Schola Cantorum Choir

Schola Cantorum is a choir for children in grades 3 – 6. Members sing at least once a month September-May.  Singers also learn to play percussion instruments and choir chimes. They rehearse Wednesdays at 5 p.m.

Instrumental Music

Instrumentalists lead worship regularly, playing solo, in ensemble and accompanying in a wide range of styles. Woodwinds, strings, brass and percussion play almost weekly, as arranged by the music staff.

Art Committee

The Art Committee’s mission is “to enhance our spiritual growth and expand our faith by experiencing the transcendent power of the arts.” The committee explores new ways to introduce church members and visitors to art that reflects Gloria Dei’s missions. This includes exhibitions, gallery discussions, Forum presentations and docent-led museum visits. The committee manages the non-liturgical art in the church building.

Caring for Creation                                                

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 and other environmental issues.  Meetings are generally the first Tuesday of each month, 5:30-7 p.m.

Global Mission Team

Global Mission Team members facilitate the congregation’s global relationship in Guatemala and Tanzania, planning trips and coordinating communications and support.  Members provide educational and outreach opportunities for the congregation.

Beacon Housing Team

Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative is a collaboration of congregations united in action. The Gloria Dei team works with the collaborative to support the development of affordable homes and advance equitable housing. Members meet monthly typically the third Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. and participate in various activities and trainings through the collaborative.

Habitat for Humanity

Volunteers assist with the on-site building or rehabilitation of a Habitat for Humanity home.  Volunteers who may choose not to help with construction are needed to provide lunch for one of the build days. 

Project Home    

Project Home provides emergency shelter for families facing homelessness at its new location in Bandana Square. Gloria Dei volunteers provide support by serving supper one Sunday a month.  They also supply dessert and lead bingo and provide small prizes.  Volunteers sign up as available.

Food Market Delivery Driver

Food Market Delivery Drivers deliver food donated by members of Gloria Dei to the Neighborhood House Food Market, serving hungry neighbors in our community.  Volunteers generally deliver food Monday morning at the Montreal location, but could also go on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Giving Garden Volunteer

Giving Garden 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 Neighborhood House Food Market, providing fresh produce for hungry neighbors living in our neighborhood.

Loaves and Fishes  

Loaves and Fishes Volunteers prepare and/or serve an evening meal at the Opportunity Center every other month (on the fourth Wednesday of even-numbered months) or as needed.  There are three short shifts between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. available for volunteers to choose. The shifts focus on hot dish prep, cold food prep, and serving.  All volunteers are required to wear a hair net, apron and gloves which are all provided.

Mass Produce Distribution Volunteer

Mass Produce Distribution Volunteers serve as representatives of Gloria Dei, assisting with Neighborhood House’s distribution of thousands of pounds of fresh produce at the Neighborhood House on Montreal Food Market. Shifts last about three hours on a weekday afternoon, approximately 2-3 times per summer.

Weekend Backpack Program Volunteer    

Weekend Backpack Program Volunteers collect, pack, and/or deliver bags of nutritious food to children in need at Highland Park Elementary.  Times for packing food at church vary.  Delivery is on Friday mornings during the school year.

Immigrant Justice Team

Members plan and coordinate Gloria Dei’s activities in support of immigrants seeking legal authorization to remain in the United States.   They coordinate and lead congregational service and advocacy on behalf of immigrants and refugees. The current focus of the Immigrant Justice Team is the Room 99 Ministry which was established by the congregation in May 2021.  The mission of Room 99 Ministry is to provide safe, stable housing; community; and financial, practical and spiritual support to an asylum-seeking individual or family as they seek legal authorization to remain in the United States and work toward self-sufficiency.  

Racial Justice Committee

The Racial Justice Committee’s mission is to lead the congregation in addressing issues of racial justice through discernment, discussion, education, action, and prayer by developing congregational (internal) and community (external) engagement, by serving as advisors to other ministry committees, and by being advocates who respond to racial justice issues that arise in the community, city, or nation. Full committee meetings are held on first Monday of each month 6 – 7:30 either on-line or in-person. Subgroups where members focus on a specific interest meet according to need.  

Altar Care Team

Altar Care Team volunteers make sure 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. They set up for communion and clean communion ware after services of Holy Communion and launder communion linens, as needed.

Assisting Minister

Assisting Ministers by supporting the Presiding Minister, reading prayers, setting the communion table and reading the sending at the close of worship .

Communion Assistant

Communion assistants distribute bread, wine, or grape juice at Holy Communion during worship at Gloria Dei.

Communion Bread Baker

Communion Bread Bakers prepare communion bread for worship. Bakers meet every 6-8 weeks.

Crucifer

Crucifers carry the cross in processions and at prayers.

Hospitality Team

Hospitality Team members welcome people to worship, collect and secure offerings, direct the flow of participants in Holy Communion and help worship function smoothly and gracefully.

Lector

Lectors read the assigned scripture in worship at Sunday morning worship services and other occasions.

Prayer Team

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 the 3rd Sunday each month. Prayer Team members may be invited to participate in special Healing Services one or two times a year.  Team members are scheduled online.

Sacristan

Sacristans assist with the logistics of worship services and guide acolytes.

Worship Committee

Worship Committee members support the congregation’s worship life by attending committee meetings to coordinate worship services and seasonal observances. This includes overseeing the recruitment, training, and support of all worship assistants, including lectors, communion assistants, ushers, altar care, and acolytes.

Worship Tech Team

Volunteers operate soundboard presentation software and visual media for livestream during in-person worship services.  No experience needed and training is provided.