There are plenty of ways to get involved at St Augustine’s. We are always looking to use peoples gifts in the life of the Church.
Greeting
We always need greeters to welcome visitors, and to set out/clear away hymn books and orders of service.
If you’d like to join the greeter’s rota (monthly), please speak to Helen Duxbury in church or fill out the contact form.
Reading
There are usually two readings from the Bible, one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament.
If you enjoy reading and would like to read from the Bible in church (every 6 weeks or so), please speak to Idene Waithe or fill out the contact form.
Prayers
Each week, we pray for the church, the world, the local community, anybody who is sick, and anybody who is facing death, or has died, or is grieving. The prayers are written by a member of the congregation; we call them intercessions.
If you are interested in writing and praying these prayers every 6 weeks or so (about 500 words), please speak to the Vicar or Associate Priest.
Serving at the altar
At St Augustine’s, we have assistance at the altar to celebrate the Eucharist. Two people carry candles (acolytes), one person carries the cross (crucifer), one person carries the book (book bearer), and on special occasions we have somebody carry the thurible (thurifer). All of these people are called servers; they wear simple robes to show their shared ministry and to keep the focus on Christ rather than on themselves.
If you are interested in being a server, please speak to the Vicar or Idene Waithe. (It’s a regular commitment, but the rota is flexible).
Communion assistants
When it is time to share holy communion, we drink from a shared cup (called a chalice). We need assistance with offering the chalice to members of the congregation.
If you’d be interested in assisting (about once every 6 weeks) with Holy Communion, please speak to the Vicar. This is a very special ministry, and it does require a brief training session.
Arranging flowers
For special occasions and big celebrations, we enjoy decorating the church with fresh flowers. This is a ministry that helps lift our worship and makes the building beautiful for services, weddings, and festivals.
If you enjoy creativity, arranging, or simply helping with setting out or clearing away flowers, please speak to one of the Churchwardens. (This is an occasional commitment)
Choir / Music
Music is a central part of our worship. We would love to have enough singers to form a choir. If you can play an instrument, there might be opportunities to be involved with services and concerts.
If you have musical gifts and would like to be involved, please speak to our Director of Music and Organist, Richard Decker.
Children’s ministry
Children are growing at St Augustine’s. We’ve been adapting our services so that there are ways for people of all ages to join in. At present, we don’t run a regular Sunday School, but we are hoping to move towards a point where children have their own activities during the readings and sermon.
If you would like to express interest in helping to grow this ministry, please speak to one of the Churchwardens.
Hospitality & Refreshments
Each Sunday after the service we share refreshments together in the hall. It’s a chance for us to build friendships and welcome newcomers. We need volunteers to set up, serve drinks, and tidy away afterwards.
If you’d like to help on the rota (ideally monthly), please speak to one of the Churchwardens.
Being a part of the Church Council
The PCC or Parochial Church Council elects a few new members each year. We meet about 9 times each year, and conduct the business of the church, ensuring that we make mission a priority, keep the church building in good condition, meet our Safeguarding obligations, and steward our finances well.
If you’d like to join, speak to the Vicar or one of the Churchwardens.
New Opportunities
We’d love to start running an Alpha course or to set up some social/discipleship groups during the day time or in the evening.
If you have gifts of mentoring others, teaching, cooking, and/or hospitality, please speak to the Vicar or Associate priest.
