Evangelism Ministry

Communications Ministry

Social Events & Special Receptions Ministry

Foyers

Fellowship Hour

 

Communications Ministry

The Communications Ministry at Emmanuel originated under this name in 2006, and is still under formation as a ministry focus within our church. It falls under Evangelism in our new ministry structure, and an overall Coordinator is still sought. The Communication Ministry is most visibly seen in the Sunday Bulletin, the monthly Messenger, the church website, banners, ads, and any other publicity or articles that appear about Emmanuel. We are grateful to Lori Dobrik, our Parish Administrator, for her weekly work on the Bulletin, and to Daphne Griffin for her wonderful monthly work on the Messenger. Father Alan also deserves thanks for his many Messenger contributions of columns and book reviews.

In 2007, with the help of Lisa and Jason Cerezo, Emmanuel began a new ministry through its website at www.EmmanuelMemorial.org. Sections on the website were created for mass times, newcomers, schedules, the Messenger, sermons, and so forth. Lisa's artistic rendering of our website makes for a striking contribution. Carol Jeanne Muster and Dean Olson provide continuing advice for the web page as members of the Vestry.

Also in 2007, a subscription drive was launched for the national church monthly Episcopal Life, and 10 people subscribed at the group rate to receive this publication which includes national and international Anglican news and features.

An article with photos was submitted by Emmanuel and published in November by the Springfield Current, our monthly diocesan newspaper. The article described the Ministry Information Fair that was held with great success on September 16.

Help is needed to expand the Communication Ministry in 2008. Now that the basic layout of the web page has been established, we need volunteers to help keep its information up to date. In addition, we welcome writers and photographers to submit material regularly on Emmanuel events to our diocesan publication, The Springfield Current. Ideas are invited as to how the Communication Ministry can better help us "To Know Christ, and to Make Christ Known".

Social Events & Special Receptions Ministry

The responsibility of the Parish Social Events & Special Receptions Ministry is to "oversee and promote those events in the life of our Emmanuel family that will offer opportunities for Christian fellowship among parishioners and newcomers".

In 2007, we worked together under the newly formed structure developed through our parish Long Range Planning strategies with the Parish Social Events & Special Receptions ministry falling under the Service ministry with assigned Vestry liaisons - Winton Solberg, Bruce Bonds, Kathy Aquino, and Lynn Ryle. Our primary focus this year was to continue our traditional events as supported by the parish members and to educate & encourage growth and outreach to newer members as well as those members who have previously been less involved.

In the interest of educating and involving all parish members in the various ministries we offer and to encourage involvement in those ministries, a Ministry Information Fair, coordinated by Vestry members of Service Ministry, was held Sunday, September 16th following each Mass. The event was well received and attended with several "new faces" as well as "seasoned faces" signing up to assist with our various parish ministries. With such positive feedback our plan is for this to become an annual or bi-annual event.

The events held in 2007 included:

Un-decorating Party Dinner Dance Annual Meeting Breakfast

Easter receptions Brat Party/Bishop's Visit Confirmation Reception

Parish Picnic Pig Roast Cajun Dinner

Stewardship Lunch Hanging of the Greens Christmas Eve Reception

*The Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper was not held this year but there was some interest shown in possibly resuming it next year

**Foyers (small groups of any interested parishioners rotating
fellowship dinners in their homes) were resumed this Fall under the direction of Bill & Nancy MacDonald.

The above fellowship events could not have been such a success without all the help from so many of our parishioners; from those who coordinated events to those who set up tables; from those who served to those who washed dishes; from those who decorated to those who attended. Of special note are those who invited newcomers and reached out to members they hadn't visited with before.... We could go on but what we really want to say is a BIG thank you to everyone who assisted in supporting our Parish Social Events & Special Receptions ministry in 2007.

We are continuing to look for parishioners who are interested in
helping coordinate various events in 2008 so please let Lori (in the Parish
Office) know and we will be in contact!

Foyers

Foyers returned to Emmanuel in 2007 with a somewhat abbreviated calendar. For those unfamiliar with Foyers, this is a program which organizes interested parishoners in small groups to meet for dinner on Sunday evenings throughout the year. One member of the group serves as host for a dinner, deciding on the menu and assigning dishes for the other members to bring. The dinners are informal and have no program other than offering an opportunity for the members to get to know each other better. In previous years we have had four dinners each semester, but this year we are trying just four dinners for the entire year. This year we have three groups of twelve members each. We are also thinking about having a common dinner some Sunday evening at the church to which current members and those interested in possibly becoming members will be invited. Parishoners with questions or suggestions should get in touch with Bill and Nancy at home or look one of us up on Sunday morning. We will be putting together groups for next fall, so keep an eye out for an announcement.

Fellowship Hour

Our weekly fellowship hour at Emmanuel follows each Sunday morning Mass, and provides hot coffee (both kinds), tea, and lemonade. This is a great time to talk with friends and greet visitors by simply introducing yourself and making them feel welcome.

Fellowship Hour set-up is performed by Altar Guild members on Saturdays, coffee brewing is started by ushers on Sunday mornings, and clean-up is done by members of the "Quicker Picker Uppers" after the 10:15 mass.

Clean-up takes about 20-30 minutes after the 10:15 Mass; if you are interested in helping, please notify the Parish Office. We could use another team or two in 2008; each team serves once about every five weeks.