Getting Involved

Becoming a Member

All baptized Christians can become members of All Saints’ Church by worshiping with us regularly and making a financial commitment. We also recommend that you take our Newcomer’s class, a three session course offered regularly. If you are already a baptized member of another Episcopal Church or church of another denomination, we encourage you to ask your former church for a letter of transfer. For further information, contact the parish office at 617-484-2228.

Volunteering

All Saints’ Church provides many ways to get involved and make a difference. Here are just a few of the ways you can give back:

Worship Volunteers

Altar Guild

The Altar Guild is a group of women and men who prepare the altar for communion each week. This includes setting out the communion vessels, bread, wine, cleaning everything at the close of worship, and changing the altar hangings seasonally. This group also gathers before Feast Days to make our worship space glad with flowers and more! The group self-schedules, letting the Altar Guild leadership know when they are available to help. If you feel called to this ministry please call the parish office at 617-484-2228.

Lectors

Lectors are parishioners who read the lessons and lead the prayers at all our public services. call the parish office if you are interested in being a part of this important ministry at 617-484-2228.

Lay Eucharistic Ministers

Lay Eucharistic ministers assist with the celebration of the Eucharist and particularly with serving the chalice at the altar rail. Training is provided. Upon completion of the training lay Eucharistic ministers are licensed by the bishop. If you feel that you are called to this ministry and would like to serve in this way please call the parish office at 617-484-2228.

Acolytes

Youth 5th grade and up serve as acolytes every Sunday during the school year at the 10:00 a.m. service. Acolytes carry the cross in the processions, light and extinguish the candles, and assist the priest at the altar. Training is provided. Please call the parish office at 617-484-2228 if you are interested.

Ushers

All Saints’ ushers are responsible each Sunday for posting service hymn numbers on the four wall displays, handing out service leaflets, directing parishioners to pews, recording attendance, collecting the offering, and coordinating the flow of traffic during communion. After the service, ushers make sure that the sanctuary is left in good order by returning kneelers to the upright position, picking up any loose paper or artifacts, returning hymn numbers to the storage caddy, turning off lights, closing windows, and locking doors.

If you are interested in this ministry, please call the parish office at 617-484-2228.


Offering Stewards

The Offering Stewards play a vital role in our finances by counting, recording and depositing the offering collected at each 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Sunday service, special services, and all other revenues.

Coffee Hour Hosts

Every Sunday a person or family volunteers to prepare the coffee, tea, and refreshments (these are provided) for the parish family to share after the Sunday services. Detailed instructions are provided. Please call the parish office if you would like to help at 617-484-2228.

Church School and Childcare Volunteers

Childcare

All Saints’ has paid Nursery staff for children ages 0-3, but volunteers are needed to help keep the space clean and well-stocked.  Please call the parish office if you feel called to help in the Nursery at 617-484-2228.

Godly Play Team

Every year we need 16 volunteers to staff our Godly Play program. The team meets the second Thursday of each month for planning and training. Our Safe Church Policy states that only those members who have been at All Saints’ for one full year are eligible to work with children. Juniors and Seniors in high school are also welcome on the team. Please call the Rev. Cheryl V. Minor at 617-484-2228, x12 if you would like to be on the team.

Families are invited to help make the Godly Play program successful by signing up to bring “the feast” (a simple snack) on a monthly basis. Sign-up sheets are located on the outside of each classroom.

Youth Leaders

Every year we need 8 volunteers to staff our youth programs. This team meets periodically to plan. Our Safe Church Policy states that only those members who have been at All Saints’ for one full year are eligible to work with youth. Please call the Rev. Cheryl V. Minor at 617-484-2228, x12 if you would like to help lead our youth.

Other Volunteer Opportunities

Property Committee

The Property Committee meets regularly to plan for regular maintenance of our buildings and grounds, to prepare an annual budget, and plan for capital improvements. In addition they sponsor several work days each year to help off-set landscaping costs. Please call the parish office at 617-484-2228 if you are interested in this ministry.

Greening Committee

The Greening Committee meets each fall to plan for our Christmas Celebrations at All Saints’. Committee members gather the week before Christmas to execute their plans, often hanging beautiful garlands from the rafters, arranging flowers, and more! Please call the parish office at 617-484-2228 if you are interested in this ministry.

The Giving Freezer

The Giving Freezer is a program offering a very accessible pastoral care opportunity for parishioners. Throughout the year individuals prepare home-cooked casseroles, soups and stews to contribute to the Freezer. These meals are available to be delivered to parishioners or friends of the All Saints’ community who are in need, whether experiencing serious illness, the loss of loved ones, surgical procedures, or the birth of a baby. Disposable containers are stored on top of the freezer in the coat room outside of the Parish Hall.

As well as cooking for the Freezer, we encourage parish members to participate in delivering meals where they know there is a need. Through this ministry, parishioners and clergy share in providing pastoral care.

Bristol Lodge Soup Kitchen Ministry

On the second Sunday of each month parishioners gather in the kitchen after the 10:00 a.m. service to prepare a meal for approximately 50-60 clients at the Bristol Lodge Soup Kitchen in Waltham. Later in the afternoon volunteers re-gather to deliver and serve the meal. Volunteers are needed to plan the menu, shop, prepare the meal, and deliver the meal each month. Please call the parish office at 617-484-2228 if you are interested in this ministry.

Refugee Immigration Committee

The R.I.M. program offers community-based support to asylum seekers and other uprooted people. Our goal is to help refugees successfully integrate into American life, become independent and eventually thrive as members of our communities.

Our cluster is comprised of five churches: All Saints’ Episcopal Church/Belmont, Belmont United Methodist Church, Plymouth Congregational Church/Belmont, St. John’s Episcopal Church/Arlington, St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church/Belmont. Plymouth Congregational Church joined the cluster this year.

New members are always welcome. Call the parish office at 617-484-2228, if you are interested.

Short-Term Mission Projects

Over the past several years All Saints’ has sponsored several short-term mission projects. All involved have found their lives greatly enriched. Please call the parish office at 617-484-2228 to find out when the next mission trip is planned and how to get involved.