MINISTRY TO OURSELVES
Christian Education
The Christian Education program offers learning opportunities for both children and adults. Church School provides care and learning for children ages three through grade six, and Confirmation classes for junior high school students. Adults may join a confirmation class and may also choose among an array of offerings, including seasonal Bible study, inquirers groups, a book discussion group, and more. Teachers and participants are all welcome!
Church School
Contact: Lynn Dube 384-4741, dubelynn@comcast.net
Teach with a storytelling curriculum, using beautiful manipulative objects and child-directed work time to teach children Bible stories and Christian tradition. Assist occasionally with music, crafts, related projects. Requirements: a little patience, a little time, and a commitment to our children. In-service training planned. Teachers and assistants can become involved on a weekly, bi-monthly, or even a seasonal basis. Most classes are taught by a team of two who often alternate weeks. One hour of preparation required during the week.
Foyer Groups
Contact: Marcia Williams, 646-2660, rwilli2@maine.rr.com
This activity is purely social. The Foyer Groups are groups of people who sign up and are divided into groups of 8 - 10. Singles are welcome. These groups agree to get together for a period of 4 - 6 months. Each group plans its own activities. Frequently, it is a simple meal at your home but other activities can be planned. This is an excellent way for parishioners to get to know one another on a social basis.
The Journey to Adulthood Youth Groups
The Rev. Steve Godfrey, 363-7376, sgodfrey@stgeorgesyorkharbor.org
J2A is a complete youth ministry program of spiritual formation for 6th - 12th grades. It uses Bible study, prayer, rites of passage, outreach ministries and both serious and playful activities to underscore its core messages: 1) Manhood and womanhood are gifts from God. 2) Adulthood must be earned. There are three two-year segments of the program at St. George's Church:
Rite-13: The first two years (12- & 13-year-olds) focus on celebrating the individuality of each young person and his/her creative potential. The Rite-13 liturgy (a celebration of manhood and womanhood) is the community expression of this.
J2A: The middle portion of the program (14- & 15-year-olds) engages youth with the skills and critical thinking involved in adulthood. The youth plan and embark on a pilgrimage together at the end of this segment.
YAC (Young Adults in Church): A mentor-based program helps older teens (16- to 18-year-olds) to discern and carry out a ministry within their church or in the larger community. Vocation and development of a personal credo are also emphasized.
Nursery
Contact: Gene Fox 363-5027, nwcstle.library@comcast.net
Volunteers care for children (infants to age two) during the Sunday morning Spiritual Formation hour. Parents and others are encouraged to sign up and help out in this co-op arrangement. Serve one Sunday or many.
Library
Contact: Jean Tucker 363-6540, no email
Maintain the library by cataloging and covering new books, and keeping shelves in order. Oversee subscriptions and ordering of new books. Two to three hours per month, or more if volunteer time allows.
Fellowship
Parish Events and Relations Committee
Contact: Mary Anne Smith 363-3539, nanas@maine.rr.com
Plan and produce the various events that provide fellowship and/or fundraising throughout the year. Activities include: Ice Cream Festival, Chocolate Fest, Festival of Lights Chowder Supper and Cookie Walk, Rummage Sale, Holiday Bazaar, and Foyer Groups. All levels of participation are open to anyone with a little or a lot of time to invest.
Outreach Auction
Contact: Marcia Williams, 646-2660, rwilli2@maine.rr.com; Barb Poulin 363-8731, barbpoulin@aol.com
This is a new fundraiser and it was wildly successful in 2006. You can help in many ways: give an item(s) for auction, help solicit outside donation items for auction, help physically transport items to the auction or to the owner's home after the auction, help with planning the auction, work at the auction, help with the clean-up after the auction, or help with publicity, advertising or sending thank-you letters.
Christmas Bazaar
Contact: Gordon & Cindie Thompson, 363-0620, ght855@maine.rr.com, nanacici@maine.rr.com
Participate in this annual fundraiser in many ways: chair a table; make or collect items for sale; contribute goods and/or services; cook; set up, clean up, assist with sales. Tables include crafts, gift baskets, baked goods, Christmas table, a silent auction, a café, holiday greens table and gourmet-to-go. As time allows on projects throughout the year, take leadership roles or set up and assist on the day of the Bazaar or the preview evening.
Spring Yard Sale
Contact: Gordon & Cindie Thompson, 363-0620, ght855@maine.rr.com, nanacici@maine.rr.com
The format for the Spring Yard Sale can be "buy your own table, bring your own treasures to sell." If so, an individual can buy a table, or a family can do a table together. Got arts, crafts, or just plain stuff to sell? This is your chance! The cost of the tables and a percentage of the earnings will benefit St. George's. Participants will be responsible for disposing of anything that doesn't sell. Sometimes it has been a straight sale of old treasures to new buyers to benefit the church.
Fall Rummage Sale
Contact: Mary Anne Smith 363-3539, nanas@maine.rr.com, Marjorie Downes 967-3105
This annual fundraiser is an important source of revenue for the church. It takes place on a Saturday in early fall. Involves sorting, culling and arranging of donated items, as well as arranging pickup for donors who cannot get to the church and working on the days of the sale. Most of the work is done on the day of the sale and the two weeks before.
All Parish Coffee Hour
10:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of each month (replacing Spiritual Formation on that day). If you can, bring a goodie to share with the group-either one to share that day, or an imperishable item (like a package of cookies) that can be used after services the rest of the month. The first Sunday of each month is also Food Pantry Sunday, so remember to bring something for the Food Pantry basket-"Bring a can, bring some cookies!" All are welcome!
Coffee Hour
Contact: Post 11:00: see sign-up poster on upper hall kitchen door) & Ellie Butler 363-7114 quilter2@maine.rr.com (post 7:45)
Host a coffee hour held each week after the 11:00 a.m. service and on the first Sunday of the month after the 7:45 a.m. service. Set up, serve beverages and refreshments (purchased or homemade), and clean up. Time commitment is approximately one-half hour before the service for set-up and one half-hour afterwards to serve and clean up.
Administration
Budget and Finance Committee
Contact: Robert Palmer 363-3292, rpalmer3@maine.rr.com
Provide financial guidance and oversight of parish resources. Prepare annual budget, monitor monthly statements, oversee endowment and special funds, and make recommendations to the vestry. Experience in bookkeeping or accounting helpful. Meetings once a month with occasional take-home work. Increased workload during time of budget preparation.
Buildings and Grounds Team
Contact: John Cashman 363-5619, cside@maine.rr.com
Share responsibility for the care and maintenance of the church and rectory. Plan for capital improvements and major repairs. Cleaning, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, and painting are ongoing. Handypersons are welcome for spring clean-up, minor repairs, etc. Larger jobs are hired out. Infrequent meetings of about one-half hour.
Aesthetics Committee
Contact: Sue Little 363-7527, slittle004@aol.com
Make appropriate, tasteful, and meaningful recommendations before changes are made that affect the aesthetics of the church. Task-oriented as specific needs arise.
All Souls Memorial Garden
Contact: Wendell Simpson 363-2976, no email
Oversee the operation of the memorial garden by policy-making, distribution of applications, record-keeping, and maintenance of the stele and vault. Semiannual meetings.
Housekeeping
Contact: Eve Barrett 439-2034, barret1719@aol.com
Oversee the day-to-day maintenance of the church building, including supervision of cleaners and purchasing supplies. Time commitment varies, but less than an hour a week.
Office Volunteers
Contact: Lorrie Whittaker 363-7376, office@stgeorgesyorkharbor.org
Assist with folding and producing the newsletter, program guide and other mailing projects as they arise. Staff the parish office to answer the phone and do other simple tasks in the absence of the parish administrator. Serve on an occasional, as-needed/as-available basis.
