Calvary Church

Buildings & Grounds | Jennifer Parsons, Junior Warden

B&G oversees the maintenance of buildings and grounds.

Calvary Nursery School (CNS) | Jennifer Manfredi, Director

Calvary sponsors CNS, a financially independent, non-profit, independently run preschool, for ages 3-6, with kindergarten enrichment.

Calvary Music School (CMS) | 

Calvary Music School, founded in September 2000, offers one-to-one instrumental instruction on all instruments, including voice. A Suzuki Piano Program is also offered. In addition, we offer Music Together, and musikgarten pre-school music and movement appreciation classes for children aged birth to 8 years, accompanied by their parent or caregiver. Stonington Choral Society, a non-auditioned community chorus specializing in oratorio, is available through CMS and is run as an evening class, meeting once a week for 90 minutes.

Christian Education |

Calvary offers education classes for both children and adults. Please see the service sheet for the current schedule. Seasonal pageants are a special offering of Christian Education.

Episcopal Church Women (ECW) | Carole Barnard & Julia Stapleton

The ECW meets approximately once each month. Every female parishioner of Calvary is automatically an ECW member. All are most welcome! Business meetings are generally followed by a speaker. The ECW hosts several annual fundraisers, which are special occasions of Christian fellowship and fun, with proceeds going to local, state, and national charities, which include the holiday adoption of local, needy families. They are also responsible for the Village Fair Refreshment Booth, provide volunteers for the Red Cross blood drives, and oversee the United Thank Offering intakes.

Finance | Michael Garvey

The Finance Committee oversees Calvary’s investments and endowments.

Flower & Gardening Guilds | Gillian Perry & Saren Langmann

These guilds are in charge of the weekly altar flowers and the Memorial Garden.

Hospitality & Welcoming | Carole Barnard

Hospitality plans Sunday coffee hour, parish suppers, and occasional receptions. The Welcoming Committee welcomes new parishioners into the parish fellowship.

 

Office Volunteers| Phyllis Nowakowski, Parish Secretary

These are parishioners who assist the church secretary with printings, mailings, telephone, and general office duties.

Outreach |  Jennifer Parsons & Elizabeth Reid

The Outreach Committee provides pastoral care within the congregation and volunteer help and financial assistance to a number of organizations in the area and beyond. Some of the current projects are W.A.R.M. (Westerly Area Rest and Meals). Shelter meal preparation, Covenant to Car (Adopt a Social Worker Program), pastoral care Committee, Uganda Mission Team, Mary Elizabeth Nursing home visitations, Story Book Project at the York Correctional Institution, and the New London Community Soup Kitchen.

Prayer & Care | Barbara Loftus

The Lay Pastoral Prayer and Care Team continues to evolve. As a part of the broad spectrum of Stewardship at Calvary our goal is to take prayerful and appropriate care of our own.  To serve God and bring the love of Christ to all in need.Our Prayer Ministries:·        Prayer Group – Leader, Joan Wesley.  They gather around the Altar for prayer on the 2nd and 4^th Fridays of the month and pray daily for individual thanksgivings or intercessions. All are welcome to join. ·        LEV’s – Leader, Belinda deKay. They bring the Eucharist to homebound parishioners on the 1^st and 3^rd Sunday’s of the month.·        Prayer list -Candy Sanford. Places names on the weekly prayer list and keeps the records of those referred.

 

·        Individual Intercessory Prayers – Not yet developed, Our Care Ministries:·        Visits:  A core group studied the book, “Our Caring Church” to help make our visits more meaningful·        Food – (frozen casseroles) Organizer – Lois Cole. Frozen entrées and soups are placed in the freezer in the PH basement to be brought by the priest’s or any member of the team to those in need.·        Flowers:  occasionally flowers from the altar are brought to homebound parishioners·        Transportation:  A list of drivers is being developed but this service has not been formally set into practice.·        Telephone/ correspondence:  Patty Copp and Joan Mills are keeping in contact with the homebound, those who have moved away or anyone who would benefit from this type of contact. We send greeting cards for special holidays. ·        Handy men or women: we have a short list of volunteers – Woodie Cushman, Alice Conger and Norma Chandonnait and Carl and Hopper Hilligass.

 

·        We have parishioners willing to do God’s work. Our biggest challenge is in identifying those in need and utilizing our volunteers.  We believe it is the responsibility of every parishioner to be the eyes and ears of the Pastoral Prayer and Care Team to help us meet this challenge.  Doing God’s work within the parish bring us joy. Come join the Team in any category.  Core Team Members: Joan and Woodie Cushman, Ellie Casey, Candy Sanford, Deb Burgess, Patty Copp, Lois Cole, Joan Mills and Barbara Loftus.

 

Stewardship

This committee has the task of supporting the financial position of the church by educating and inspiring all of its parishioners in the art of stewardship, each according to their means. Specifically, this means managing the annual pledge campaign, organizing a planned giving program, and stimulating and coordinating other fundraising events throughout the parish, such as our schools’ fundraising activities.

Vestry | Belinda deKay, Senior Warden

The Vestry is the governing body of the parish. Our Vestry members are voted in by parishioners at the annual meeting.

Worship

Acolytes: Supervised and trained youths assisting the clergy at the altar during services.

Altar Guild: Responsible for the furnishings of the sanctuary and its preparation for church services.

Ushers: Welcome, greet, and seat parishioners on arrival to services, pass the offertory plate, and shepherd communicants during communion.

Liturgical Assistants: Parishioners appointed by the clergy, approved by the vestry, and where required, licensed by the Bishop, who assist in the public worship of the church. The following are liturgical assistants:

Lay Eucharistic Visitors (LEV): Take communion to homebound parishioners after the 10:00 am Sunday service.  Lector/Intercessors: Read lessons and/or lead the Prayers of the People. Ministers of Communion: Administer the chalice during Holy Communion.

Music | Joseph Ripka, Organist & Choirmaster

The Calvary Music Series presents special Evensongs, recitals, and concerts throughout the year. The Adult and Children’s choirs meet September through June.