Committees
There are many ways to get involved at St. Bart's, with opportunities to have fun and build relationships through our diverse and active groups. Our committees fall into two major areas:
There are many ways to get involved at St. Bart's, with opportunities to have fun and build relationships through our diverse and active groups. Our committees fall into two major areas:
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Taking Care of Our Parishioners
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Taking Care of Our Worship and Building
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Scroll below to find out more about each committee.
Membership/Newcomers
The pandemic has made it challenging to come up with ways to grow church membership, but the committee has continued to find creative ways to reach out. The group ‘meets’ throughout the year via Zoom and has established a few initiatives: set criteria for greeting and contacting Newcomers, establish an active Membership List, and develop an ”Opportunities for Engagement” list which now is available in the narthex. When in-person church services were halted, members of this committee made “check-in” calls to all parishioners to inquire how they were doing and ask if they wanted any follow-up contact. During the summer, the Membership Committee assumed primary responsibility for putting on our COVID version of the annual Lobster Bake. Now that we are back to in-person services, we are planning an outdoor gathering in June to welcome our new Priest-In-Charge.
Susie Soule and Anne Berg, Co-chairs
Membership/Newcomers
The pandemic has made it challenging to come up with ways to grow church membership, but the committee has continued to find creative ways to reach out. The group ‘meets’ throughout the year via Zoom and has established a few initiatives: set criteria for greeting and contacting Newcomers, establish an active Membership List, and develop an ”Opportunities for Engagement” list which now is available in the narthex. When in-person church services were halted, members of this committee made “check-in” calls to all parishioners to inquire how they were doing and ask if they wanted any follow-up contact. During the summer, the Membership Committee assumed primary responsibility for putting on our COVID version of the annual Lobster Bake. Now that we are back to in-person services, we are planning an outdoor gathering in June to welcome our new Priest-In-Charge.
Susie Soule and Anne Berg, Co-chairs
Coffee Hour
Coffee hour is an important way for St. Bart's folks to connect and learn about each other following worship services. In normal years, volunteers sign up to provide after-church coffee and snacks, which in turn facilitates conversation and connections within our St. Bart’s community. Coffee hour is also a way to make visitors and newcomers feel welcome.
When the pandemic arrived in Maine, our Sunday services moved to online. With typical St. Bart’s creativity, we offered face-to-face conversation and connection following the online church service, with a weekly Zoom coffee hour. Each week, those who wished could click the emailed link to join the Zoom meeting, where we could see and hear each other. Those who participated agreed that our weekly coffee hours were a wonderful way to stay connected and to feel the friendship and love of the St. Bart’s.
We promise that you will leave coffee hour, whether on Zoom or in person, feeling loved and part of the St. Bart’s community. Additional volunteers are always needed to host coffee hour, now on Zoom and in the future in person.
Jamie Michaud, Chairperson
Stewardship
Our charge is to help our congregation grow into a faithful community where stewardship is a way of life rather than a season of fundraising. Those responsibilities include creating opportunities throughout the year to remind the congregation of what St. Bart’s means in their lives, coordination with both the Endowment and Finance Committees to help further their work, as well as conducting the annual pledge campaign. We make personal phone calls to all our parishioners during our pledge campaign. We ask a few members to speak to the congregation about what St. Bart’s means to them. This year “Stewardship Minutes” were filmed and made part of four fall online services with several parishioners sharing what about St. Bart’s brings them joy.
John Duncan, Chairperson
Coffee hour is an important way for St. Bart's folks to connect and learn about each other following worship services. In normal years, volunteers sign up to provide after-church coffee and snacks, which in turn facilitates conversation and connections within our St. Bart’s community. Coffee hour is also a way to make visitors and newcomers feel welcome.
When the pandemic arrived in Maine, our Sunday services moved to online. With typical St. Bart’s creativity, we offered face-to-face conversation and connection following the online church service, with a weekly Zoom coffee hour. Each week, those who wished could click the emailed link to join the Zoom meeting, where we could see and hear each other. Those who participated agreed that our weekly coffee hours were a wonderful way to stay connected and to feel the friendship and love of the St. Bart’s.
We promise that you will leave coffee hour, whether on Zoom or in person, feeling loved and part of the St. Bart’s community. Additional volunteers are always needed to host coffee hour, now on Zoom and in the future in person.
Jamie Michaud, Chairperson
Stewardship
Our charge is to help our congregation grow into a faithful community where stewardship is a way of life rather than a season of fundraising. Those responsibilities include creating opportunities throughout the year to remind the congregation of what St. Bart’s means in their lives, coordination with both the Endowment and Finance Committees to help further their work, as well as conducting the annual pledge campaign. We make personal phone calls to all our parishioners during our pledge campaign. We ask a few members to speak to the congregation about what St. Bart’s means to them. This year “Stewardship Minutes” were filmed and made part of four fall online services with several parishioners sharing what about St. Bart’s brings them joy.
John Duncan, Chairperson
Pastoral Care
Our mission is to support our Rector and provide a connection with parishioners by being in frequent communication. A click on the Pastoral Care tab will give you information on receiving healing prayers, requesting a prayer shawl or access to the Pastoral Care Booklet: Words of Comfort.
Volunteer Opportunities: In pre-pandemic times we’ve provided meals, transportation & home visits. We hope to do so again in the near future as needs arise and restrictions are lifted. Please contact us if you would like to be on the list for these services at pastoralcare@stbartsyarmouth.org.
Imelda Schaefer and Barbara Barhydt, Co-Chairs
Our mission is to support our Rector and provide a connection with parishioners by being in frequent communication. A click on the Pastoral Care tab will give you information on receiving healing prayers, requesting a prayer shawl or access to the Pastoral Care Booklet: Words of Comfort.
Volunteer Opportunities: In pre-pandemic times we’ve provided meals, transportation & home visits. We hope to do so again in the near future as needs arise and restrictions are lifted. Please contact us if you would like to be on the list for these services at pastoralcare@stbartsyarmouth.org.
Imelda Schaefer and Barbara Barhydt, Co-Chairs
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The Memorial Garden was created to be a place of natural beauty for the respectful burial of the ashes of loved ones. The Committee takes care of the garden year round by spreading pine needles on the grounds in the Fall, weeding throughout the Spring and Summer and updating plantings. If you love working outdoors, this is a wonderful opportunity to help maintain our serene garden, which provides comfort to all who visit.
Margaret Betts and Liza Chandler, Co-chairs |
Handwork Group/Prayer Shawl Knitting
The Afternoon Handwork Group, which is led by Liza Chandler, is currently meeting during Covid-time by Zoom on Mondays from 3-4:30pm. The Zoom link is posted in the weekly St. Bart’s email bulletin. You don't need to knit; bring your current craft project or simply chat. If you are interested in learning to make a Prayer Shawl or Blanket, please join the Monday Zoom meeting or email the Pastoral Care Committee pastoralcare@stbartsyarmouth.org.
Worship Committee
During the time of leadership transition and pandemic, the Worship Committee stepped into the role of planning our worship services. The committee creates the Order of Worship for each Sunday service, using liturgical resources that included previous seasonal booklets from St. Bart’s as well as sources from around the Anglican Communion. We change our liturgy seasonally following the church calendar, and currently while worshipping online are using a monthly rotation of services that include one Eucharistic service, one Healing Oriented service, one Service of the Word, and a Diocesan service each month. The Worship Committee coordinates with our Priest-In-Charge as well as other worship participants including Supply Clergy, the Pastoral Care Committee, and other parish volunteers to lead our services each week. We work closely with the tech team who does an amazing job making our vision for worship a reality! We welcome participation from anyone who is interested, and we are so grateful for the trust that has been placed in us to guide our continued worship together as a community.
Jan Burson, Chairperson
Tech Team
The Tech Team supports technology for St. Bart's as a modern church: producing the recorded Sunday services during Covid restrictions; producing live-streamed services in normal times; supporting technology in the church office; supporting the church audio system; supporting the website.
If any of those topics are of interest to you, let's talk!
Contact Joe Michaud at michaud.joe@gmail.com
The Tech Team supports technology for St. Bart's as a modern church: producing the recorded Sunday services during Covid restrictions; producing live-streamed services in normal times; supporting technology in the church office; supporting the church audio system; supporting the website.
If any of those topics are of interest to you, let's talk!
Contact Joe Michaud at michaud.joe@gmail.com
Altar Guild
The charge of the guild is to prepare the sanctuary for worship, to maintain and care for the altar, the communion vessels, the altar linens and vestments, and, in doing so, serve the clergy and parish. We co-ordinate with the Flower Committee, the Bread Bakers, and the clergy. The altar has been more in focus in our on-line services. The Tech Team has been able to highlight the beauty of our altar with its lit candles and flower arrangements complementing each other and the worship service so perfectly.
Jan Burson and Linda Perkins, Co-chairs
The charge of the guild is to prepare the sanctuary for worship, to maintain and care for the altar, the communion vessels, the altar linens and vestments, and, in doing so, serve the clergy and parish. We co-ordinate with the Flower Committee, the Bread Bakers, and the clergy. The altar has been more in focus in our on-line services. The Tech Team has been able to highlight the beauty of our altar with its lit candles and flower arrangements complementing each other and the worship service so perfectly.
Jan Burson and Linda Perkins, Co-chairs
Flowers
Our committee is responsible for providing floral arrangements for the altar every Sunday, closely following the church calendar, observing Lent, Palm Sunday, Easter, Advent and Christmas. Members provide the arrangements, whether they are from our own gardens, field flowers, houseplant or a local florist. Arrangements are at the members’ expense but reimbursements are possible for special arrangements at Christmas, Easter or flowers provided for funeral if requested by a parishioner. For the Christmas Fair members create holiday arrangements for the Greens Table. New members are most welcomed!
Imelda Schaefer and Mary Calvin, Co-chairs
Imelda Schaefer and Mary Calvin, Co-chairs
Greens
The Greens Committee is in charge of designing and putting together all of the boxwood trees, flower boxes, table arrangements and anything else that our imagination can create. In 2020 we created fall arrangements and wreaths. It was fun to try something new. Please join us this year. We have lots of fun. It may look intimidating but we love to teach and encourage new people.
Contact Mary Calvin 713-385-4708 if you have any questions.
The Greens Committee is in charge of designing and putting together all of the boxwood trees, flower boxes, table arrangements and anything else that our imagination can create. In 2020 we created fall arrangements and wreaths. It was fun to try something new. Please join us this year. We have lots of fun. It may look intimidating but we love to teach and encourage new people.
Contact Mary Calvin 713-385-4708 if you have any questions.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee meets monthly and is charged with the following responsibilities:
· Monitoring the Church’s income and expenses against the annual budget
· Preparation and recommendation of the budget to the Vestry
· Overseeing the reserve accounts and investments
· Recommend spending and investment policy to the Vestry
· Provide financial guidance for the Treasurers and Vestry
· Monitor financial trends affecting the Church
· Participation in long range planning, as needed, and identification of long-term capital needs
· Financial governance oversight (audit, bookkeeping)
Ann Donaghy, Chair
Building and Grounds
The Building and Grounds Committee maintains the beautiful post-and-beam structure of St. Bart's and the sweeping grounds that surround the building. We have organized cleanups in spring and fall; a rotating group of volunteers for weekly mowing and snow-clearing (sidewalks and doorways); skilled gardeners who weed and tend gardens. If you enjoy working with your hands and making friends with others who do also, there's a role for you! Contact Liza Chandler at liza.b.chandler@gmail.com or Joe Michaud at michaud.joe@gmail.com
The Finance Committee meets monthly and is charged with the following responsibilities:
· Monitoring the Church’s income and expenses against the annual budget
· Preparation and recommendation of the budget to the Vestry
· Overseeing the reserve accounts and investments
· Recommend spending and investment policy to the Vestry
· Provide financial guidance for the Treasurers and Vestry
· Monitor financial trends affecting the Church
· Participation in long range planning, as needed, and identification of long-term capital needs
· Financial governance oversight (audit, bookkeeping)
Ann Donaghy, Chair
Building and Grounds
The Building and Grounds Committee maintains the beautiful post-and-beam structure of St. Bart's and the sweeping grounds that surround the building. We have organized cleanups in spring and fall; a rotating group of volunteers for weekly mowing and snow-clearing (sidewalks and doorways); skilled gardeners who weed and tend gardens. If you enjoy working with your hands and making friends with others who do also, there's a role for you! Contact Liza Chandler at liza.b.chandler@gmail.com or Joe Michaud at michaud.joe@gmail.com
Fall clean up crew
