Ministries & Committees
There are a number of ways for a member to get involved at St. John’s, whether it be through involvement in worship, formation, or service to our church & community. Below is a list of active ministries at our church and their chairs. To learn more about a particular ministry please contact the church office.
Opportunities For Worship and Learning
St. John’s offers several opportunities to get involved with worship.
Acolytes
Acolytes serve an important role in worship by carrying the cross, lighting candles, assisting with the Gospel procession, and supporting the clergy at the altar. Open to youth and adults alike, this ministry offers a chance to learn responsibility, teamwork, and the rhythms of Episcopal worship. Serving as an acolyte is both an act of devotion and a way to grow in faith while helping lead the congregation in prayer. Frank Latimer and Kris Morris, Acolyte Co-Masters
Altar Guild
The Altar Guild prepares the sanctuary for worship, caring for the vessels, linens, and altar with dedication and reverence. This behind-the-scenes ministry makes our liturgy beautiful and orderly. Volunteers meet on Saturday mornings at 10:00 AM, and new members are always welcome. Serving in the Altar Guild is a meaningful way to honor God through care and service. Karon Myers and Mary Fitzgerald, Altar Guild Co-Chairs
Flower Guild
The Flower Guild brings beauty to worship by arranging flowers for Sundays and special services. No experience is needed—just a love of flowers and a willingness to learn. Volunteers sign up for Sundays or help with larger feast days, creating arrangements that brighten the sanctuary and honor God’s creation. It is a joyful and creative way to serve the parish. Cindy Melton and Robin O’Brien, Flower Guild Co-Chairs
Greeters
Greeters welcome all who come to St. John’s, offering a smile, directions, and answers to questions. They serve at Sunday services and special events on a rotating schedule. This ministry is a simple but powerful way to share Christ’s love and make every person feel at home. Dwight Foley, Greeters Coordinator
Handbell Choir
The Handbell Choir enriches worship with joyful music under the direction of Chris Brown. Open to all, the choir rehearses Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 PM and plays at select services and special occasions. No experience is necessary—just a willingness to learn and ring together in fellowship. Chris Brown, Choirmaster
Readers & Eucharistic Ministers
Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors help lead worship through reading Scripture, leading prayers, and assisting the priest at communion. Volunteers serve on a rotating schedule, with training provided for all participants. This ministry is a meaningful way to grow in faith while serving the congregation. New members are always welcome. Christa Hamra, Worship Chair
St. Ambrose Choir
The St. Ambrose Choir helps lead worship in song, continuing a long tradition of musical excellence at St. John’s. Rehearsals are Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, and singers of all experience levels are welcome. The choir offers a chance to grow musically and spiritually while serving the congregation through music. Chris Brown, Choirmaster
Taizé Services
Taizé Prayer offers a simple and meditative style of worship, blending scripture, prayer, music, and silence to draw participants into God’s peace. Services are held periodically on Sunday evenings at 5:30 PM in the chapel, with dates announced in advance. All are welcome to share in this quiet, contemplative time of worship. Olive Meyer, Chair
Ushers
Ushers serve at services by welcoming worshipers, distributing bulletins, collecting offerings, and guiding communion. They also provide assistance to visitors and ensure the service runs smoothly. Ushers typically serve once a month in teams and play an important role in hospitality and care. Christy Morris, Ushers Chair
Opportunities For Children and Youth
St. John’s is welcoming to parishioners of all ages.
Nursery
Nursery care is available Sundays from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM for children infant to age 10, providing a safe space while parents attend church activities and the 10:30 AM service. When closed, the library serves as a “cry room,” offering a comfortable space to listen to the service with your child.
Godly Play
Godly Play invites children in kindergarten through fifth grade to explore Bible stories with imagination and wonder. Meeting every other Sunday from September through May, sessions run from 9:30 to 10:15 AM. Volunteers serve as storytellers or doorkeepers, helping children experience Scripture in meaningful ways. Bren Pomponio, Godly Play Chair
Confirmation Classes
Arranged, supported, and directed by the clergy, confirmation classes are offered to teens as needed for those ready to commit to membership in the Episcopal Church. For more information, contact the Church office.
Service Readers, Greeters, and Ushers
Youth who wish to participate in Sunday worship service are encouraged to join the worship leader for a conversation about what it takes, the desired commitment and training.
Opportunities to Connect and Serve
We reach out in fellowship with each other and in service to our community.
Barbara Knight Memorial Shawl Ministry
The Knitting Ministry creates handmade shawls and other items that are given to those in need of comfort, healing, or celebration. Along the way, members enjoy fellowship, conversation, and prayer. This ministry combines creativity and compassion, offering tangible reminders of God’s love. Mary Ann Deison, Shawl Ministry Chair
Buildings and Grounds
The Buildings & Grounds Team helps care for our church property through maintenance, repair, and improvement projects. Whether you’re handy with tools or simply available for day projects like cleaning the garden or yard work, this team offers a great way to serve and keep our church a welcoming place. Greg Isaacs and Linda Workman, Buildings and Grounds Co-Chairs
Concerts @ St. John's
Since 2015, Concerts @ St. John's has served as an outreach service to the Greater Charleston community with the objectives of presenting concerts of high artistic level and providing a creative outlet for musicians and composers from the West Virginia region. Admission is free, with donations welcomed to support the ongoing series. Each concert is followed by a reception, where volunteers offer hospitality and welcome guests, many of them visiting for the first time. Dave DeBolt, Concerts @ St. John’s Chair
Congregational Life
The Congregational Life Ministry fosters fellowship by hosting coffee hour each Sunday after the 10:30 Eucharist. This time of food and conversation strengthens our community and provides a warm welcome to newcomers. The team also helps with parish events throughout the year. Anyone who enjoys hospitality and friendship will find this a joyful way to serve. Maggie McCabe and Brian Hamra, Congregational Life Co-Chairs
Communications
The Communications Ministry shares the life and spirit of St. John’s with the congregation and the wider community. This team manages the website, social media, and parish publications while also telling our story through photos, writing, and design. It’s a creative and fun way to help others feel connected and welcomed into our community. Bianca Prince, Director of Communications
Contemplative Prayer Group
The Contemplative Prayer Group gathers weekly to rest in God’s presence through 20 minutes of shared silence. Meetings are held Tuesdays at 5:30 PM in the chapel, and participants are encouraged to arrive a few minutes early through the Leon Sullivan Way entrance. This simple yet powerful practice offers space for stillness, renewal, and a deeper connection with God. Olive Meyer, Chair
Formation
Adult Formation meets Sundays at 9:30 AM as Connected Communities for coffee, conversation, and learning. Through book studies, guest speakers, workshops, and prayer, participants grow in faith and deepen community. All are welcome at any time, whether you are exploring Episcopal tradition for the first time or seeking to enrich your spiritual life. Maggie McCabe and Lora Witt, Adult Formation Co-Chairs
Outreach Committee
Outreach extends the love of Christ into the community through service and fellowship. The team partners with RCCR to support affordable housing, provides meals at a men’s transitional home, joins Kanawha Presbyterian’s BraveHeart program, and participates in community events like the Holly Jolly Brawley tree festival. All are welcome to join this lively and caring ministry. Donna Hamra and Christy Morris, Outreach Co-Chairs
Pastoral Care
The Pastoral Care Ministry supports parishioners by providing meals, transportation, visits, and Eucharist for those unable to attend church. The team also assists with funeral receptions and welcomes newcomers. This ministry offers a meaningful way to share Christ’s love in practical and personal ways. Mary Ann Deison, Pastoral Care Chair
Reading Camp
Reading Camp is a free summer program that helps children strengthen reading skills and gain confidence. Rising third through fifth graders enjoy a full week of learning, meals, transportation, and afternoon field trips. Volunteers assist by reading with children, serving meals, chaperoning, or offering financial support. This joyful ministry makes a lasting difference in young lives. Melinda DiCarlo, Margaret Lieberman, and Jeannine Boothe, Reading Camp Co-Chairs
SAGA
SAGA is an inclusive ministry that celebrates the dignity of all people, affirming diverse sexual orientations and gender identities in the spirit of God’s love. Open to all, SAGA fosters conversation, fellowship, and advocacy, helping St. John’s be a community where everyone belongs. Travis Baldwin, SAGA Chair
Social Justice @ St. John’s
Social Justice @ St. John’s (SJ@SJ) meets monthly to share a meal and learn about issues of equity and compassion in our community. Guest speakers bring expertise and lived experience, inspiring reflection and action. This ministry nurtures gratitude, hope, and a deeper commitment to justice. Margaret Chapman Pomponio and Christine Teague, SJ@SJ Co-Chairs
St. John's Archives & Museum
The Archives Committee preserves the history of St. John’s by collecting and organizing documents, photographs, and artifacts. Since 2012, the collection has been displayed in a parish museum on the second floor of the Parish House, open at designated times or by request. This ministry helps us celebrate our past and inspires our mission today. Travis Baldwin, Archives Coordinator
Wednesday Book Group
The Wednesday Book Group began in 1985 as a weekly Bible study led by St. John’s co-rector, the Rev. Mary Adelia McLeod, and has grown into a gathering focused on books with a religious or spiritual theme. Members read aloud together, pausing for conversation and reflection, and now meet on Zoom so that all can easily participate. The group also enjoys fellowship and welcomes anyone interested in exploring faith through thoughtful reading and discussion. Melinda DiCarlo, Chair
Women’s Bible Study
The Women’s Bible Study at St. John’s offers a space to explore Scripture in ways that are both thoughtful and lively. Participants are encouraged to reflect on passages creatively—focusing on words or phrases that move them, stepping into the place of a character in the story, or uncovering multiple layers of meaning. By considering historical and cultural context alongside personal insight, the group helps Scripture come alive, revealing lessons that resonate deeply in daily life. All women are welcome to join this supportive community of learners and seekers, where curiosity, reflection, and shared discovery guide every meeting. Olive Meyer, Chair