Serving, Caring, Growing and Giving
Opportunities to get involved and meet others:
God has given us many gifts. We have been called by Christ to be good stewards, leaders, and managers so our whole ministry enterprise can thrive to the Glory of God. Most of the positions and opportunities do not involve being elected or appointed. Those interested simply come and participate. For those positions that do call for election or appointment, please make contact with the person responsible for each activity. Ministry opportunities include the following:
Acolytes are lay persons, including youth, who assist during worship services. Among other duties, acolytes carry the cross and torches, receive the offering, and help prepare the altar. The ministry of acolytes allows our youth to serve as worship leaders each Sunday and at Diocesan services throughout the year. Additional volunteers are needed to work with the acolytes Sunday morning beginning at 9:30 to prepare for worship. Back to top.
Contact Person(s)
Richard Fisher –
Greg Hanson
Cathedral Artists offer their art as an expression of who we are as people of God. They honor God’s gifts of color and light, thought and emotion, creativity and passion, in sharing their art with all of us. A May art show is held each year. Back to top.
Contact Person
Dolores Howard
The Altar Guild
prepares the Altar and the worship space including arranging
the flowers, polishing and cleaning Communion vessels,
ensuring that the altar hangings are the appropriate
color, caring for the fine linens used in the service,
decorating for special worship services, etc. The Guild
welcomes persons interested in becoming trained for
its work. Back to top.
Contact Person
June Aziz
A Bible Study takes place every Sunday from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. in the Reception Room. The text studied is one of the appointed lessons for the following Sunday and is normally led by the clergyperson assigned to preach. All are welcome to come on any given Sunday. Back to top.
Caring Connections
at the Cathedral, formerly known under the
name Pastoral Care, represent a variety of ministries
offered by clergy and laity. As we care for one another
in the name of Christ, we celebrate with members and
friends who are celebrating (e.g., birthday;
marriage; birth of a child), support those who are in
crisis or transition (e.g., health concern;
move to a new home), and mourn with those who are bereaved.
In response to our experience of God’s generous, self-giving love, we share that love by reaching out to fellow parishioners, friends and guests in times of celebration, transition or crisis. When we know of a parishioner, guest or friend who is ill, hospitalized or is experiencing some other need, we remember him/her in prayer and assist in tangible ways as we are able. If a parishioner is homebound or confined to a health care facility and is unable to attend Sunday services, we make every effort to keep him/her connected to our Community of Faith. Some of the ways we reach out to one another include:
Caring Connections: Greeting Cards are a way to remind parishioners of how unique and special each person is to God and to this community. Lay persons and/or clergy send cards to those who are celebrating a birthday, anniversary, birth of a child or some other joyous event as well as to those who are mourning the loss of a loved one, are ill, are going through a divorce or some other difficult crisis.
Caring Connections: Healing Group is a group of lay parishioners who meet regularly to study and discuss the ministry of healing and to have the laying on of hands for healing. On Sundays they are available to offer the laying on of hands and prayers for healing in our Chapel during the time of communion.
Contact Person
Ms. Jilda Aliotta
Caring Connections: Lay Eucharistic Ministers
are trained and licensed by the Diocese to take the
consecrated bread on Sundays to parishioners who are
unable to attend Sunday worship because they are homebound
or confined to a healthcare facility. Lay Eucharistic
Ministers, or LEMs as they usually are called, generally
take communion to these persons at least once every
six weeks. After those attending service have received
communion, but prior to our post-communion prayer, the
deacon gives some consecrated wafers to the LEM while
saying a prayer “sending” that person to
take the wafers to the person who is scheduled to be
visited on that day. The LEMs process out with our clergy
and other worship leaders, further symbolizing that
they are being sent out on behalf of the congregation
to the person who is to receive communion. This allows
those persons who are unable to be with us on Sundays
to share with us in the Eucharistic meal.
Lay Eucharistic Ministers meet quarterly (February,
May, August, November); usually on a Sunday from 11:30
a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Contact Person
Canon St. Louis – (860) 527-7231 ext. 111 or email astlouis@cccathedral.org.
Caring Connections: Home Devotions are devotions that are mailed every month to parishioners, family members, friends, or others unable to be with us on Sundays. A group prepares the mailings, prays for the recipients, and makes the recipients aware of the prayers for them. Mailings include daily devotions that offer hope, love and strength at a time when they may be most needed.
Caring Connections: Prayer Lists: To get a name added to the Prayer List, please call the Cathedral Office. We will need to receive the name of the referral source, his/her relationship to the person whose name is being placed on the prayer list, his/her understanding of the precipitating concern, and whether s/he knows if the person whose name is being placed on the prayer list wants a call or visit by the clergy or Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEMs). If the person wants a pastoral visit, we will need to know their location. We also may need help to ensure an accurate pronunciation of the individual’s name.
Contact Person(s)
Canon St. Louis – (860) 527-7231 ext. 111 or email astlouis@cccathedral.org.
Debby Van Camp – (860) 527-7231 ext. 100 or mail
dvancamp@cccathedral.org.
The referral source is responsible for ensuring that the person whose name is being placed on the prayer list is willing to have his/her name read aloud in the worship service.
Caring Connections: Recovery Care Team –
as a way to minister to parishioners who are
ill and/or recovering at home after being hospitalized,
we’ve formed a Recovery Care Team (RCT). Members
of the team will contact you to see how you are doing,
offer to provide a simple meal, and send you a get-well
card and Sunday bulletins until you are able to return
to church. RCT members are Bev Clark, Sue Dalrymple.
Canon St. Louis will serve as the staff representative. Back to top.
Coffee Hour is an extension of the Sunday Morning worship and is coordinated by the Hospitality Committee. It is a time to be together to share and exchange greetings with each other and to welcome visitors and prospective new members with our parish life.
Interested persons may sign up to host a Sunday coffee hour or contribute to a Diocesan reception or for a special celebration such as Harvest Sunday or Pentecost. To host on a given Sunday during the program year, you are invited to bring coffee cake, bagels, crackers, cheese, donuts, fresh fruit, etc. to serve between 40-60 people. To make your Sunday a bit easier, you can sign up with a friend and co-host a Sunday. The Cathedral supplies the coffee and cold beverages. Please bring in your Coffee Hour food offerings directly to the Auditorium by 9:30 a.m. on the morning you are hosting. Heather Jordan-Greaves and others from the Hospitality Committee will be in the Auditorium before the service to help with setup.
The Hospitality Committee also hosts and coordinates
special events and receptions throughout the year, including
Deanery confirmations and ordinations. Back to top.
Contact person
Heather Jordan-Greaves
The Communications Committee meets throughout the year to coordinate overall communications efforts, both internal and external, of the Cathedral. It also seeks to raise the visibility of the Cathedral and its programs in the community while fostering relationships with civic, business and media leaders. Back to top.
Contact Person
Dean Pendleton – (860) 527-7231 ext. 107 or email
mpendleton@cccathedral.org.
Cathedral Crafters
is a group that meets every other Monday to put their
craft skills to work as well as learn new ones.
The group makes Chrismons for the newly baptized and
knits prayer shawls. The crafters are often invited
to join local craft fairs. Proceeds for sales
go towards various outreach efforts within and beyond
the Cathedral. Back to top.
Contact Person
Beverly Clark
Counters
are responsible for counting offerings collected during
worship services. The counting takes place during
the week. Volunteers who can donate time during
office hours are welcome to help the bookkeeper count
and record the collection. Back to top.
Contact Person
Rose Fichera-Eagen
Giving Flowers for our altars is one way to give thanks for God’s blessings and to remember loved ones. They are arranged each week by volunteers and members of the Altar Guild. The cost of giving flowers is $25 for one or two persons being remembered or for each thanksgiving; $50 for three to four persons; and $75 for more than four persons. The easiest way to give is to fill out a form found in the booklet rack in the back of the Cathedral and send it to Muriel Spooner, 224 Monroe Street, Hartford, CT 06114. You will be mailed a confirmation letter. Please indicate clearly the names for memorials or thanksgivings for which you will be making your donation and the Sunday you choose for each designation. Please note: Payment is due to Mrs. Spooner by the Wednesday preceding the Sunday the flowers will be given.
There is no permanent endowment fund for flowers at the Cathedral. We will continue to educate the Cathedral community about the need to contribute each Sunday for the flowers that beautify the altars. Back to top.
Contact Person
Muriel Spooner
The Cathedral has several Free
Bed Funds at Hartford Hospital that are available
to members and their family and friends who are uninsured
and have current or anticipated expenses at Hartford
Hospital or the Institute of Living. The Dean
can nominate a person
to receive Free Bed Funds to cover hospital costs, emergency room costs, clinic charges, outpatient surgery and Life Star costs. The Fund does not cover ambulance charges, physician charges, or nursing or home health care. Back to top.
Contact Persons
Dean Pendleton – (860) 527-7231 ext. 107 or email
mpendleton@cccathedral.org.
Rose Fichera-Eagen
Friends of Christ
Church Cathedral is an organization committed
to increase interest in the liturgical, outreach, and
cultural ministries of Christ Church Cathedral within
the Diocese of Connecticut, the city of Hartford, the
capital region of the state of Connecticut, and throughout
the United States. Friends are encouraged to support
the Cathedral financially through giving to our music,
outreach, and exterior renovation programs. Within
the Diocese of Connecticut, the activities of Friends
raise the awareness of the Cathedral’s mission
and ministry in ways in which the people of the Diocese
will come to know and appreciate Christ Church as their
Cathedral. Back to top.
Contact Person
Ruth Mitman, President
The Gift Shop
sells merchandise and books on Sunday mornings and at
many diocesan events. The Gift Shop is grateful
for its many volunteers who work in the store on a regular
basis and always welcomes more volunteers as well as
new ideas for unique items to sell. Seasonal help
to clean and replace inventory is always welcome. Back to top.
Contact Person
Monica Best
Greeters
offer a ministry of hospitality by welcoming and identifying
newcomers during worship services. They also assist
newcomers and visitors find their way to coffee hour
and the Dean’s Forum, introducing them to friends
and clergy, and distributing welcome materials.
Additional volunteers may help expand the ministry to
the 8:00 a.m. service. Back to top.
Contact Person
Marion Lewis
Library
volunteers help maintain the Cathedral library
and make its offerings known to the parish. The
library is located on the second floor of the Cathedral
next to the Canon Vicar’s office. Parishioners
may borrow books through a sign-out process. The
Library is open on Sunday mornings and during the week
by request through the Cathedral office. Volunteers
are always welcome to help care for the books and keep
the collection organized. Back to top.
Contact Person
Canon St. Louis – (860) 527-7231 ext. 111 or email astlouis@cccathedral.org.
Lunch…Plus! offers midday concerts and lunch on the first Thursday of the month from October to May. Cathedral volunteers help serve lunch. Back to top.
Contact Person
Kevin Jones– (860) 527-7231 ext. 112 or email
kjones@cccathedral.org.
The Memorial Fund was established to receive donations in memory of loved ones and friends who have died. Donations to this fund are appropriate, in lieu of flowers, at the time of burial from the Cathedral or another parish. The Memorial Fund is used for special projects and needs at the Cathedral, but is meant particularly for the Altar Guild to maintain and purchase vestments, Eucharistic vessels and other liturgical objects used to enhance the beauty of worship. Back to top.
Lunchtime Meditation,
there is a weekly lunchtime meditation in the Cathedral
every Thursday. This is unguided, ecumenical, and is
available as an opportunity to just sit as a group in
silent contemplation/meditation within the sacred space
of the sanctuary. The group connect briefly in
front of the church around 12:30 p.m. and head in to
begin by 12:35 p.m., sitting for 30 minutes. If you
have any questions, please contact Dave Ames at (860)
944-1925 or amesmassage@yahoo.com. Back to top.
The New Member
Ministry Committee welcomes and incorporates
new members into the Cathedral community. Formerly
the Evangelism Committee, the changed name acknowledges
that the call to share the Good News of Jesus Christ
is a task shared by many areas of our common life: education,
worship, music, pastoral care and outreach. The
Committee hosts Newcomer brunches and works with others
to invite and welcome new members. Volunteers
are welcome to join the committee and especially to
begin planning for outreach to persons moving to downtown
Hartford. Back to top.
The Outreach
Committee coordinates the many outreach
projects at the Cathedral, including the housing of
the MANNA feeding program of Center City Churches and
our own Church Street Eats feeding program on Sundays.
Cathedral kitchens are used seven days a week
to prepare food for the hungry. There are many
opportunities to serve in all the programs. On the second
Tuesday of every month, Cathedral volunteers (adults
and youth) work as a team to purchase food, prepare
and serve the evening meal. Volunteers are always
needed and welcomed.
Contact Person
Beverly Clark
Every Sunday morning volunteers are needed to make sandwiches and serve at the Church Street Eats feeding program in our dining room. Volunteers can contribute after either the 8:00 or 10:00 a.m. service. The Cathedral congregation and many other congregations provide gift bags every 6-8 weeks. There is always a need for toiletry items.
Contact Person
Natalie Best
Each week canned goods and other non-perishable food items are donated and presented at the altar to be given to the local MANNA food pantry.
Each spring we participate in the Walk Against Hunger that collectively raises more than $250,000 to combat hunger in Greater Hartford.
The Advent Angel Tree displayed in the Auditorium before
Christmas invites the giving of gifts for children at
Betances and Maria Sanchez schools in Hartford.
Used books and magazines can be donated in the downstairs dining room to benefit the guests of the Church Street Eats program and the prison ministry we contribute to on a regular basis. Back to top.
Contact Person
Rose Fichera-Eagen
The St. Barnabas
Guild is an international and ecumenical
organization of nurses and those in related fields.
Meetings, usually the third or fourth Saturday afternoon
at the Cathedral, include worship, education, fellowship
and service. The Guild provides scholarships
locally and nationally for nursing students and individuals
in allied health fields. Back to top.
Contact Persons
Rose Fichera-Eagen
The Rev. Linda Spiers
The Scholarship Committee distributes awards each year to graduating high school seniors who have been involved in the life of the Cathedral for a minimum of two consecutive years. Participation in the life of the Cathedral can include attending worship services, attending Church School, participating in Youth Group activities, singing in the Choir, serving as an acolyte, or regular participation in other Cathedral activities. Each graduating senior is eligible for an award of at least $250. Past scholarships awards for undergraduate or trade school education have ranged from $2000 to $3000 depending on the number of applicants during a given year. A total of approximately $30,000 is awarded each year. Back to top.
Contact Person
John E. Robinson
Stewardship for the Cathedral organizes our life and leadership so that we can be good stewards of all the gifts that God has bestowed on us.
Annual Giving Each year the Stewardship
Committee asks our membership to make a financial
offering in the form of a pledge. Only when the
signed pledge cards are received and totaled can the
Cathedral’s leadership adequately plan for the
upcoming year. In most years, only about 18% of
the Cathedral’s total operating budget is funded
by the pledges of our members. Without a more
broad-based financial commitment through pledging, we
will not be able to offer the kind of pastoral care,
spiritual formation, support of worthy outreach ministries
and the quality of worship that we have all come to
know and appreciate. In 2005, 204 pledges were
made for a total of more than $232,000 to support mission
and ministry. The average pledge was $1,137.
Contact Persons
Dean Pendleton – (860) 527-7231 ext. 107 or email
mpendleton@cccathedral.org.
Planned Giving is a response to what
is called for on pg. 445 of the Book of Common Prayer.
The leaders of the Congregation are “directed
to instruct the people, from time to time, about the
duty of Christian parents to make prudent provision
for the wellbeing of their families, and for all persons
to make wills, while they are in health, arranging for
the disposal of their temporal goods, not neglecting,
if they are able, to leave bequests for religious and
charitable uses.”
On May 16, 2006 the Cathedral Chapter adopted resolutions that formally establish a Planned Giving Program for the Cathedral and named five members to a committee to oversee the communication and development of the program. The resolution reminds us how Christian stewardship involves the faithful management of all the gifts God has given to humankind – time, talents, the created world and money, including accumulated, inherited and appreciated assets. We can give to the work of the Church through a variety of gift vehicles, in addition to cash, including securities, bequests in wills, charitable remainder trusts and other life income gifts, other trusts, life insurance policies, real estate, and other property.
The Cathedral has been blessed over the years in receiving
bequests from our members and friends. This program
will help us encourage, receive and administer future
gifts in a manner faithful to the loyalty and devotion
to God expressed by the donors, and in accord with the
policies of this parish. A visible piece of this
new program will be to recognize the Legacy
Circle of the Friends of the Cathedral as the
official society to recognize those members and friends
of Christ Church Cathedral who commit to future financial
gifts to Christ Church Cathedral.
The Committee includes Robert Mueller as Chair, Susan
Reinhart, John E. Robinson, Martha Fine, and Gary Strong.
Also working with the Committee are Dean Pendleton,
Rose Fichera-Eagen, and Helen Ross. Back to top.
Contact Persons
Dean Pendleton – (860) 527-7231 ext. 107 or email
mpendleton@cccathedral.org.
Robert Mueller
Ushers greet
and lead people to their seats for worship, guide the
congregation during worship and oversee the collection
and offering of gifts at the Eucharist. They direct
parishioners and visitors from their seats to the communion
rail at the time of receiving communion. Throughout
the year ushers serve at ordinations, confirmations,
diocesan special services and concerts. We are
in the process of training a special core of volunteers
to usher for diocesan services, most of which are not
on Sundays. Back to top.
Contact Persons
Sylvestus & Ann Nelson
The Uyeki Forum, named in memory of the Reverend Lloyd Uyeki, a beloved priest of Japanese heritage, is devoted to fostering an environment that encourages open, honest dialogue about racism, facilitates discernment about our role in opposing racial injustice and provides support for the work of racial reconciliation. The Forum uses an action-contemplation model to promote racial understanding, peace and justice among forum participants, the Cathedral community and Hartford residents. The Uyeki Forum Work Group meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Back to top.
Contact Persons
Canon St. Louis – (860) 527-7231 ext. 111 or email astlouis@cccathedral.org.
Tim Cole
Vergers assist the clergy to achieve an orderly and smooth flow of movement throughout the worship service. Vergers serve at the invitation of the Dean. At its core, the ministry of verger is a servant ministry that requires three basic elements for success: gratitude for God’s many gifts, commitment to service and respect and appreciation of the role of clergy, and a thorough working knowledge of Anglican polity, rubrics and liturgy. Back to top.
Contact Persons
Dean Pendleton – (860) 527-7231 ext. 107 or email
mpendleton@cccathedral.org.
Gilbeean Scott – (860) 527-7231 ext 175 or email
gscott@cccathedral.org
Worship leaders include Lectors, Intercessors and Chalice Bearers who help lead worship at the Cathedral. Lectors are lay persons trained in reading the Scripture lessons and appointed by the Dean to read the lessons during worship. Chalice Bearers are appointed by the Dean to help serve the wine at Communion and are licensed by the Diocese to serve in this ministry. They also serve as intercessors at the Prayers of the People. If you are interested in serving, please contact one of the clergy. Back to top.
Contact Person
Barbara Belden |
