For information about any of St. Mary’s ministries please contact us.

• Acolytes
  Acolytes vest (put on robes), light the candles on the altar, lead the procession into the church at the beginning of the service, and assist the clergy in preparing the altar for communion. At the end of the service, acolytes lead the procession out of the church and extinguish the candles.
• Altar Guild
  The Altar Guild prepares all things necessary for the conduct and celebration of public worship. This includes Sunday morning and Saturday evening liturgies, regular mid-week services, funerals, weddings, special services such as Christmas Eve and Day services, and the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter. The preparations are done reverently and prayerfully so that all services may proceed in order and beauty to the glory of God in Jesus Christ. Altar Guild members work alone or in pairs to set up, wash, and put away the Eucharistic service set; they change the linens and colors on the altar and elsewhere in the church to reflect the seasons of the Church year.
• Eucharistic Ministers
  Eucharistic Ministers are specially trained and licensed to serve communion wine during public liturgies. They vest prior to the service, process in, and serve consecrated wine at the altar during communion.
• Flower Guild
  The beauty of nature helps us sing God’s praises and to rejoice in the splendor of God’s creation while we worship. Volunteers are assigned to arrange flowers for weekend services and other special services during the year. Training sessions are available.
• Lectors and Intercessors
  • Lectors are responsible for reading the lessons in worship services. Responsibilities include attending a training session and reading the assigned lessons during the week to become familiar with the text. By taking this role seriously and performing professionally, lectors proclaim God’s word to the faithful such that they might hear it and be changed.
  • Intercessors lead the Prayers of the People. The act of prayer, especially in communal form, is the bedrock of our identity as Christians.
• Healing Prayers Ministry
  During the 10 a.m. service, the Lady Chapel is be open for healing prayers during communion. A prayer minister will be available to offer quiet, confidential prayers for healing and wholeness for yourself or others.
• Ushers & Greeters
  Ushers provide a ministry of hospitality and assistance to all worshippers, giving extra attention and help to visitors or those with special needs. Hospitality is paramount in our Christian faith, where to welcome strangers and regulars alike is akin to welcoming Jesus himself into our midst. Duties include distributing worship bulletins to those entering the church, collecting the offering, and guiding worshippers to communion.

Hospitality is an integral part of the Mission of St. Mary’s. We see it as an imperative to make others feel welcome and cared for in our church. This group of parishioners focus on ensuring our congregation has many opportunities to commune with one another over food and drink. They support ongoing activities such as coffee hours, lemonade-on-the-lawn, ice cream socials, a once per month reception after the 5 p.m. Saturday Taizé service, newcomer receptions and the coordination of collations and receptions following memorial services.

This team focuses on helping to welcome and incorporate new individuals, couples or families who express interest in the activities and life of our parish. Meetings are bi-monthly. Receptions are hosted in parishioners’ homes and at church throughout the year. New committee members are welcome as we continue to promote our mission of being known as a welcoming community of faith. Joining our vibrant group is a small commitment with a big result!

Buildings & Grounds Committee

The Buildings & Grounds Committee ensures that the physical spaces of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church are safe, beautiful, functional, and welcoming to all. This team oversees the maintenance, repair, and improvement of our buildings, grounds, and equipment, helping to create an environment where ministry and community can thrive.

Members of the committee work with the rector, parish staff, and contractors to:

• Monitor and plan for regular maintenance and upkeep
• Organize seasonal workdays and parish-wide cleanups
• Evaluate repair needs and improvement projects
• Support sustainability and energy efficiency goals
• Help prioritize capital projects and budgeting for the future

Whether you’re handy with tools, have an eye for landscaping, or simply want to help care for our sacred space, there’s a place for you on this vital ministry team.

The Garden Committee maintains our beautiful gardens, honoring those who cared for them before us. We meet twice a month from April to November—one session for planning and another for hands-on work. Volunteers can also tend small sections independently. Tools and snacks are provided on workdays. No gardening experience is needed—just a love for nature and community. New members are always welcome. The committee takes a well-earned break from December to March.

St. Mary’s offers several different groups to support those who are experiencing grief for any reason. Sometimes people are experiencing grief due to the death of a spouse, relative, or friend. In some cases people may be experiencing anticipatory grief due the impending loss of a significant person. These groups are judgement free zones that offer a compassionate space to those who are mourning. In these circles of care, we share stories, listen without judgment, and support one another through the journey of healing. Whether your loss is recent or long past, all are welcome. Together, we find strength in community, comfort in shared experience, and hope for the days ahead.

Choir & Organ
Music is an integral part of life at St. Mary’s. Not only is it a central vehicle for the praise of God, but it binds us as a community as well. Our parish choir is made up of dedicated people who are enthusiastic about the role music plays both in their personal lives of faith, and in the weekly experience of our congregants.

St. Mary’s Organ
The organ at St. Mary’s was built in 1986 by the firm of Karl Wilhelm, Inc., Mont St. Hilaire, Québec, Canada as their Opus 109 (Wilhelm’s first organ in Massachusetts). The organ consists of 20-stops and 23-ranks of pipes…a total of 1,184 pipes…played via mechanical key and stop-action from an attached keydesk of 2 manuals / 56-notes and a flat pedalboard of 30-notes. The natural keys with their bone facings and the sharps of rosewood, together with the drawknobs of rosewood, provide a contrast to the stained and oiled oak of the case. The casework is made of white oak joined by rabbeting or tongue-and-groove methods. There are no nails or screws to join the case together, nor any metal framework or supports for the organ case. The carved pipeshades recall with their design the carvings of the earlier reredos behind the previous altar. Metal pipework is made of varying percentages of tin and lead, while wooden pipework is made of white oak. On-site final tonal regulation was accomplished by Martin Pasi and Karl Wilhelm. The organ received its dedicatory recital by Wolfgang Rübsam on 25 February 1987. In 2002, the organ was rededicated to the glory of God and named in honor of the Rev. David E. Allen on the occasion of his retirement as Rector (1979-2002).