2011 Blessing of the Animals Service

The Worship anf Music team  consists of the chair, budget manager, involvement coordinators,    council liaisons, the coordinator of music ministries, vocal choir directors, bell choir directors,  dikiosis director, altar guild, lector, usher, greeter, assisting ministers and communion assistant coordinators, and  others members who have interest in the music programs at Bethel.

The Worship and Music Ministry Team is responsible for matters pertaining to the worship and music life of our congregation including its regular and special services and the support to provide meaningful and well planned and coordinated worship.  Many aspects of the worship service are dependent on preliminary actions.  Because the worship service flows so effortlessly, it may seem that no other help is needed from church members to produce an effective, meaningful, and spirit-filled worship service. The Worship and Music Ministry Team utilizes the energies and talents of not only the above representatives but also members of the individual teams as it coordinates and delivers   numerous service duties.

There are many ways to serve at Bethel and serving in one of the many worship and music areas is a fufilling experience.  These are all more fully described elsewhere in this booklet.

Ushers                                 Bell Choirs                                                         Worship Assistant

Greeters                              Adult Choir                                                        Communion Assistant

Lectors                               Childrens' Choirs

Altar Guild                           Dikiosis (sacred dance group)

Contact:  Connie Houtz, chair of Worship and Music

                 703-368-3554

                  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Lectors are responsible for reading the first and second lessons in our service of worship and leading the congregation in responsively reading the psalm.  More importantly, the lector proclaims the word of God to the gathered people.

A "lectionary" is a list of scripture readings assigned to be read on a particular day. This tradition of a lectionary has roots in Jewish worship of long ago and was continued by the early Christians.  Not all Christians use the same lectionary, but many Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist and other Christian churches around the world use the Revised Common Lectionary, a three-year cycle laid out to guide ELCA congregations and other Christian denominations in the use of designated Old and New Testament lessons for weekly worship and daily devotions.

Each year the Gospel of Matthew, Mark, or Luke is read primarily with the Gospel of John interspersed throughout all three years. Consequently, if a person worshipped every Sunday for three years, he or she would be able to hear the majority of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

It is through the reading of the Scripture that God continues to speak. Bethel has been blessed with many people, both young and old, new and long-time attendees, who are faithful and dedicated readers of the word of God.

A sign-up sheet is located on the bulletin board in the hallway leading to the sunroom.  Lectors are needed for not only Sunday services but for special services such as Advent, Lent, and Holy Week.  In the fall and late spring there are training sessions for worship servers in which we gather to discuss areas of concern and changes that will help us better serve.   Guidelines for reading and a pronunciation sheet are also located on the bulletin board.

For those who are new to reading but feel they might want to try this, the best teacher is observing what other lectors do - how they approach the lectern, how they read, how they emphasize certain words, how they communicate God's word to the congregation.   I am available at any time to train, encourage, and help any who are interested in learning to lector.

Help me to proclaim, not just with my lips,
but with my whole heart and soul. May your Spirit live in me and
fill the holy word that I proclaim.