In the Episcopal Church, a Lay Eucharistic Minister (LEM) administers the chalice at a regular celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the LEM's parish. LEMs also bring the consecrated Host (under the direction of the rector) to members of the congregation who are unable to attend services due to illness or infirmity. A LEM in this capacity is also referred to as a Lay Eucharistic Visitor.

LEMs are licensed by the Bishop and must be a confirmed communicant in good standing and an active supporter of the congregation.

The rector provides the bishop with the following information about the LEM candidate when applying for the license:

• What is the need within the parish for this person to be licensed?
• Why was this person selected? How was this person trained?
• What, specifically, will this person do as a LEM?
• Is there a system in place for continuing supervision and training?

For more information about LEMs in the Diocese of New York, follow this link.

A lector is an unlicensed parishioner appointed by the clergy to read the Lessons, lead the Psalm, or lead the Prayers of the People. At Christ Church we use two readers every Sunday: the Lector reads the Old Testament lesson and the Epistoler reads the New Testament lesson. We also use one Intercessor every Sunday to lead the Prayers of the People. Lectors are trained and scheduled by the verger. This ministry is open to children, youth, and adults.

Acolytes assist the clergy at the10:00am Sunday Eucharist and at other services. They carry the cross and torches in procession, assist with preparing the altar for Communion, assist with the ablutions after Communion, and assist as otherwise directed by the celebrant and verger. They are trained by the Rector and verger and scheduled by the Verger. This ministry is open to children and youth.

Choral music has been a part of worship at Christ Church since its earliest days, when a small choir of ladies and gentlemen provided music. In 1873 a boy’s choir was formed, to which men were added a few years later, and by the 1880s the principal chorus of the church had evolved into a men and boy’s choir of over 30 voices. They gained considerable renown locally and throughout the region.

During the 1890s, however, unruly behavior among the boys had become an issue, and Mrs. Emma Dexter of Trinity Church Wall Street was hired both as soloist and choir supervisor. Possibly, the rector and wardens hoped a strong maternal presence among the boys would improve their behavior. It didn’t, unfortunately, and the men and boy’s choir was temporarily suspended.

Christ Church Men & Boy's Choir and Clergy on Memorial Day, 1905.

In 1902 a new organist-choirmaster revived the men and boy’s choir and formed a girl’s choir. Both groups remained until after World War II, when they were replaced by the present adult and junior choirs. Following a long period of inactivity, the children’s choir was reinstated in 2007 under the direction of Mrs. Beth Johanning-Hayes (see below).

Today the adult choir consists of approximately 20 voices covering soprano, alto, tenor, and bass parts. Included in the choir are three section leader-soloists. The choir sings weekly at each Sunday service and on special occasions, rehearsing before and after the service. Repertoire covers periods from the Renaissance to the present. Several choir members originally sang in the junior choir, and some of the more recent members are new to the church. Together, their skills and consistent dedication make a notable contribution to the musical life of Christ Church.

Timeline of Organist-Choirmasters at Christ Church:

Christ Church Choir and Clergy, Mother's Day, 2007.

Ushers distribute bulletins, take the collection, direct people to Communion, and generally assist parishioners and visitors attending services at Christ Church. This ministry is open to children, youth, and adults.

Greeters welcome visitors to Christ Church, provide them with information about the church, escort them to coffee hour, and introduce them to the Rector and other parishioners. The Greeters are also responsible for maintaining parishioners’ name tags.

Members of the Altar Guild prepare the altar for any service held in the church. Altar Guild members are responsible for cleaning the altars, caring for the sacred vessels, and filling the chalice with wine and the ciborium with bread prior to the service. The Altar Guild is trained and scheduled by Shirley Elfers, Altar Guild Director.

The counter is responsible for accurately counting any cash or checks collected during a service and depositing those funds into the bank. Those funds are a vital part of Christ Church's community outreach and operating budget.

Coffee Hour hosts provide tasty refreshments after a grueling Sunday morning service. Known in the Episcopal church as the 8th sacrament, Coffee Hour is a time for parishioners to socialize over coffee and snacks. You can catch up with old friends, get to know new people, and stoke the raging coals of long-standing grudges during Coffee Hour. Coffee Hour hosts are reimbursed for any cash outlay incurred.

Sunday through Friday at 7 AM in the chapel there is a Morning Prayer service (Sunday the service is at 7:30 AM). This service is led by a lay worship leader.

Morning Prayer takes about fifteen to twenty minutes and it is an ideal way to begin a busy day.

On the second Sunday of each month and on the second and fourth Thursday of each month there is a service for Healing and Anointing held in the chapel immediately following the 10 AM service on Sunday and following the 11 AM service on the Thursdays.

During the course of the service the collect is read and the designated person leads the congregation in prayer. There follows a short excerpt from the letter of James:

"Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective."

Congregants are invited to name anyone whom they wish to be prayed over and are invited to the rail to kneel and be blessed and anointed. The worship leader lays hands upon the congregant and recites the following prayer:

"I lay my hands upon you beseeching our Lord Jesus Christ to sustain you with His presence, to drive away all sickness of body and spirit, and to give you that victory of health and peace that will enable you to walk in His loving service both now and ever more."

The prayer leader then anoints the congregant with Holy Oil while reciting the following:

"I anoint you with this holy oil in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."