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Every Member is a Minister

You were created for ministry to reflect the image of the Creator.

Serving With Joy

We exist to love God, love people, and make disciples of Jesus Christ. Out of this mission, joyful service is the overflow of discipleship, serving those in and outside the church. One of the ways we pursue and live out this discipleship trait is through volunteer opportunities.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."   Ephesians 2:10

SERVE the CHURCH

Ways to Get Involved

Our congregation is a family blessed with a diversity of riches including time, talents, and abilities. We are a family that recognizes that each member must take up their task in glory to the Lord performing to the best of their ability.

At Evangelical, members have a wealth of opportunities to find their niche and contribute to the Body of Christ that resides here in upstate NY.  Christ intends for us to be a vibrant community focused on learning, loving, respect, and joyful worship. In order to fulfill that mission, our members lay claim to their opportunity to the Glory of the Lord.

Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28

Take a look and explore the many opportunities here at Evangelical to Glorify God.

EDUCATION MINISTRIES

  • Linda Briggs, Chairperson, Board of Christian Education

Sunday mornings, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Pre K - 5th grade - You have an opportunity to teach or help in whatever grade you prefer. We are currently using a curriculum, which emphasizes the Gospel, the Good News about Christ, and is anchored on the Bible, God's Word.

Pre-Confirmation classes - Evangelical provides the youth of our congregation with 2 1/2 years of study and instruction designed to prepare them for the Confirmation Classes and being Confirmed. The curriculum provides for an extensive review of the Scripture, the Small Catechism, and delves into church history, as well as Martin Luther's life and teachings.

Confirmation classes - are another 2 years and are taught by Pastor DeBartolo and several other Christian Ed staff when needed.

Young Adult Classes - are taught by Pastor DeBartolo and cover current and contemporary issues in light of Sunday's Gospel.  

 

Sunday mornings, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Adult Classes -  Evangelical Lutheran Church is committed to a Christian education program for all ages that fosters the strengthening of faith in Christ and deepens knowledge of Christian doctrine and ethics. 

There is currently an Adult Sunday School Class available on Sunday mornings taught by one of our deacons, Curt Van Steele. A Tuesday Evening Bible Study taught by Curt Van Steele, a Wednesday Morning Bible Study (online since COVID), taught by Pastor DeBartolo.  Men's Prayer Breakfast and Men's Bible Study & Dinner both meet once a month. (The Wednesday Morning Bible Study, Wednesday in the Word, is online for now and the Men's Bible Study & Dinner is on hold due to COVID.) The Men's Prayer Breakfast meets the 2nd Saturday of each month at 8:00 am. The Women's Bible Study, led by Kim Greiner, meets the 2nd Thursday morning of each month at 10:00 am.

Sunday School Secretary/Treasurer - Keep attendance records, count & keep income record of the Sunday School offering.

Community Vacation Bible School -  There are many opportunities to help with this very vital ministry. You can help out by being a class teacher, a class helper, be on the planning team, secretary/treasurer, leader or helper in the Art & Craft center, leader or helper with the music, leader or helper with the snacks, story leader and helpers, nursery staff, and director(s). This usually takes place for a week in the evening in late July or early August.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL

Rally Day Breakfast - This family event is held each September as a kickoff to the start of the new Sunday School year at 10:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. We can always use help with setting the tables the day before, cooking, and clean-up following the meal. A free-will offering is taken to offset the cost.

Fellowship Coffee Hour - All are invited to host the weekly coffee hour.  Help is always available to find what is needed or to figure out how to make coffee, etc.  If you would like to join with a friend or two, or another family, to host, speak with Sue Rolfe or Sylvia Merritt.

Ushers & Sanctuary help - Straighten pew racks, check brochures and prayer request cards, enter of worship attendance.

WOMEN'S MINISTRIES

   ~ All women and women’s groups of NALC congregations are members of the Women of the NALC(North American Lutheran Church). The WNALC exists to link NALC women together as a community of faith, hope, and love, to enhance and facilitate the work within our local churches. The Women's Council and other volunteers are called to assist members in God’s mission, the study of His Word, service to others in Christ’s name, and fellowship among Christian women. ~   

Women's Bible Studies - All women are invited to join in the Bible study time and fellowship.  Don't worry if you can't make it every time, you can easily pick up wherever and go on with us. Times and dates will be announced.

"Joy Girls" - An all-day women's retreat held in spring or fall.   This "Joy Girl's Event is full of lots of fun, fellowship, singing, liturgical dance, prayer, skits, and a service project.  Breakfast, snacks and lunch are included.

Women's Service/Sewing & Craft Group - This is a group of women meets on the 2nd Saturday of each month at 8:00 am. We plan and put together special project that are given out into the community for various purposes. We recently completed over 100 masks that were given to the local hospitals and elementary schools. We have completed baby quilts to be given to "premies" at Albany Medical Center and a crisis pregnancy ministry we support. We're now working on lap quilts for rehabilitation and nursing facilities.  We also stop from time to time to make gifts and crafts for family and friends for the holidays.  Even if you don't sew or have a portable machine, join us for our beginning devotion time, to help iron, to cut material, or just to fellowship.

Thrivent "Action Teams" for various community activities to help those in need.

MEN'S MINISTRIES

The Men's Prayer Breakfast - the Men of Evangelical gather on the second Saturday of each month for Bible study and breakfast. This is a very active group and during these gatherings, the men have an opportunity to settle in for an hour, explore the Word, and discuss how to put the Word into action in daily life.  This group also sponsors the American Bible Society's "Bible-a-Month" Club which sends Bibles all over the world.

The Men's Dinner & Bible Study Group - the Men of Evangelical gather on the last Wednesday evening of each month for dinner and Bible Study. We have suspended this during COVID but hope to resume soon. Watch for times and dates.

Thrivent "Action Teams" for various community activities to help those in need.

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WORSHIP & MUSIC MINISTRY

  • Sylvia Merritt, Chairperson, Board of Music & Worship

Sunday Worship 

Altar Guild - Prepare altar, set up and clean up for Communion, set up for Baptisms, fill candles with oil weekly, polish silver, place paraments and banners in the chancel area, wash & iron altar linens, take altar flowers down.   It is a holy privilege to serve the Lord and serving on the Altar Guild is a special way to serve God and the people of the church.  Women and men alike are invited to help prepare the worship space each week.   An Altar Guild workshop helps those serving to understand their role in the weekly worship.  If you would like to serve, please speak with Sue.

Communion Assistant - helps with Communion: holding the chalice of wine, or wine distribution, tray holder when needed. Training may be required prior to the first time you are a communion assistant.

Lay Reader - reads first and second lessons at the lectern on Sundays.

Usher - hand out bulletins prior to each service in the narthex, should be there at least 15 minutes prior to the Worship Service. Collect offering. On the first Sunday of the month, ushers are needed to release pews to go up to the Altar for Communion. Take a count of how many are attending Worship each week at each service.

Sacristy Vestments - clean robes, albs, Pastors' vestments at least 3 times a year.

Vestments team - Clean and organize the storage of acolyte and communion assistant vestments.
Seasonal Decorations team - Arrange Easter & Christmas plants, Christmas wreaths, advent wreath &
candles, set up, and decorate Christmas trees.

Acolyte/Crucifer - assists Pastor during Sunday worship services and other special occasions, such as weddings and funerals.

Altar Flowers - Flowers that are given in memory or honor of a loved one or for a special occasion and placed in the sanctuary.  Speak with Sue Rolfe.

Chancel Choir - This choir for adults & youth, sings at 9:00 am services on Sundays and at all festival services.  Meets Sundays at 10:15 a.m. for rehearsal.  New members are always welcome.

Musicians  - brass, woodwinds, strings, keyboard, whatever you play, your gifts and talents are always welcome for worship.

Choir Chime Handbell Choir - This Choir welcomes anyone to join in "ringing" a joyful noise unto the Lord!  Rehearsals vary depending on when the Choir is scheduled to play for special worship occasions.  

Pianist - speak with the Music Chairperson if you are interested in playing the piano for any special services.

Praise Band - A loose ensemble of guitars, keyboard, and drums that plays throughout the year for Sunday worship services and special services.  Duets or trios are also formed at times to play for Sunday services. Other opportunities for instrumentalists are for plays for Christmas, Easter, and occasionally other special services.  These groups rehearse as needed.

  • MEDIA MINISTRY

Audio/Visual Tape Ministry - Closed circuit taping, taping services, special events, congregational meetings & activities.

Audio/Visual Equipment Maintenance - volunteer use of personal audio/video equipment for special functions as needed, set up of audio/video equipment as needed for classes, and other special occasions.

Still Photography Team - volunteers to take photographs when needed for special occasions or as needed.

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EVANGELISM

  • Jim Merritt, Chairperson

Sunday Fellowship Hour - This is every Sunday during the Sunday School year and is after the service before Sunday School in Fellowship Hall. Help is needed to set-up, which is done around 8:30 a.m. and clean-up at around 11:30-11:45 a.m.

Greeter - Stands at the entrance of the sanctuary and greets everyone who enters, and assists anyone in need. Should be at their station at least 15 minutes prior to the Worship Service.

Mid-week Lenten Services/Suppers - Help is always needed to prepare for this light supper and to make soup and/or bread.

Special "Movie Nights" - open to the public. Snacks and discussion follow.

Other special events, such as our Ecumenical Community VBS each year, special men's and women's programs, youth events, Praise Night, Game Nights, also act as great vehicles for people to enjoy the fellowship of Christians and get to know us at Evangelical.

Street Evangelism Teams - open to anyone who would like to visit our community neighbors and invite them to join us for worship, and of our Christian education opportunities, or special events.

Community Easter Sunrise Breakfast - Evangelical hosts this on alternating years with the Methodist Church in Gallupville and follows the Sunrise Service.

Free Summer Lunch Program - Thursdays, 11:30 am-1 pm, throughout the summer. Help is always needed.

College Student & Military Care Packages - This team purchases items (mostly food items) or bakes and sends them to our Evangelical youth who are away at college or in the service.  Help is needed in purchasing the items, baking, packing the boxes, and mailing them for this "Cookie Caper"!

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SOCIAL MINISTRY

  • Suzanne Rolfe, Chairperson

CHURCH and SOCIETY

Community Emergency Shelter Coordinator(s) - organize shelter supplies, be on call to appoint persons for service at the shelter.  Speak with Pastor DeBartolo for more information.

Community Food Pantry - "Sarah's Pantry" - The pantry is open to all in time of need. Call or come to the pantry (ring the doorbell by the Parish Hall): Tues., 9:30 am-11:30 am; Thurs., 4:00 pm-6:00 pm, or by appointment.

CONGREGATIONAL CARE

Home Visitors - Visit and deliver the altar flowers to people in the hospital and shut-ins. The pastor oversees this group and has meetings a few times a year with the group. See Pastor if you are interested in becoming a Home Visitor.

Prayer Chain - Provides prayer for concerns that are passed along to the chain's members and lifted up. Confidentiality is always respected.  If you are in need of prayer or want prayer for someone, please call.

Dinners Ready Team - Provide and deliver dinners to those in need in emergency situations.

Funeral Luncheon Team - volunteers set tables, pick up food trays, serve food, and clean up for Funeral Luncheons at Evangelical.

Funeral Luncheon Cake Bakers - volunteers to bake cakes, brownies, pies, etc. for desserts for the Funeral Luncheons at Evangelical.

Pot Luck Dinner Team - volunteers to help with set up, refilling of drinks when needed, and clean up for the Pot Luck dinners.  We have about 3 to 4 of these a year.

Annual Spaghetti Supper Team - volunteers to help do prep the day before, purchase food, set up early the day of, bake cupcakes for dessert, and also do crafts and baked goods the sale the day of the supper.

Special Seasons Team - This is a group that helps set up for any Advent, Christmas, or Maundy Thursday dinner, Prayer Vigil on Vigil Saturday, any special Holy Week needs.

Healing Prayer Ministry Team - This is a prayer ministry at Evangelical.  There are people available before and after the 9:00 am service on Sunday morning.  Ask an Usher or Pastor if you would like someone to pray with you.

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STEWARDSHIP & MISSIONS

  • Jim Merritt Chairperson

Missions & Missionaries - keeps the congregation up on the latest news of missions and ministries we support or can support in the future.

Stewardship -prepares "Temple Talks" on Scriptural and financial stewardship of God's gifts and talents

Financial Gifts team - prepares bulletin & newsletter articles, and schedules announcements or Temple Talks (summer months)

Spiritual Gifts team - prepares bulletin & newsletter articles, and study or survey of stewardship of spiritual gifts

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FINANCE

  • Dotty Gerdes, Treasurer;  Kim Greiner, Finance;

Audit Team - Volunteers meet annually to perform an audit on all of the Treasurers' records and the Investment records for the prior year.

Budget Team - This team meets annually in November to prepare the budget for the new year to be presented to the congregation council at their December meeting for approval.

Counting Team - counts the offering after each service.

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CHURCH PROPERTY

  • Fritz Wilms, Chairperson

Ground Maintenance Team - Spring & Fall clean up; rake leaves, trim bushes, mow the lawn, etc.

Landscaping/Flower Beds Team - Spring & Fall planting annuals & bulbs, watering & maintaining flower beds through Fall, etc.

Interior Wash & Clean Team - Twice a year clean out closets, wash curtains, clean easily accessible windows, and clean the kitchen thoroughly.

Painting Team - once a year repaint interior walls, doors, trims as needed.

General Maintenance Team - once a month replace easily accessible light bulbs, hardware and furniture repair, floor & wall patching, all as needed.

Coordinate Repairs/Project Team - Manage repairs, make phone calls to volunteers to periodically go through the Church and make such small repairs as you find need to be made.

Special Skills: Help as needed. For information regarding any property team, you can contact Pastor or Joan Sperry.

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YOUTH & FAMILY

  • Pr. Peter DeBartolo

Sunday Family & Friends - all youth are invited to join us for games, snacks, and lots of fun each 1st Sunday of the month.

Retreats - overnight or day retreats are planned for special emphases such as World Famine or Water Mission.

Fall Harvest Fest & Praise Night - a fun night in late October of music, fun, games, movies, snacks, crafts, and so much more. 

Summer VBS/FOG Day

SERVE the COMMUNITY and BEYOND

IN CHRIST'S WAY:

Local Missions

Food Collection team - help the transfer of weekly food collections on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and help organize and deliver foods. Evangelical partners with the "Harvest Program" from KFC/Taco Bell and with the local Price Chopper for food donations.

Thanksgiving Food Baskets - collecting and building a Thanksgiving Dinner in a basket and then delivering them for those in need.

Christmas Eve "Traveling Soup Kitchen" - serves a light supper of soup and bread to the homeless.

Samaritan's Purse "Shoebox" ministry - at Christmas - sends boxes around the world to needy children.

Maritime Ministry "Shoebox" ministry - these boxes filled with everyday necessities and small gifts bring hope to the sailors in port at Albany.

Mitten Tree - Beginning in November, the Mitten Tree is set out in the Sanctuary and members donate mittens, scarves, hats, gloves, socks, etc., which are in turn, given in the Thanksgiving Baskets, Christmas Baskets, and taken to local missions and/or elementary schools for those in need.

Life Saver Ministries - this ministry helps those in crisis pregnancy situations and with education and distribution of food, clothing, and other needs for the babies and children. We take an active part in supporting their ministry.

National & Global Missions

We support many national and global ministries, missionaries, and missions to advance Christ's Kingdom. Here are just a few.  To learn more about them, visit their websites.

Evangelical tithes 10% benevolence each month to support missionaries and missions.  To see more of the missions and ministries available to support, visit the NALC website and learn about these many opportunities to help around the country and world.