What is the Sacristy Guild? It is a group of Hope Church members who take time each week to prepare the sanctuary for worship. The work of the Sacristy Guild is to ensure that our sanctuary reflects the holiness and the joy that we all create together in worship. In preparing for each service, the guild members need to change paraments (Ecclesiastical vestments or hangings—they are hanging from each pulpit along with the covering of the communion table in front of the sanctuary), set out communion ware, make sure the cross is in place, set out the Paschal candle if needed, and organize pew hymnals and Bibles.
The Sacristy Guild also helps with cleaning the linens after a communion service, polishing the silver communion ware when needed, taking the wax out of the votive candle holders, and helping to prepare and then clean the home communion kits. Katie Norris sends us instructions each week as to what needs to be done. We work with the Worship Ministry; our pastors, Gordon, Jill and Beth; our resident artists, Kari Miller Fenwood and Rachelle Oppenhuizen; and Ric Beltran, our custodian/caretaker. With all of us working together, we prepare the sanctuary for our regular services, weddings, funerals, baptisms, concerts, advent, lent, and special events.
The members of the Sacristy Guild are Barbara Bright, Michelle Gerig, Judy Werkman, Sara Wilson, and Joyce Teusink. We are always looking for new members, so if you have any questions regarding Sacristy Guild, or would like to help in any way, please feel free to talk to any of the Sacristy Guild members or contact Joyce Teusink (jteusink19@gmail.com), chairperson of Hope Church Sacristy Guild.
We are blessed that our sanctuary has been a place of worship for more than 150 years and give thanks for the sacredness of our space. We look forward to maintaining a sacred and holy place for worship. To God be the glory—Shalom from the Sacristy Guild.
~Joyce Teusink, Sacristy Guild Chair