A Sense of Belonging

Worship at St. Anne’s takes the commitment of many hands and hearts, which includes the dedicated team leaders and members of the Altar Guild and Flower Guild. Some team leaders and members, like Shirley Hatch, have been serving on the guild for over twenty years while others have been serving for only a short time. All that matters is the desire to serve this parish by caring for and setting the altar table.  

Service in the guild gives these teams a sense of belonging and a vested interest in the church. Many guild members remember watching their mother or grandmother change the altar linens or arrange flowers for the church. Some were invited to join by a friend, and others were drawn to serving to be a part of this church community. The comradery that grows between team members is a joy and blessing. There is also peacefulness in setting the Altar table or creating flower arrangements in the quiet of the Sanctuary.   

The Linens team cares for the big linens that dress the altar table. Team members wash them, ball them up, iron the back and front, and gain satisfaction from seeing the wrinkles fall away. These linen cloths are both heavy and delicate. Many are hand embroidered and have been darned over the years to sustain their usefulness. These linens are a part of the church’s history and a wonderful metaphor for this parish family. We come together, imperfect in many ways, but through our work in the church, we become something larger than ourselves, a church community, that prays, worships, and serves together.  

The next time you attend worship, say a prayer of thanksgiving for the Altar Guild and Flower Guild teams. Their work during the week and between services setting the table and adorning the church with flowers strengthens their connection to the church and makes our worship service possible. Their work stems from their faith and is a living, breathing prayer to God and this church.