GROUPS

MINISTRY TO AND BY WOMEN

Daughters of the King (DOK)
St. Mary's Chapter at St. Hilary's continues to service its purpose of prayer, service and evangelism. We pray daily for Christ's Kingdom, for the spiritual growth of the Church, for all in need of emotional, spiritual and physical healing. Our Prayer Tree is available for those who request prayers for a specific person or need by calling the church office (239-936-1000).

We are a small group of faithful who meet once a month. We maintain an active prayer list that is updated weekly for those who request prayers. We welcome women who seek to strengthen their prayer life.

From DOK-national.org: "The Daughters of the King is an Order for women who are communicants of the Episcopal Church, or churches in communion with it, or churches who are in the Historic Episcopate. Members undertake a Rule of Life, incorporating the Rule of Prayer and the Rule of Service. By reaffirmation of the promises made at Confirmation, a Daughter pledges herself to a life-long program of prayer, service and evangelism, dedicated to the spread of Christ's Kingdom and the strengthening of the spiritual life of her parish."

Episcopal Church Women (ECW)
A national organization comprised of all women members of the Episcopal Church. (ECW website.)The Monday Morning Workshop is is an ECW group.

Saint Hilary's Mom's Group
Saint Hilary's Mom's Group is a group of mothers and expectant mothers who get together for spiritual nourishment and social interaction with other Christian mothers. We promote good Christian values through closer home and church community. Some of the Mom's Group events include a "Make-A-Meal" night, guest speakers, spiritual enrichment activities and morning play dates for preschoolers. We are not a fundraising organization or party planners. We join together each month to support each other in our roles as mothers, wives, sisters and friends. We meet at 7 p.m. on the last Friday of every month. Childcare is provided.

Monday Morning Workshop (MMW)
The Monday Morning Workshop of the ECW is a group of women who meet weekly to work on craft and sewing projects, primarily for the annual Bazaar, which is held in November. Proceeds from the Bazaar support the outreach activities of the church. In addition, the women hold two Rummage Sales a year, also to provide funds for outreach activities - local and national.

MINISTRY TO AND BY MEN

Men's Action Guild (MAG)
This group is open to all men of the church. They meet monthly for social and business get togethers. The M.A.G. sponsors an annual shrimp boil to raise funds for outreach projects and for the church maintenance and construction activities they provide.

Guys@Church
This group of young & young at heart men meet for the purpose of encouraging and nurturing spiritual growth, promoting leadership, and developing strong relationships with other Christian men. They meet in Browning Hall every Wednesday morning at 6:30am for "Discovery and Praise" breakfast, and at 7:00 pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month for dinner and fellowship, and also have an active schedule of "outings". More about this active group.

LITURGICAL MINISTRIES

Parish Choir (Adults)
The Parish Choir is the adult choir of the church.  They rehearse each Thursday evening from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. for the Sunday services.  During the winter season, they sing for both the 9 A.M. and 11 A.M. services. In the summer, they sing for the 10 A.M. service.  A special optional rehearsal called “Choir 101” is offered Saturday at 10:00 A.M. during the winter season for those who want extra rehearsal time.

Children’s Choir
The Children’s Choir includes children from the age of about 4 ½ to 13.   They rehearse Wednesday evenings from 6:00 - 6:30 pm, and sing at the 9 a.m. service (the family service) about once a month.

Altar Guild
The Altar Guild provides the care and maintenance of the linens and vestments used in the worship services. They oversee all services in the church, including weddings and funerals, as well as the weekly services.

Eucharistic Ministers
These lay ministers have been trained by the rector and licensed by the bishop to assist in the services by reading lessons, leading prayers and administering the chalice. This ministry is open to any confirmed member.

Eucharistic Visitors
Eucharistic Visitors take communion to the homes of our parishioners who are unable to attend church. If you are interested in this ministry, please let yourself be known to the Rector.

Lectors
These lay ministers are responsible for reading the lessons during the services. Any baptized member is eligible. Youth are particularly encouraged.

Acolytes
Acolytes assist the clergy at the Altar with a variety of duties, including processing in and out of the service carrying torches, cross, and flag; lighting the altar candles; handing the elements to clergy as they prepare for communion; and any other ways they can help make the altar experience a positive one. This ministry is for both our youth and adults.

Ushers
Ushers are often the first people visitors meet. They are responsible for greeting folks as they arrive for service, handing out the service bulletin, providing information about the Church and it's services, seating people, collecting the alms, directing "traffic flow" during communion, and after services picking up items left in the church and redistributing the Bible, Prayer Book, and Hymnals. All baptized members of the church are eligible. Couples are particularly encouraged to participate.

Oblation Bearers
These people bring the gifts of bread, wine and water to the altar during Eucharistic celebrations. Anyone may participate in this ministry.

MINISTRY TO AND BY SENIORS

Senior Class
The Senior Class is a group for senior citizens of all ages which meets on the second Thursday of each month.  Events begin with optional attendance of the 10:00 A.M. Holy Eucharist service.  This is followed by a fun time of fellowship and games such as bridge, scrabble and an ongoing jigsaw puzzle in Browning hall until noon.  Fun and games is followed by lunch which is always wonderful and frequently Pot Luck.  Often there is a brief presentation on a matter of specific concern to our more senior members. Everyone at St. Hilary's (regardless of age) is welcome to Senior Class.

MINISTRY TO AND BY YOUTH AND CHILDREN

Children’s Choir
The Children’s Choir includes children from the age of about 4 ½ to 13.   They rehearse Wednesday evenings from 6:00 - 6:30 pm, and sing at the 9 a.m. service (the family service) about once a month.

Lectoring, Acolyting, and Ushering
are Liturgical Ministries that youth are encouraged to participate in.

Youth Group
The Youth Group is for middle & high school kids. You are welcome wiether you attend Saint Hilary's or not. We meet monthly for the fun of it! Check out the Youth Group page for more info.

MEMBER DEVELOPMENT

Bible Study
Tuesday Morning Bible Study Class

Women's Bible study aka Mom's Bible Study
Led by Michelle O. In the conference room, Thursdays from 10:00 - 11:00 am

Adult classes on Wednesday nights
The classes change often, see the announcements for a current list.

Bridge Group
Every Monday from 6:30 - 10:00 pm you will find us in Browning Hall playing Bridge.

Foyer Group
A great way to get to know a wide cross section of Church Members. Each session all the people signed up for Foyer are divided into groups of eight, and the members of each group take turns hosting a dinner for the group. For example, if your group consists of four couples, or three couples & two singles (who may choose to pair up for hosting one dinner), then in a session you'll attend four dinners, one of which you are the host.

Fellowship Committee
This group organizes coffee hours and monthly potluck dinners as well as special events that promote fellowship and a sense of community.

Cursillo
Cursillo (cur-SEE-yo) is a spanish word meaning "short course". In this case, it refers to "a short course in Christian living". Anyone (clergy or laity) seeking a way to deepen their faith and wishing to expand their knowledge of the Christian life are invited to join the fellowship. Cursillo fellowship begins with a three-day weekend held at Dayspring Episcopal Conference Center in Ellenton, Florida. There are ususally two Cursillo weekends scheduled each year.

A Cursiillo week-end is not a retreat, with fasting and extended periods of silence, rather, it is an experience in Christian education. Shared prayer, worship, study, music, fellowship, laughter, and tears all work together to create a loving atmosphere where one can feel the reality of God's free and unconditional love. An important part of this fellowship is to continue on after the weekend with a small group that keeps us in a life of piety, study, and apoltolic action. Applications are available in the office is you'd like to become involved.

EVANGELISM AND GROWTH MINISTRIES

Greeters
These friendly folk greet visitors to the worship service and help them find their way around both the campus and the service.

Welcoming Committee
This Vestry led group welcome's visitors and newcomers to St. Hilary's and help's shepherd them through their first few weeks here. If this is a ministry you would like to be a part of, please call the office at 936-1000, they'll put you in touch with Luanne & John

MINISTRY TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD see the Outreach page

Can you help us complete this page?

We'd like to have (at least) the following information for each group:

who makes up the typical membership
what are the usual activities
when, where are the regular meetings
why do you meet, what are the purpose & goals of the group.
how do you achieve your goals
and brief history of, or statement about, the group.

Let us know it there is an official website for your group & we'll link to it (see Daughters of the King above).

If there's alot to say about your group, or if you have an active schedule - we can make a separate page (see Guys@Church) above.

As a rule, notices of upcoming activities, events, & special meetings won't be posted here, but will be on the "Events" page, the "Announcements" page, &/or the calendar.

Please e-mail information, comments or suggestions to the webmaster , or call me, Aggie Mai, at 878-4131.