How We Serve

The Building & Grounds Committee oversees the upkeep and preservation of parish properties, which includes lawn mowing, yard work, gutter cleaning, window cleaning, painting, and remodeling as needed.

As part of a long tradition, St. Anne’s provides food to St. Anne’s families during times of need: new babies, illness, death, and personal or family crises. The pastoral care team coordinates this ministry for anyone in the congregation that is in need.

The Christian Formation Committee nurtures existing programs and explores the need or intent for and the development of new opportunities for spiritual growth within the parish community. The committee oversees Adult and Youth Sunday School (pre-school-grade 12), Education for Ministry (EfM), and the grade 6-12 youth group.

The Communications Committee works closely with the Vestry, the Rector, the Parish Administrator and other committee chairs to help coordinate and facilitate effective communication channels with church membership and a variety of external audiences. The committee is dedicated to optimizing and maximizing the appropriate use of printed materials– such as, brochures, bulletins–and electronic media–such as the church website, e-newsletters, and broadcast emails–to effectively communicate the church’s mission and goals to a broad audience.

Each year, St. Anne’s fields a team to raise money for and participate in the local CROP Walk to end hunger globally and locally.

The Finance Committee works in consultation with the Rector and Wardens to develop policies and procedures for good financial practices and control; conduct monthly reviews of the parish’s financial picture and report this, along with any recommendations regarding the budget, to the Vestry; ensure that the congregation is informed of the parish’s  financial standing on a regular basis; coordinate and oversee the development of the annual operating budget; appoint an audit committee for the purpose of conducting an annual audit, in accordance with the requirements of the Diocese; and assist the Vestry in short-term and long-term financial planning.

Throughout the year (with the exception of Lent), parishioners have the opportunity to honor friends and loved ones by purchasing a flower arrangement for placement on the altar for Sunday services.

Parishioners of all ages greet church members and visitors before services to demonstrate a warm welcome.

This committee is advisory to the Rector in matters of liturgy and worship, coordinating the activities and schedules of the acolytes, lectors, lay Eucharistic ministers, liturgical music, hymns, and altar guild as follows:

• Altar Guild: Assist at the Altar for worship and take down afterwards
• Acolytes, Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEMS): Help facilitate Sunday worship: carry the cross, serve the chalice
• Lectors: Read the Scripture lessons and Psalms during the services
• Healing: Work in pairs on the 1st Sunday of each month to provide hands on prayer.
• Bread Makers: Provide communion bread for worship and in reserve. Bake at home and bring to church on a rotating schedule using a standard recipe.
• Prayers of the People Authors: Write original prayers of the people following a template of things to be included
• Evening Prayer Leaders: Lead evening prayer service followed by Holy Eucharist on Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m.

St. Anne’s has a strong music program. Our adult choir, which is comprised of parishioners as well as students from UNC School of the Arts, practices every Sunday morning and sings during the 11 a.m. service from early September through Pentecost.

Bread and Blessings Committee facilitates connections within the Parish in the spirit of hospitality and welcome. We help cultivate opportunities for parishioners and visitors to gather in an atmosphere of love and mutual respect, sometimes with a focus, and sometimes just for the fun of it. Much of the work of Bread and Blessings centers around food—coffee hours, 1st Sunday Agapes, finger food at receptions, potlucks and picnics. We also work closely with the staff and other committees of the church to provide necessary internal support for special events.”

The Pastoral Care Committee provides comfort, support, help and prayers to members of St. Anne’s, their families, friends and the greater community during times of illness and other times when they may need help.

St. Anne’s parishioners are committed to working for justice and peace both locally and globally. Whether we are celebrating the International Day of Peace, discovering ways to become Beloved Community, signing our Parish Pledge of Nonviolence, serving dinner at a homeless shelter, making telephone calls encouraging people to vote, writing letters to our elected officials, or collecting money for persons in need, our spiritual call is to be guided by the power of God’s spirit to take risks for justice and the common good.  With creative, Spirit-led leadership, we act with the expectation that we can, and will, help advance humankind’s deepest hope of justice and peace for all people.

The Personnel Committee ensures that the church and its staff work together and support each other in the best possible way. The Committee assists the Rector in overseeing and administering the personnel policies of the church. Working with the Rector, the Committee helps to write and revise job descriptions and, working with the Treasurer, determines salary guidelines for new personnel.

The stewardship committee gives voice to our belief that all we have and all we are comes from God. We respond to God’s gifts through gratitude and generosity. While part of our mission is to communicate the importance of pledges, we strive to respect the dignity of each person when we asked them to share their time, talent and treasure.

Each year, St. Anne’s participates in the Tour to Tanglewood, a benefit bike ride that supports research to find a cure for multiple sclerosis and demonstrates support for church members who suffer from this disease.

Ushers serve as another point of welcome prior to church services for parishioners and visitors, distributing service bulletins and seating visitors.

The Welcoming/Newcomers Committee is responsible for making visitors welcome and to answer questions they might have during their initial visit and after. It is also responsible for coordinating Newcomer luncheons and directing visitors to appropriate resources should they wish to join St. Anne’s. Our Greeters and Ushers are the first point of contact for visitors each Sunday and help orients newcomers to St. Anne’s.