Our Church, Our Home | Preparing a Place for Worship

Before the congregation arrives on Sunday morning, before the opening hymn and the first words of the liturgy, members of St. John the Divine’s Altar Guild have already been at work.

Quietly and largely behind the scenes, they prepare our sacred spaces for worship: setting the altars in the Church, Chapel, and Hall Life Center and making sure everything is ready for the services that will follow.

For Martha Samuelson, that quiet work was part of what first drew her to the ministry.

“I joined Altar Guild initially, as I wanted to serve the Church behind the scenes and meet new people at our church,” Martha said. “As I’ve served, I have come to love the contemplative nature of the work, serving God by setting the altar. It feels fulfilling to support the worship of God by following in the footsteps of generations before me.”

That sense of continuity is an important part of the Altar Guild. Week after week, its members carry out work Christians have done for generations: preparing the places and vessels used in worship and caring for the details that allow our congregation to turn its attention toward God.

"The Altar Guild has truly become my ministry to my God and to my church."

In doing that work, members often find that their own experience of worship deepens.

Jeannie Connell has served St. John the Divine in many capacities, including as chairman of the Annual Giving Committee and Finance Committee and as a member of the Board of Trustees for The Guild Shop. But she describes being invited to join the Altar Guild as a particularly meaningful gift.

“The Altar Guild has truly become my ministry to my God and to my church,” Jeannie said. “It is an opportunity to seek the love and peace in our parish as well as understanding and experiencing the meaningful elements of our worship life.”

Maretta Toedt has experienced something similar.

“Working with other Altar Guild members has deepened my faith and my understanding and appreciation of our services,” she said.

The ministry is also deeply communal. Members serve in teams approximately once every five weeks, with experienced members helping train those who are new. Along the way, relationships grow.

“While doing so, we have so much fun, enjoy each other and form wonderful friendships,” Ellen Heemer said.

For Melinda Chernosky, those relationships are part of what makes the ministry special.

“Working in our sacred spaces is always a nice, quiet time that benefits my spiritual life,” she said. “I have also made many new friends in the Altar Guild, and I enjoy the camaraderie of our group. It feels good to be a connected and committed member of our SJD community.”

The quiet work of the Altar Guild is one of countless ways parishioners offer their time and gifts to make St. John the Divine a place of worship, belonging, and ministry. Your financial generosity helps sustain the worship, sacred spaces, clergy, staff, and resources that make this shared life possible.

The Altar Guild welcomes both men and women, including those who work full- or part-time, and teams can often accommodate different schedules. No previous knowledge of the liturgy is required; experienced members teach newcomers as they serve.

Few people in the pews will ever see this work. But Sunday after Sunday, its impact surrounds us.

For those who serve, preparing the altar becomes more than a task. It is an opportunity to slow down, learn more about our worship, build friendships, and offer something quietly to God.

As Jeannie puts it: “I recommend trying Altar Guild; you don't have to commit for a lifetime! But once you join, I bet you will want to serve a lifetime.”

Find Your Place

If you enjoy serving behind the scenes, working with others, or simply want to learn more about the worship life of St. John the Divine, there is a place for you in the Altar Guild. Members serve in teams approximately once every five weeks, and experienced members will teach you everything you need to know.

Interested in learning more? Contact Sally Lehmberg, Altar Guild Coordinator.