The parish office can direct you to the contact person for each of the following ministries. 

Acolytes: Starting at around 10 years old, children who are interested and strong enough may begin instruction to be a torchbearer (carry torches and light the candles on the altar). Older youth and adults may serve as the crucifer (carry the cross and assist with communion). Some may choose to carry special streamers on festival days. 

Altar Guild: Weekly teams gather on Saturday morning (and special times as needed) to prepare the altar for the various services. This ministry includes preparing for the Eucharist, laying out the vestments, cleaning and laundering the linens and vacuuming the chancel (area around the altar) and cleaning up at the close of services. Training is provided. This isn’t just “women’s work,” as men are encouraged to join. 

Choir: Laura Landers Duke serves as Adult Choir Director, Daryl Wilkinson leads the Children’s Choirs, and Stephanie Budwey is the Organist/Parish Musician. Our Adult Choir has quite a reputation for being the IT place at Saint David’s. Not only are they superb vocalists but they have the best parties. You are guaranteed to enjoy your time as a choir member. 

Counters:  We use a team of two to count our offering each Sunday. We have a Finance Committee that has a huge job, so if managing money is your thing, perhaps you can lend a hand. 

Education for Ministry (EFM): This is the Episcopal Church’s four-year program to equip lay members with a background in Old and New Testament, Church History and Theology. The program meets weekly with a trained mentor during the academic year. A textbook is provided, and homework is expected. There is much reading, reflection, sharing and confidentiality. Don’t let that scare you off. This is a well-respected program that leaves its participants with an outstanding experience and a wealth of knowledge. 

Endowment Fund: This fund contains donations that have been invested, the principal of which is not used. The interest is donated to missions outside the parish as voted by the Endowment Committee annually.

Episcopal Relief & Development: The international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States through which individual churches are able to assist with rebuilding after disasters and empower people by offering lasting solutions to chronic problems.

Finance Committee: Like the engine room on a ship, this committee keeps the propeller running through careful discernment about how to best steward the pledges and gifts that parishioners offer to God to support the church. They draft the annual budget, make recommendations on big financial decisions, such as loans, and keep an eye out for long range needs, such as capital improvements. 

Flower Guild: The Flower Guild helps parishioners honor the glory of God on Sundays by providing flowers for the altar. Two members purchase and arrange the altar flowers (usually on Saturday mornings) for each Sunday as well as by request for special services. After the services, guild members deliver bouquets to members of the parish in recognition of a special concern or celebration. Parishioners sign up on the flower chart posted on the bulletin board outside the kitchen to donate toward the flowers for a specific date. Flowers are frequently donated in honor or memory of a loved one or for a special event. Training in flower arranging is available. Newbies usually begin with a seasoned Flower Guild member. The whole team gathers to decorate the Nave for Christmas and Easter.

Greeters and Ushers: These folks welcome people to the building before worship services and in getting us where we need to go. New volunteers are always welcome. Greeters concentrate on welcoming visitors and handing them a welcome bag. 

Junior Warden’s Guild: This is a relatively new group that responds to the multiple needs of maintaining the church property inside and out. While some projects are done by paid personnel, there are many times extra help is needed. Examples: polishing the pews; trimming shrubbery, spreading mulch, cleaning closets. Anyone who loves to clean or has gardening, painting and carpentry skills is always welcome. 

Lay Readers, Eucharistic Ministers, and Eucharistic Visitors: These men and women volunteer to read the Lessons and Prayers during our services; pass the chalice and take the Eucharist to parishioners who request a visit while they are unable to come to church. 

Lectionary Explorers: Meets Mondays with Rev. Carolyn at 10:30 a.m. for a bit of conversation and card writing. Class begins at 11a.m. with reading the lectionary (Bible readings) for the coming Sunday worship. The discussions lead the group in a variety of directions with love, respect and often challenging conversations. Once a month they host a noontime Eucharist as schedules allow. Since each week is a conversation unto itself, members may attend weekly as they can. The group also hosts a Christmas luncheon for the parish and occasional field trips. Additionally, the class has a ministry of card writing. Parishioners and friends of the parish are invited to join at any time. Refreshments are served. 

Mary and Martha of Bethany Chapter of the Episcopal Order of the Daughters of the King: This group meets the first Saturday of the month to share prayer requests. This is an Episcopal Order concentrating on Prayer. All women are welcome to join. We do not currently have a Junior Chapter. A training program and installation starts membership. All prayer requests and discussions are confidential. Other services are provided at the Rector’s request. Members pay national dues of $40 a year, plus a monthly discretionary donation to chapter. 

Men’s Group: Join the Men of Saint David’s on the fourth Thursday of each month for a fabulous meal ($10 donation appreciated) and fellowship. Ministry opportunities within and outside the parish are presented as they arise. The group hosted its first annual Mother’s Day Brunch (for mothers and all women actually) in May of 2019. A spring neighborhood event is in the planning stages. 

Nursery, Godly Play, Youth and Adult Christian Formation: Volunteers are always welcome in both teaching and support areas. All who work with the children are required to have completed training on proper practices, safety and, for some positions, you may be required to have a background check. We have several professional caregivers for the cribbery and nursery but also rely on volunteers. You will receive training for teaching specific curriculum and age levels. 

Prayers of the People Guild: A small group of writing-oriented people, the PoP Guild composes prayers for certain seasons out of the liturgical year, namely Advent, Epiphany, Lent and Easter. Considering the state of the world and the present focus of Saint David’s augments the Guild’s structure of prayers. This structure is found in the Book of Common Prayer and follows this order: Prayers for… The Universal Church, Nation, welfare of the world, concerns of the local community, those who suffer and those in any trouble and the departed.

Room In The Inn: Saint David’s joins others around the city to provide overnight respite to homeless people. On the second Saturdays of November through March we host 11 male guests at Saint Luke’s Community House. We provide transportation from the Room In The Inn (RITI) Headquarters to Saint Luke’s; a wholesome hot meal, a place for them to take a shower and to sleep. We join the men for dinner and conversation and/or television. There are signup sheets between Sanders Hall and the Sacristy to bring designated items for each month’s meals. Two or more volunteers spend the night along with our guests. The next morning we serve breakfast and return them to RITI with a sack lunch. We also offer T-shirts and socks and toilet articles as needed. At Christmas we give each guest a backpack filled with necessary items. 

Saint Luke’s Community House: a West Nashville nonprofit that ministers to lower-income residents through preschool, senior activities, Meals on Wheels, a food pantry and more. Saint David’s members donate non-perishable food items in the blue tubs at the entrances to the Nave. A major supporter of Saint Luke’s programming is the This ‘n That Thrift Shop.  The shop receives and resells gently used items, donating the proceeds to Saint Luke’s. Many of our parishioners volunteer at This ‘n That. 

Sanders Hall: Our large meeting space that works as the social center of the church. The hall space serves in several capacities, including meals, social gatherings, visitations, group meetings, annual special events and other functions. 

Special Social Events: Do you love to organize and be part of a team to put on a special event? Love to party? Cater? Or just want to get involved? There are numerous times during the year when your help is definitely needed. New ideas are always welcome. Requests for help come out in church announcements, The Wild Onion and the Sunday worship bulletin. 

Wild Onion: The monthly newsletter of the church, put together by staff with contributions from parishioners. Primarily delivered via email, the newsletter gives religious perspectives on a variety of topics, including submissions from our rector, while serving as a calendar of important upcoming events and a schedule of responsibilities for laypersons and volunteers. A few printed copies are available. Let the parish administrator know if you are interested in receiving the Wild Onion newsletter.

Women of Saint David’s: The women in our parish host gatherings that so far have involved rather ‘sinful’ foods, beverages, and fun fellowship. A hostess plans an activity and sets a date, and parishwide invitations are sent via announcement, email, and the church newsletter The Wild Onion. Some examples have been: paint party, book reviews, and wreath making.