From Our Lay Ministry Coordinator ... 
I feel so blessed by God to have this position here at Holy Comforter as the Lay Ministry Coordinator. I’m excited about what the Lord will be doing through me in this position. This is a very humbling position.
Although my boss is Father Steve, I want to assure you that I am here to serve the parish and see to it that it grows and flourishes. I asked your patience over the next couple of weeks as I take hold of all my duties. Please come by and visit me if you are in the church. My office is always open to welcome you and answer questions.
Blessings, Sandra Bekech
June 2007...
No More Excuses God is Calling You by Sandra Bekech
When we are baptized, it is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church. Also, it is our ordination into lay ministry. We are called by God to carry out the Great Commission to make disciples of men. Receiving the Holy Spirit means that we also receive Spiritual Gifts.
If you do not know what your Spiritual Gifts are, I invite you to take a Spiritual Gifts inventory and discover them. This will awaken you to what God is counting on you to do to further the Kingdom. In the Book of Common Prayer, the first type of minister mentioned is the Lay Minister. God is calling you and me into ministry and counting on us to grow his kingdom. If you have been at Holy Comforter for more than six months and you are not active in a ministry, perhaps it is time that you listen to God’s call and stop making excuses as Fr. Steve pointed out in his sermon on Mother’s Day.
God has given us a SHAPE, and it is not the physical body I am addressing. His SHAPE is this: Spiritual Gifts, Heart or Passion for something, Abilities, Personality and Experience. God gives each, and He wants us to use the gifts He has given us. But first, we must choose to be His and His alone, and want to give our SHAPE to be used for His glory. God is a gentleman. He will not force us to serve Him. More than what we do, He just wants us to love Him. For me, it is in loving Him that creates a desire to serve Him and others. When you truly love the Lord you want to live according to the Truth by living out His commands.
If your excuse is "I’m not qualified to do anything," let me assure you that God does not call the qualified, but He qualifies the called. God will give you everything your need to do His work. If you do a great job, God is on His thrown and if you make a mistake, God is on His throne. There is nothing wasted in the Kingdom, and there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. Our God is a redeeming God, a merciful God, a forgiving God, a transforming God and an awesome God.
If your excuse is "I don’t have enough time," there are ministries that require one hour a week or less. What if Jesus said to the Father, "I don’t have time to die and rise again for your children." Where would you be right now? You could be in the pit of Hell because your sins would not be forgiven. What if Jesus said, "I’m not qualified to love these people and share the Gospel with them." Where would you be? You could be in the pit of Hell because you don’t have an advocate who loves you and tells you the Truth.
When you meet Jesus will He say, "Well done, good and faithful servant" or "You call me Lord, but I know you not?" God is counting on you!
Following are charters and descriptions of the eight teams charged with overseeing the numerous ministries at Holy Comforter.
Please feel free to contact Sandra Bekech, Lay Ministry Coordinator, if you would like to learn more about any of these ministries. One may also speak with any member of the congregation and, in particular, the committee chairs to inquire further concerning these services. Perhaps there is a way you could serve or be served in our church family.
Christian Education
Chair: Sandy Ferguson
The mission of this team is to ensure HCEC provides Christian education opportunities that allow our membership to learn and grow spiritually. The programs should be inviting to the community at large, meeting the needs of parishioners and visitors of all ages and levels of Christian understanding.
Ministries include: Sunday School (with curriculums for ages from nursery though Adults), Children's Worship, Discovery Class, Drama Ministry, EYC, First Communion Class, Happening, YES, Newcomers Class, Nursery, Vacation Bible School, Morning and Evening Bible Studies, Youth Confirmation Class and Seasonal Offerings.
Communications
Chair: Joanne Bergey
The mission of the Communications Team is to ensure HCEC members receive timely and accurate information on all aspects of parish life, while (along with the Evangelism Committee) increasing the awareness of HCEC and increasing the understanding of the Episcopal Church in the community.
Ministries include: Bulletin Board, Flyers, Pew Sheet Announcements, Phone Committees, The Dove, Website, Local Newspaper, Public Service Announcements and the Texas Episcopalian.
Evangelism
Chair:
The mission of the Evangelism Team is to ensure that HCEC offers programs that spread the message of Jesus to the community at large. Focus is on outreach to the community beyond that of our immediate congregation.
Ministries include: Advertising, Alpha, Boy Scout Troop Sponsorship, Growth Team, Kairos, NAM Support, Welcome Team and Greeters.
Pastoral Care
Chair:
This team's mission is to ensure that Holy Comforter offers programs that provide for the spiritual needs of individuals in our congregation while allowing individuals in our congregation opportunities to minister to each other.
Ministries include: Brotherhood of St. Andrew, Cursillo, Daughters of the King, Episcopal Church Men, Episcopal Church Women, Fellowship/Group Events, Hospitality, Kitchen Angels, Newcomer Assimilation and Order of St Luke the Physician.
Planning
Chair:
The mission of the Planning Team, along with our congregation and the vestry as a whole, is to develop and carry out a process that "keeps fresh" our church's vision of itself in the future. It is also responsible for deploying this vision in a manner that our congregation can belong to and can contribute towards same.
Ministries include: Annual Parish Meeting, Annual Vestry Retreat, Leadership Training and Surveys.
Property
Chair: Bob Schenk
This team's mission is to provide for the short-term and long-term needs of the existing buildings on our campus, and the appearance of same, in a manner that shows our congregations's desire to build the Lord's Church.
Ministries include: Adopt-a-Room, Building Maintenance, Lawn Crew, Parish Work Days and Small Construction Projects.
Stewardship
Chair:
The mission of the Stewardship Team is to systematically evaluate and make available all of the financial resources, congregational talent, real property and other assets of Holy Comforter in order to maximize the use of these assets to accomplish God’s mission for this congregation.
Ministries include: Congregational Gifts Inventory, HCEC Financial Oversight, Pledge Campaign and Stewardship Awareness Program.
Worship
Chair: The Reverend Steve Ferguson
The mission of the Worship Team is to monitor and improve the worship opportunities, both regular and special, offered by HCEC. It will also shepherd the groups that support these worship opportunities in a manner that acknowledges and addresses the diverse needs of the community in our geographic area. Recognizing that liturgical worship is an event of prayer linking the whole community in their relationship to God, the committee will ensure that worship is as broad, deep, beautiful and intense as is possible, while retaining the sense of connection to the Body of Christ and our own Anglican tradition. Finally, it will plan and develop a long-range worship program.
Ministries include: Acolytes, Altar Guild, Choir and Music Programs, Lay Eucharistic Visitors, Lectors, Regular and Special Worship Services and Ushers.
