Ministries

Inreach, Children and Youth, Outreach

Inreach at Holy Comforter

Equipping the Saints

Through our many ministries, we come together to learn, love, and lift one another up each day. These ministries are the heart of our shared life where relationships are strengthened and faith is deepened. We joyfully invest in these ministries, honoring them as the foundation upon which our beloved parish has been built. Each ministry reflects our desire to serve faithfully, grow spiritually, and care for one another as the Body of Christ.

• Choir

• Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers

• Acolytes – children and adults

• Greeters

• Altar Guild

• Flower Guild

• Garden Guild

• Rosary Group

• Brotherhood of St. Andrew

• Daughters of the King

• Episcopal Church Women (ECW)

• Prayer Shawl Ministry

• Livestream Technicians

Children and Youth

Cherished, Growing, Hope-Filled

Our children and youth are cherished and nurtured by the entire parish community. Though our group is currently small, our commitment to these young members is strong, faithful, and joyful. We believe investing in children and youth is one of the most meaningful ways to grow God’s Kingdom. Holy Comforter is eager to welcome more young families and their children, and we stand ready to expand our children and youth ministries as God provides the opportunity. Here, our youngest members are known, loved, encouraged, and surrounded by a parish family that delights in watching them grow in faith.

• Nursery (0-3) available during most services and events

• Children’s Chapel – fully outfitted child-sized chapel to teach younger children about how we worship

• EYC – tweens and teens, classes and activities planned as needed

• Acolyte training – age 11+, getting kids involved in ministry and worship

• Vacation Bible School – summer program, includes Day School students

Outreach

Faith In Action

Holy Comforter is committed to sharing God’s love through service and generosity, making a meaningful connection with our community. Though the world around us has changed since our earliest days, our call to love our neighbors has remained the same. We continue to reach outward with compassion, humility, and grace, seeing Christ in those we serve and allowing God’s love to work through us. Our outreach ministries reflect our deep desire to care for others and honor human dignity. We live faithfully into Christ’s command to love our neighbors. The outreach ministries we prayerfully nurture and actively support include:

• Episcopal Day School – grades pre-K – 12, weekly chapel services in the church

• Brown Bag – packs once monthly lunches for Way of the Cross Feeding Ministry

• Reverse Advent Calendar – annual food collection for the Etowah Community Food Bank

• ECW Soup Sale – annual event much-anticipated by the community

• ECW helps Camp McDowell -- provides camper supplies and counselor meals during Special Sessions

• Blessing Box – provides food bags, clothing, and hygiene bags for the needy in the neighborhood

• Kyle Home – associated with Holy Comforter, Housing for 17 mentally-challenged adults; church has an “adopt a friend” program to pair parishioners and residents

• Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) – UA Adult Education classes meet in the church building on weekdays, 3 sessions per year

• Daughters of the King - welcome bag ministry for newcomers

• MANNA Sunday – donations collected for our local meals on wheels program; several church members work as volunteers

• Prayer Shawl Annual Sale – group knits shawls which are blessed and given to members or neighbors who are ill; sale of items pays for their yarn

• Bell Carillon – plays chimes and hymns for the community

• Windy Van Hooten – local non-profit uses our Episcopal Day Camp property as part of their educational programs for local schools and the community