Ushers
Ushers share their time and talents to enhance the worship services at First Lutheran Church each weekend. Ushers are responsible for seating worshippers, distributing bulletins, collecting the offering, guiding communicants, counting worshippers and making the pews tidy after each service. Ushers usually serve one service per weekend, one month at a time, three to four times a year. (example: 9:30 a.m. service every Sunday in September.) New Ushers are always welcome. If interested, contact Alice Wasson at 362-3228.

Greeters
The greeters are our "front line" at worship services. It is their gifts of hospitality and warm smiles that that make worshippers feel welcome as they arrive. Greeters are asked to arrive 20 minutes before the worship service starts. Typically, greeters will be scheduled two weeks in a row at the same worship time. If you'd like to use your friendliness as a ministry, contact Barb Hanson, Director of Equipping Ministry, in the church office.

Coffee Hosts
As Lutherans, it's often joked that our coffee is another sacrament. In reality, the coffee & fellowship time provides a transition between services and allows our members and guests an opportunity to talk. The coffee hosts serve one week at a time and are in charge of making sure the table of coffee & donuts is kept filled and tidy. This is another ministry where a friendly disposition and smile are put to excellent use. Contact Barb Hanson, Director of Member Involvement, in the church office to join this team. 

Nursery
If your gift of hospitality works well with children, the Nursery Ministry needs your help! The nursery is open from 7:45 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. on Sundays. It is located on the lower level of the church in Room 110. On Wednesday evenings, when choirs rehearse and our education events are in full swing, childcare is also available. The nursery is open from 5:45 p.m. until the events end, around 8:45 p.m. Contact Donna Wissenberg at 365-1494 x115 to volunteer or with questions.

 Service Ministries are all the categories that are directly involved with the worship services. Some are behind-the-scenes, such as the Altar Bread Bakers, while others are literally front-and-center, such as Communion Assistants. It takes a rotation of many people each week to make our worship services come together and run smoothly. If you have the heart for worship and like to work as part of a team, check out the following ministries.

Altar Guild
First Lutheran has a traditional Altar Guild. The Guild consists of four teams who serve on a rotating    basis. It is a service of faith and love to God. The Guild is entrusted with the privilege of preparing the chancel and its furnishings for worship and communion. This includes caring for the altar and sacristy  areas, altar linens and communion wares. Training is provided. We meet once a month on Sunday except during the summer. New members are always welcome. If you feel your spiritual gifts guide you to this ministry, please contact the church office or Joan Rust at 396-3867 or rjrust@cedar-rapids.net

Altar Bread Bakers
Each Altar Bread Baker is scheduled about four Sundays per year to bake the bread used during communion at our 8 & 9:30 a.m. worship services. Each weekend, six, six-inch loaves are baked according to a standard recipe, and dropped of at the church. If you enjoy baking, this ministry is right up your alley. Contact Barb Hanson, Director of Member Involvement, in the church office to join this team.  

Communion Assistants & Clean-up
The title of these ministries basically explain themselves! They are two separate positions and groups of people, both directly involved with communing the congregation each week. Communion Assistants distribute the wine during communion, while the clean-up team washes the glasses after services. For either of these groups, contact Barb Hanson, Director of Member Involvement, in the church office to join.

Lector/Liturgist
As a direct assistant to the Pastors during worship, the Lector and/or Liturgist roles are hands-on worship ministries. The Lector reads lessons, prayers and other parts during worship; and, the Liturgist leads the congregation in singing portions of the liturgy. There is a need for Lectors at the Saturday evening services and Lectors and Liturgists at the 8 & 9:30 a.m. Sunday services To learn more about the roles and training of Lectors & Liturgists, contact Marita Wolgast, Traditional Worship Coordinator, in the church office.