Our Programs
Programs build community and offer ways for newcomers to get involved in the church.
You can:
- Sing in the Choir
- Provide hospitality for members and visitors
- Participate in the stewardship of our church
- Serve on the Environmental Commission
- Participate in the Healing Ministry
- Serve as an Usher on Sunday
- Help out with the Altar Guild
- Be a Sunday reader
- Help with the service as a Eucharistic Minister
St. Anne's Choir
St. Anne’s is fortunate to have a wonderful choir under the direction of Giancarlo Aquilanti (Giancarlo is currently the Director of Music Theory at Stanford University). The Choir performs Sundays during the school year and for various special services and concerts such as Lessons and Carols.
The choir also sponsors special concerts featuring guest performers from Stanford and other institutions. These concerts are always open to the entire community. In the past we have had String Quartets, a Brass Ensemble, and a variety of small mixed groups. These concerts are always popular and a lot of fun.
Hospitality
Saint Anne's continues to provide a warm and welcoming environment for our congregation. Woven into every service, coffee hour, concert, and bountiful potluck event, Saint Anne's shares love of God, warm friendship, and good food with all.
Hospitality is a very important ministry of the church! Coordinate events; assist the vestry in planning, organizing and overseeing announcements, sign-ups, decorations, and setup and cleanup crews.
Bring a neighbor to enjoy our next concert. Walk the labyrinth. Discover, share, and enjoy all the hospitality that Saint Anne's offers.
Stewardship
St. Anne’s practices a year-round stewardship program. We provide workshops, newsletter articles and guest speakers on stewardship themes. Previous programs have included:
- Prayer Retreat at the Mercy Center
- Lenten Workshops: Simpler Living, Compassionate Life
- Earth Day Session: The Impact of Everyday Food Choices
- Legacy Society Meeting with the Rev. Richard Schaper, Planned Giving Officer for the Diocese of California
- New to the Episcopal Church Series
- Small-Group Stewardship Gatherings
- Gifts of the Spirit, What Are You Looking For?
- The Soul of Money
- Children’s Stewardship lessons in Sunday School
Stewardship of our church and of our earth are important and sometimes difficult topics. Join us as we continue to explore and learn.
Environmental Commission
We celebrate Earth Day with an outdoor Church Service on the Labyrinth. We invite guest speakers and lead discussions on topics of environmental importance. We organize church activities such as Eucharist in the Park.
The Episcopal Diocese of California formed the environmental commission in response to the urgency of the environmental crisis that confronts us. Make connections with others in our deanery and the diocese that are leading the effort for ecological understanding. Help St. Anne’s become a leader in meeting these challenges locally.
Healing Ministry
The Healing Ministry is a part of every Sunday worship service. We offer individuals the opportunity to receive intercessory healing prayer focused on the individual and, if desired, his or her specific needs. The Ministry prays for the individual’s specific need, whether in mind, body or soul or unspoken.
Ushers
Greet members and guests as they arrive at church! Our ushers make sure everyone is greeted warmly as they arrive and help ensure that the service runs smoothly. This is a great way to help out and meet other people in the church at the same time. We also help by passing the collection plates, select and guide the oblation bearers, and provide traffic control in the center aisle for Communion.
Altar Guild
This is the group responsible for setting up the church for each service and for changing the hangings to match the liturgical calendar. It is a hands-on job which provides much satisfaction as you can see the fruits of your labor every Sunday. The group brings together creativity, teamwork, and knowledge of the church seasons.
Readers and Eucharistic Ministers
Readers and Eucharistic ministers serve St. Anne's each Sunday and holidays by reading the Old and New Testament lessons and Prayers of the People. Lay Eucharistic ministers assist in serving the wine during the Eucharist. The schedule is made in advance in three or four month intervals so servers can anticipate when they are going to read or serve and the lessons are available in the office well in advance so readers can practice before hand.