Page 5 - March 2020

she taught for years and continues to read with children
of the parish
By: Grace Huseth
“Voices of the Parish" shares stories from Skidaway
Island United Methodist Church members who are
active in ministry and the community. For the month of
March, we will hear from members who serve during
worship services as a form of worship.
here are many different ways to worship. Some
Tworship through singing, some worship through
prayer and some worship with offerings. Some worship
as ushers, some as readers, and some through prayer
and preparation.
Ushering is a form of worship for Dick and Ardie Boggs.
When serving as hosts, they stand loyal and uphold the
sacredness of worship. They guide those in worship to
prepare their hearts and minds and communicate with
a reverent presence the responsibility and privilege of
stewardship during offertory.
When Dick and Ardie moved to the Marshes eight
years ago, they had hardly unpacked their boxes before
offering to usher. In a new place, it was a familiar rhythm
and a way to connect with their new congregation. Dick
takes pride in the traditional order to ushering while
Ardie passes peace as she moves down the sanctuary.
“As you usher, you smile and they smile back. It’s a warm
feeling for us and a warm feeling for them,” Ardie said.
“I love to usher. It’s very special to me.”
Reading and responding is a form of worship. Psalter
lessons lead by a liturgist in the lectern allow everyone
to speak the word of God with one strong voice.
Beth Majeroni worships by serving as a liturgist. As she
leads the congregation through readings and responses,
she too reflects and praises God. “I consider it a "calling"
to convey God's sacred word and respect the opportunity.
My goal is for the passage to speak to whomever hears
it,” she said. If Beth seems like a pro at the lectern, it’s
because she is. With a master’s in reading education,
and adults alike. She may be a “professional” reader and
yet brings personal reflections to the readings.
“I like to read what comes before and after the specified
lectionary selection in my study Bible so I can interject
the proper tone into my reading,” Beth said. During the
week she worships in preparation, reading the liturgy
over and over again so it rolls off her tongue and follows
proper punctuation pauses.
On the first Sunday of each month, Sandy Ummel and
other communion stewards prepare the elements used
in the sacrament of Holy Communion.
Stewards deliver the necessary linens, serving pieces
and loaves of bread to the sanctuary and place them
on the altar. Following the 10 o’clock service, the team
gathers leftover consecrated elements and returns them
to the earth, scattering them in the memorial garden
and church property.
“When I go forward to the rail to receive communion
I have a great sense of unity with everyone in the
sanctuary,” Sandy said. “I have a very spiritual connection
to Jesus after hearing the familiar words of the invitation
and with the receiving of the symbolic bread and juice.”
Praying and preparing your heart for worship is worship
in itself. Seekie Drysdale serves in the middle of the
week, well after the last note of the postlude. The
sanctuary may be empty, but a worshiping spirit still
echoes as Seekie prepares and arranges paraments as
part of the altar guild. She knows the meticulous way she
measures the colorful paraments makes her seem like a
perfectionist, and yet she also knows an eye distracted
by something off center leads to distracted hearts and
minds. “The altar guild prepares the altar perfectly and
ensures everything is excellent for worship,” Seekie
said. She can relate to Martha’s need for order, while
having the heart of Mary. “When I’m in the sanctuary
I’m praying the entire time. It is my way of spending
time with God.”
Let us all worship with reverence and warm smiles,
through reading and reflection and with prayer and
preparation. All are acts of worship and bring Him glory.