By The Rev. Sandy Boyd
The Rev. Mary Kate Schroeder, rector of St. Aidan's in Boulder, and The Rev. Mike Houlik, rector of St. Mary Magdalene also in Boulder, serve as coordinators in charge of making the planned all-Convention worship services happen in the designated space. They are assisted by The Rev. Rhoades Hollowell, deacon at St. Mary Magdalene. This endeavor has involved several trips for planning meetings and dealing with a myriad of details on-site at Convention itself. Hundreds of people are in attendance at the daily Worship services, coming from the House of Deputies, House of Bishops, the Women’s Triennial meeting, Exhibitors’ Hall, and various support offices located throughout the Convention Center.
Mary Kate said that an example of last-minute details this year was the challenge of acquiring enough glass chalices for the distribution of communion. The order of glass chalices as received turned out to be not acceptable, so Mary Kate stopped over in the Convention Center operations office, where she found helpful staff who located some glasses that would work. They also volunteered use of facilities for Altar Guild of washing of the glasses.
Communion is served at ten stations (twelve for Sunday) which are located throughout the hall. For this year’s convention, Mary Kate suggested a new volunteer position of Table Host. At each station the Table Host (serving throughout convention) each day greets Eucharistic Ministers (12 volunteers per station), instructs them on their duties, and with the Altar Guild representative and a Deacon guides the serving of communion at the station.
Mary Kate said that an example of last-minute details this year was the challenge of acquiring enough glass chalices for the distribution of communion. The order of glass chalices as received turned out to be not acceptable, so Mary Kate stopped over in the Convention Center operations office, where she found helpful staff who located some glasses that would work. They also volunteered use of facilities for Altar Guild of washing of the glasses.
Communion is served at ten stations (twelve for Sunday) which are located throughout the hall. For this year’s convention, Mary Kate suggested a new volunteer position of Table Host. At each station the Table Host (serving throughout convention) each day greets Eucharistic Ministers (12 volunteers per station), instructs them on their duties, and with the Altar Guild representative and a Deacon guides the serving of communion at the station.
Table Host Sandy Boyd at Station Six with Altar Guild member Jo Drummond who lives in Los Angeles and serves at All Saints Church, PasadenaMike reported that he recently had come to realize that his view of the church was becoming quite narrow. So he decided to volunteer this year for service at General Convention in order to broaden that view. When asked if his time in Anaheim has accomplished this goal, Mike said it definitely had. He’s had a wonderful time here and plans to sign up for the next General Convention, to be held in Indianapolis in 2012.
This is Rhoades’ third General Convention. His first was Denver’s Convention in 2000. Serving as volunteer staff, Rhodes arrived in Anaheim two and a half weeks ago and will stay for the entire convention. One of his jobs is to help out with worship coordination and another is serving at the Convention Registration booth. Rhodes said he thinks the concept of a national convention where the church gathers to debate and discern matters for its common life is a commendable one. He’ll also volunteer for Indianapolis.
Mary Kate, Mike and Rhodes can be spotted every morning covering the enormous worship space equipped with radio equipment clipped to their shirts. They check in with various folks and periodically stop to take questions. They speak quietly into their microphones, listen for a reply and soon the situation is resolved. With folks like them on the job, the worship experience for the rest of us has been truly spiritual and joyful.
This is Rhoades’ third General Convention. His first was Denver’s Convention in 2000. Serving as volunteer staff, Rhodes arrived in Anaheim two and a half weeks ago and will stay for the entire convention. One of his jobs is to help out with worship coordination and another is serving at the Convention Registration booth. Rhodes said he thinks the concept of a national convention where the church gathers to debate and discern matters for its common life is a commendable one. He’ll also volunteer for Indianapolis.
Mary Kate, Mike and Rhodes can be spotted every morning covering the enormous worship space equipped with radio equipment clipped to their shirts. They check in with various folks and periodically stop to take questions. They speak quietly into their microphones, listen for a reply and soon the situation is resolved. With folks like them on the job, the worship experience for the rest of us has been truly spiritual and joyful.
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