Want to give more to the service of God and the people of this parish on Sunday morning’s? Want to serve as a lector, usher or acolyte? Want to serve on the Altar Guild? Already serve and want improve your skills? Want to deepen your prayer life or learn more about ways to support this parish? Then the Liturgical Workshop is for you!!!
On Saturday morning, we will start at 8:15 with registration, breakfast and a bit of social time. Then at 9:00am our first of three class periods will begin. After the three class periods we will end the day around noon with a service of prayer.
We have some really talented faculty, some new and some returning.
Mr. Ronnie Miller will take lectors, new and seasoned, through a presentation on how to effectively prepare to read both by understanding more fully what you are reading and tips for preparing the lesson to effectively read.
Mrs. Susan Ruggiero will offer a laboratory on diction and effective public speaking. Her aim will be to coach the lectors to help them have a commanding presence and effective and captivating delivery. Her coaching will not only help with public reading in Church, but in your day to day lives.
For the ushers, Fr. Jeff and Bill Johnston will lead a class that is intended to train new ushers, bring attentions to some of the shortfalls of the usher responsibilities for those who serve already and hopefully bring all of those whose serve into a more uniform pattern of service. As our Sunday services evolve and change, it is important that we meet as a group and discuss the changes in the duties and expectations.
The acolytes will receive a special treat in that Andrew McLarty, verger at Saint Andrew’s Cathedral, will be joining us, working with Mr. Mark Herring and Mrs. Pat Bailey. The acolytes will be broken up into two groups and spend time learning how to move and carry crosses and torches gracefully and effectively, as well as receive a refresher on their duties.
For those who want to deepen their life of prayer and knowledge of Anglican traditions and the Book of Common Prayer, the Rev. Deacon James Henry LeBatard will be joining us from the Mississippi coast. Deacon James Henry is an engaging and captivating speaking with a great faith and rich knowledge of our traditions- his classes are not to be missed!
Mrs. Jane Hayes and Mrs. Pam Ward will meet and work with any people who want to join the Altar Guild- the group of folks who keep and prepare the Church for our common worship. They will be teaching folks how to set up the altar, discussing changes and innovations that have occured, and giving any new folks a good solid foundation for learning how to keep the altar and Church.
From our own ranks, Mr. Gene Harlow will offer a class on estate planning and planned giving. If you have questions or need help planning your estate or would like to consider remembering the parish in your will, this class will give you the information and help you need help ensure the future of Saint Johns.
We have a wonderful day planned that will be both fun and informative. Many people are giving a good deal of time to make this an outstanding day. Please do your part by supporting this day and working to be the best servant of the Lord you can.
Below you will find the sign up, and at the bottom of the page our faculties pictures and brief biographies. God bless you and see on on the 27th for the Liturgical Workshop.
Faculty
Lector Coaching:Soprano Susan Ruggiero is the recipient of Shreveport Opera’s Singer of the Year Competition, the Mozart Award in the National Orpheus Vocal Competition, Third Place in Mobile Opera’s Scholarship Competition, and she was district winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (2007 and 2009). She has sung with New Orleans Opera, Natchez Opera, Mississippi Opera, Opera South, Kentucky Opera, Wildwood Opera, Blue Lake Opera, Opéra Louisiane, and she was a Fellow at Tanglewood. Ms. Ruggiero holds a double master’s degree in voice and flute performance from the University of Michigan and a DMA from Louisiana State University.
Lector Coaching: Ronnie received a Masters Degree in Theatre from Ole Miss in 1967 and taught Speech, Theatre and English at Meridian Community for 39 years and served as Chairman of the Fine Arts Division for 20 years. He has directed and acted in over 100 plays at MCC, the Meridian Little Theatre, and the Company of Angels of which he was cofounder. He has conducted acting and directing workshops for the Mississippi Theatre Association and is a past president of the MTA. Ronnie has been an Episcopalian for over 40 years and is currently a communicant of St. Paul’s in Meridian where he has served on the vestry and as junior warden, lector and choir member.
Prayer and Spirituality Instructor: The Rev. James Henry LeBatard is a vocational Deacon, specializing in Ministry to the Elderly. He is a third generation member of St. Pierre’s Church in Gautier. He is an Oblate of St. Joseph’s Monastery in Natchez, and is a member of several devotional societies. He is past-president of the Gulf Coast Opera Theatre and is in his third year as President of the Gautier Civitan Club. He enjoys writing poetry and fishing for speckled trout.