Acolyte or Server means “one who helps,” thus when serving at the altar, the Acolyte or Server is actively assisting the Celebrant in the sanctuary during the worship of God. It’s a custom of serving in our worship service that has been documented from as long ago as AD 250.  St. Michael’s Acolyte team is made up of both young people and adults.

 Our Torchbearers are normally 5-8th graders, Crucifers who lead the procession with the Cross are usually 9-10th grade students while our Masters of Ceremonies (MCs) are typically the most experienced acolytes and are 11-12th grade students. On major Feast Days, there are also thurifers and boat bearers.

The Adult Education program of our church is presented in three major ways:

Adult Bible Study Class: This class, which is taught by the Vicar, meets each Sunday, except when there is an Adult Forum. Various religious subjects and biblical texts are discussed in this class.

Adult Forum: A variety of educational topics – religious, social, financial, health – is presented by members of the congregation and invited speakers.  

Confirmation Class: This eight to nine month class is taught by the Vicar. The syllabus of the class focuses on the Catechism, tenets of Christianity and related information pertaining to the Episcopal Church and Anglicanism. At the end of this class, a special Eucharist is held in which individuals are either confirmed, i.e. receive the laying on of hands by the Bishop or received into the Episcopal Church.

The Children’s Education program includes a Children’s Time at the beginning of the Eucharist. As the children sit to the front of the church, the Vicar gives a five to seven minute illustrative lesson on one of the readings of the day. After the lesson, the children go to their Sunday School classes for further education. The current Sunday School caters for pre-K through 12th grade.

Many of St. Michael’s ministries are organized through committees. Please click here to view our committees.

"Let's break bread together” or pizza, hotdogs, steaks, or coffee! Our fellowship groups get together socially from time to time. Social events include the annual Progressive Dinner where approximately 50 people meet at a member’s house for hors d’oeuvers, then separate into smaller groups and go to others’ homes for dinner, then meet back for desserts; Fellowship  Groups Potluck, Spaghetti Dinner, Wine Tasting Party, and Trivia Night.

The St Michael’s Choir consists of approximately eighteen members and is led by a Choir Director and Assistant Choir Director.  Choir rehearsals take place at the church every Thursday night. From time to time, our musically talented members play guitars and other instruments during the services. There is an organist and an accompanist who are instrumental in playing the music. A Music Committee is responsible for the choosing of the hymns at the Sunday Eucharist.

Recognizing the importance of first impressions, a newcomer's group has been formed to greet new people and offer them a hand of friendship. A basket containing a loaf of freshly baked bread, a bottle of wine, and a pamphlet about the church is delivered within a few days of a newcomer’s first visit to St. Michael’s.

The Church has three major organizations – the Men’s Group, Women’s Ministries and the Kids For Christ (KFC) Youth and Children’s Club. We invite you to click here to read more about these organizations.

St. Michael’s participates in a number of outreach programs. Please click here to see these programs.

This group attends to the needs of ill or needy members and has an ongoing telephone prayer chain providing spiritual support though prayer to congregation members.   

They also provide meals for members of our congregation when they are ill or unable to do so.  A member of our congregation is involved with ministry at a juvenile detention center, and two other members are lay chaplains at the Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO.

This seminar is held twice a year, usually in February and September, for members of the congregation to received training in sexual abuse prevention among children. This Diocesan requirement, which is presented by two members of our congregation, is needed for individuals who are in leadership positions in our church and particularly for those who are involved in children’s and youth ministry in our church.

Please click here for information on Youth Ministry.

                         2006 -- St. Michael's Episcopal Church, O'Fallon, Illinois                            Last Updated: 07/19/2010

Mission and Vision Statements