Altar Guild

Behind the scenes of every church service is the preparation of the church and altar areas. A dedicated committee works every week to put out the flowers, fill the eternal and altar candles, place the correct paraments for the season, and set up for the sacrament of Holy Communion. This committee is also responsible for the caring of the communion service wear, paraments, and linens used.

Other Altar Guild committees help make any new banners, clean the brass, and clean the robes and chasubles used by the acolytes and pastors. Baptismal napkins are hand-stitched and given to the newly baptized. Recently two new linen communion veils were hand-stitched. We welcome all members of Our Savior’s to consider joining any group and help Altar preparation needs.

2026 ALTAR GUILD

Secretary Sue Staples

Making Baptismal Towels Lois Losby

Cleaning Candelabras & Missal Stands Volunteers as needed

Ordering Altar Guild Supplies (Candles, Wine, Wafers, etc.)

Cheryl Vieth
Sue Staples
Carol Miller  

ALTAR GUILD—GROUP I

April 2026, September 2026, February 2027

Beverly Burand
Lois Losby
Barb Clark
Barb Bahr
Becky Grapes

ALTAR GUILD—GROUP II

May 2026, October 2026

Sue Staples (Chair)
Debbie Dukatz
Christine Krueger
Jordan, Sara, Emerick & Kenzie Weeks

ALTAR GUILD—GROUP III

June 2026, November 2026

Carol Miller (Chair)
Kim Grapes
Deb Wollin

ALTAR GUILD—GROUP IV

February 2026, July 2026, December 2026

Cheryl Vieth (Chair)
Dana McCall
Laura Sanborn

ALTAR GROUP V

March 2026, August 2026, January 2027

Colleen Pitz (Chair)
Rachel Balow
Deb Wold
Linda Baehr

Communion Bread & Wine

Holy Communion will be served by Pastor Joanne and one (1) deacon.  We will continue present practice of using wafers rather than home baked bread.  I think each group has experience setting up for single file walking communion.

To be sure we are working from the same page; each Sunday will require 1 – paten (plate), 1 – large chalices, 1 – flagons (wine decanters), 1 – distribution cloths (don’t want to spill wine), 1 pyx (the wafer container) with about 70 wafers, and 2 small chalices.  Cheddar goldfish are for those who have not had communion instruction. Use one of the plastic communion sets we have used in the past.  The same goes for gluten free crackers. Care must be taken as Pastor Joanne received a celiac diagnosis.

In addition to having the silver communion ware on the credence table on the altar; we prepare 10 wine and 6 grape juice kits (plastic cups, wine and wafer separated, with one cover) placed on the narthex table near the bulletins. There is an oval tray on top of the cabinet, or maybe in the cabinet. Grape Juice is in the kitchen refrigerator.

Gluten Free Wafers

Please wash your hands before and after putting wafers in the pyx!

Those who are allergic can have severe reactions to gluten, from the regular wafers or bread.

Communion Clean-up Reminder

After the service, the wine remaining in the large Chalice, small chalices/cups, and wine left in the flagon (decanter) may be poured back into the wine bottle.

If the trash is full, please take it to the kitchen and put it in one of the large garbage cans.