Serve

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Parishioners serve in all worship and prayer services at St. Paul’s. Many offer their time and talents to ensure beautiful services, daily prayers, the care of our sanctuary and materials, and other aspects of the church’s operations.

Parishioners and community members also serve tirelessly to meet the unmet needs of those living in Savannah and beyond. In all we do in the community, we seek to be Christ’s love to our neighbors.

If you are interested in learning more about any of these ways we serve, please contact the Parish Office!

Parish Choir

The Parish Choir’s main responsibility is to support the congregation, through music, in its worship of God at mass. The choir does this by leading hymns and Psalms as well as special music like the Introit and anthems. The Parish choir also performs Choral Evensong, concerts, and ordination masses from time to time. We invite you to come help us “seek through music to perfect the praises offered by God’s people on earth”!

Altar Guild

The Altar Guild is made up of special women and men who give of their time and talents, and who serve God by preparing His Altar. The work of the Altar Guild includes care of the altar vessels and linens, dusting, polishing brass and silver, arranging flowers, sewing on buttons, washing and ironing linens as well as setting up for Mass and other liturgical events including weddings and funerals. Those who share in this service are rewarded in the knowledge that they are serving God by tending the place where He is worshiped.

Flower Guild

The flowers placed on the various altars in our church are arranged by members of the Flower Guild. The floral materials are purchased through donations given in memorial or in thanksgiving by parishioners. Teams of two or more are assigned to a weekend once every four to six weeks and are responsible for selecting the flowers and preparing the required arrangements for the week.

Ushers And Welcome

A group of dedicated volunteers who serve during assigned Masses on a quarterly schedule. Duties include: greeting all attendees and assisting them with seating as needed; personally making welcome all visitors and ensuring they are provided with Mass Books, Calendar of Services, descriptions of our parochial and social activities, and obtaining contact information for follow-up. Additionally, we organize the collection and presentation of the Gifts at the Sunday Solemn and Evening Masses and ensure the safety of attendees and the security of their personal property.

Acolytes

The Acolytes at St. Paul’s are a group of dedicated people of all ages, from elementary school children to adults. As acolytes, we find joy in serving God by assisting the priests and deacons as they celebrate the Mass and perform other rights of the Church. Service at the Altar is a good way to learn the names of the items used during the Mass and helps children learn to participate in and follow the service. Each Sunday at the 10 am Mass we would like to have at least six acolytes to do the functions which need to be done during the Mass, but more are always welcome, and we make every effort never to turn away a child who wants to serve. Training is usually done on the job, and over time everyone is trained to do all of the tasks. Sometimes for the major celebrations, a practice is held the Saturday before.

Our Lady of Walsingham Chapter of the Daughter's of the King

The Daughters of the King (DOK) was founded by Margaret J. Franklin on April 4, 1885, at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher now the Church of Resurrection, in New York City. The Order of the Daughters of the King is an international religious order for Episcopal Women. We pledge ourselves to a lifelong program of prayer, service, and personal evangelism. Our purpose is to bring others into a living, loving relationship with Jesus, our Lord and Savior, and to help strengthen the spiritual life of our parishes and missions. A Daughter must be a communicant in the Episcopal Church and be willing to participate in the preparation period, and vow to accept the Rule of Life. The DOK is not a social organization, and we do not raise funds. We pay yearly dues to the National and make voluntary contributions to the various funds of the Order. We meet every month on Saturday Mornings, which includes prayer and study.

Thomas Park Food Pantry

Founded by a parishioner about 40 years ago, the Pantry has grown from a closet operation to supplying 1,967 bags of groceries in 2024—a 53% increase from the prior year. Our clients self-report that those bags of groceries served as supplemental food for 2,237 children under 18 years old, 1,493 adults, and 1,406 senior citizens, for a total of 5,136 people fed last year. In the first six months of 2025, we already supplied 1,037 bags of groceries to feed 3,062 people, so we are on our way to serving more people than were served last year, if we can find the volunteers to continue this important ministry. Operating rain or shine every second and fourth Tuesday morning, whether or not the date falls on a holiday or during a hurricane, the Pantry distributes groceries from the garage and courtyard of 221 E. 34th Street.

Backpack Buddies

The Backpack Buddies program was created to supply children who are dependent on the “Free and Reduced” lunch program provided by their school during the week and have very little to eat over the weekend and holidays. Research shows that hungry children have poorer mental and physical health, suffer with more behavioral disorders, and are less prepared to learn when they are in school. Hunger is an increasing and known problem among school-aged children in Savannah and Chatham County. We serve children who attend Charles Ellis during the school year. We prepare 37 bags of food each week to go home with each child for the weekend. The bags contain protein, vegetables, fruit, breakfast items, milk, juice and snacks. Our volunteers deliver the bags to Charles Ellis each Thursday. Most of the food comes from Second Harvest Food Bank or through donations.

Refugee Resettlement & Immigrant Support

St. Paul’s has offered our Mission House as temporary housing for large refugee families fleeing humanitarian crises and political persecution since August 2021. With the lack of affordable housing for large families in the Savannah area, this is an important ministry to refugees fleeing to safety and re-establishing their lives. In addition, we offer targeted support to all immigrants, including: advocacy for Spanish-language emergency resources, family disaster relief, free English language classes each week, providing free transportation, clothing, household goods, and toiletry items to those in need, and comprehensive pastoral care and support in Spanish and English.

ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)

Started in 2022, this volunteer-led program supports immigrant students in a welcoming environment. Three professional teachers and several parish volunteers provide weekly English classes from September to July. The program also fosters cross-cultural connections within the parish. The students
in our 2025 ESOL class come from within our congregation and from local universities and speak Spanish or Chinese as their first language.

Gallery of Art and the Sacred at St. Paul’s

Established in thanksgiving for the extraordinary ministry of Louise H. Shipps, Artist, Iconographer, and Witness. The Gallery is a space to feature artists of all types who explore the intersection of Art and the Holy.

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