Ministry Groups

The people of God express a commitment to Christ through practical Stewardship. Each member is encouraged to become a steward of the parish.  A. number of ministries now actively function while the Lord guides us into new forms of service.

Parish Council
Together with the priest, they meet monthly to plan and apply the decisions of the parish in community, charity, and financial matters.

Parish Singing
The faithful worship communally, led by Reader Jim Tilson, Mark Lambo, George Holdsworth and the choir at St. Anne's.  Choir practices are Wednesday evenings following vespers to prepare for upcoming liturgical services and special occasions.  New voices are always welcome.

Readers
Led by Reader Derek Rikard, readers build up the faithful by reading the Holy Scriptures and appointed prayers during worship.

Greeters
Greeters welcome both visitors and the faithful into worship and for fellowship.

PROSPHORA BAKERS

Several parishioners have begun regularly baking the prosphora.  Fr. Justin Patterson, now of St. Athanasius in Nicholasville, Kentucky, put together a worksheet to remind new bakers of some essential things as they develop their skills as prosphora bakers.  Here is the worksheet as a PDF file.

Altar Servers
Men and boys serve with the priest in the altar to prepare for services and to take part as candlebearers, ripida bearers, bell ringer and other duties.

Sunday School
Separate sessions for preschool, elementary grades, middle school aged, and high school aged children are conducted each Sunday at about 11 am. Adults meet with Fr. Stephen prior to Divine Liturgy at 8:30 on Sunday mornings. 

Orthodox Education
An Orthodox Study group is offered every Wednesday evening after Vespers and is led by our priest. Catechumens and those new to Orthodox Christianity are encouraged to attend, but all are welcome.

Orthodox study group
Ryan Shelton coordinates a group that discusses topics in Orthodoxy and meets the second Friday of each month at 6:30 pm the Norris Religious Fellowship church.

BOOKSTORE
Subdeacon Ed Krieg operates the bookstore which offers icons, books, crosses, and home worship supplies. The store is usually open on Sunday mornings and can handle special orders.

Parish LibrarY
Donated books, CDs, and tapes on Orthodox subjects are part of our growing lending library, managed by Mary Tickel. Members are invited to sign out items and return them in a timely manner. 

Catechumens
Adults who have become Catechumens are instructed  under the leadership of the Priest.

Facility Stewardship
The parish property is cared for by the faithful.   Each family is called upon to help clean, maintain, and add to the beauty of the building.  Clean up days are regularly scheduled as St Nicholas' Servants ministry.  Contact Peggy Krieg, Nancy Caldwell, or Carroll Walker.

Youth Ministry, ST. TIMOTHY FELLOWSHIP
Special events are arranged and announced on an occasional basis.  This group of teens (high-school aged, mostly) and any of their parents who would like to chaperone meets with Fr. Justin each Wednesday night after Daily Vespers.  See the Not Despised site for the latest.

GETHSEMANE PRAYER PARTNERS
This is a ministry of the parish for those who want someone to pray with them or for them. Louise Rikard leads this ministry.

ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP ON THE UTK CAMPUS
Fr. Justin started a website for the Orthodox Christian Fellowship on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, campus.  The group meets for Vespers and fellowship one night a week at St. John XXIII's (on the UTK campus).  See Father's website for more details and planned activities. 

Social Outreach
George and Rosemary Holdsworth lead our social outreach ministry. St Anne's gathers food on the first Sunday of the month which is given to a food pantry for the Appalachian region.

St. Nicholas Children's Home
Other recent projects included support for St Nicholas Children's Home in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, through the Orthodox Christian Missions Center.  The OCMC in St. Augustine, Florida approved the proposal for this project at their Board Meeting in April 1996. Craig and Victoria Goodwin were asked to move to Romania with their three children, to work as Project Coordinators for this home. The mission of this project is to provide a safe and loving home for children who are living on the streets or in an orphanage because their mother is in prison.  Then, when the mother is released from prison, she will be brought to the home to be reunited with her child. She will stay at the home receiving parenting classes, counseling, and assistance in finding employment and a new place for her and her child to live upon re-entering society. In this way, we believe we are not only saving the life of a child, but a family as well.  (Pictured from left to right Craig Goodwin, Victoria Goodwin, Cornelia Asavoaie, Bogdana Asavoaie, Constantin Asavoaie).   See pictures of the work as it progressed.

SS Mary and Martha Monastery
St. Anne's supports SS Mary and Martha Monastery in Wagener, SC.  SS Mary and Martha Monastery founded in 1989 under the auspicies of His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri, Bishop of Dallas and the South, Orthodox Church in America (OCA).  Following the monastic tradition, these are women who are called by God to work out a life of prayer and giving glory to God, to offer hospitality to others, and if God wills, to pass on the monastic tradition together with a monastery to the generations to come.

Habitat for Humanity
St Anne's regularly participates in the building of Habitat for Humanity homes in the area.  Joe Pyle is our point of contact with Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County.

Choices Resource Center
Choices is a Crisis Pregnancy ministry offered by Christians in Oak Ridge for the Greater Knoxville area. Offering counseling for alternatives to abortion and parenting training, the center has had a wonderful impact on families in the area. St. Anne supports this ministry through donations of funds and baby items. Adrienne Pyle is our liaison with Choices.

Web Site
This web site was designed by one of our members, Judy Tickel, and is maintained by another, Jeff Romanczuk .