Please browse through the tabs below to see how you can serve and connect with others:
Time & Talent Ministries
Thank you for sharing your time and your talents! Below are brief descriptions of places you can use your time and talents:
AD HOC PERSONNEL COMMITTEE: This committee provides advice and recommendations to Council concerning compensation and human resources policy matter.
ALTAR GUILD: The Altar Guild is responsible for the care, preparation and adornment of the altar, sanctuary and chapel. This service to the Lord includes the weekly care of the altar, candles, paramonts, linens and robes, as well as adorning the altar with flowers and greens during church festivals such as Christmas, Palm Sunday, Easter and Thanksgiving.
AUDIT COMMITTEE: A group of people who volunteer to audit the books annually.
BELL CHOIR: Ringers who assist with the special music at church services during the year. You must be able to read music.
*CHOIR (ADULT OR CHILDREN): For people who love to sing and can assist with special music at church services during the year.
CRAFT & SEW: Women who meet 2 times a month to create walker bags, pillowcases and lap quilts that bring comfort to the lives of local nursing home residents and area shelters. If sewing isn’t your forte, you can help create holiday tray favors of every shape and kind that will brighten the daily or holiday mealtime of over 400 nursing home residents. All tools and materials are provided. You need only come with willing hands and a loving heart.
CHURCH HANDYMAN OR WOMAN: Help the church trustees with big or small projects around the church.
CHURCH PICNIC COMMITTEE: Help plan, set-up, arrange for events, shop, and clean-up during the annual picnic.
*GREETER: Greet the worshipers as they enter the sanctuary on Sunday morning during your month of service.
GROUNDSKEEPER: Assist the trustees to maintain the flowers, shrubs, lawn and trees, especially during the summer months.
HERALD ASSEMBLY AND MAILING: Help with labeling, printing and assembling the newsletter up to 12 times a year.
HERALD PREPARATION: Assistance needed for co-editing, writing assignments, proofreading and other general tasks that go into the creation of the monthly newsletter.
KITCHEN: Assist the Kitchen Chairperson at any function or dinner with setting up, serving or clean up.
KITCHEN HELP @ FUNERALS: Assist the Kitchen Chairperson on short notice for helping with a funeral lunch.
JOURNEY THROUGH THE WORD: In-depth Bible studies for women in the morning and men and women in the evening. Usually 2 studies are offered each year, fall and spring.
KIDS TIME HELPER: Assist the director with teaching, crafts, events (similar to VBS) during the school year, usually September – April.
LIBRARY VOLUNTEER: Help getting new books, CD’s and DVD’s ready for circulation, help “man” the library on Sunday mornings, keep books, etc. neat on the shelves. Requires computer skills.
MEN’S MINISTRY: Prayer Group meets at Panera’s in South Parks Shops on Friday mornings. Our monthly men’s night Bible Study is the third Tuesday of every month. We also have men’s prayer partnerships.
MINIBUS DRIVER: Rotate driving for Sunday services and other trips as needed. Standard driver’s license required.
NURSERY HELPERS: Volunteers needed to help the Nursery Supervisor for the 8:30, 11:00 services and the SS hour. A vital service for our members with small children. Also other opportunities to serve at special events at the church.
PAINTER: Non-professional painters to work on small painting projects throughout the church as needed.
PROVIDE BAKED GOODS: Many events at the church require food, also meals are provided for people coming home from the hospital, babies being born, death, Easter baskets and much more. Watch the bulletin for opportunities to provide food.
SAMARITAN MINISTRY: Providing help for our brother and sisters in Christ with various special needs. A sample of these needs are as follows: provide transportation to a doctor’s appointment, grocery store, church, deliver meals to families in need, provide relief for caretakers of the elderly/sick, provide emergency overnight childcare, haircutting services and visitation.
*SHEPHERD MINISTRY: Accept the commitment to be the “shepherd” for a 5-7 family geographic area for 1 year.
SUNDAY MORNING HOST/HOSTESS: Prepare coffee and donuts for the “Coffee Hour” near the adult classroom before the 8:30 service. One month commitment required.
SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: Work with the SS Superintendent for rehearsals, costumes, set-up and take down props.
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER/HELPER: Commitment to teaching for 1 year – 2 year olds through 12th graders.
*USHER: One month commitment required – usually different ushers for each service and special services. Assist people to their pews and receive the offering. Any other duties requested by the Deacon. **11:00 Ushers: 24 men needed to serve a two-month commitment or 48 men needed to serve a one-month commitment.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL TEACHER OR HELPER: One week commitment (plus preparation time). Usually the last week in July to do outreach to the surrounding community. Work with the VBS director.
WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Meets monthly, the second week of the month, for Bible study and fellowship at various times of the day, one with a babysitter available. All women of the church are invited to attend the Circle that best suits her schedule. Bible study leaders are volunteers from each Circle who lead discussions from the designated study material. Many mission projects are supported through these Bible study groups and the entire congregation.
WORSHIP TEAM: A group of instrumentalists and vocalists leading the monthly Evening of Prayer and Praise in classic praise and contemporary music normally held on the third Sunday of the month at 6:00 PM. Additional musicians and vocalists are welcome.
YOUTH MINISTRY VOLUNTEER: Adults are always needed to help with the youth and their many programs and opportunities. Talk to our Youth Director if you are interested in serving in this way.
XYZ: That’s eXtra Years with Zest! Our “retired” group that meets for a prepared lunch, program and fellowship 5-6 times a year. Anyone with an afternoon free is invited to come. Reservations are requested.
* We have significant needs in these areas.
Outreach Ministries
Shepherd Ministry
Members of Shepherd Ministry commits to be the “shepherd” for a 5 to 7 family geographic area for 1 year.
Ruthfred Lutheran Women’s Ministry
Craft & Sew
Craft & Sew meets twice a month to craft items for nursing home residents and area shelters. All tools and materials are provided. You need only come with willing hands and a loving heart.
Samaritan Ministry
Samaritan Ministry provides help for various special needs, which may include transportation to a doctor’s appointment, grocery store, or church; meals to families in need; relief for caretakers of the elderly or sick; emergency overnight childcare; and visitation.
Music Ministry
Senior Choir
The senior choir is a friendly group of believers who serve the Lord through singing. The only requirements for joining the choir are an ability to sing on-pitch and a willingness to work. New voices are welcomed.
- Practices: September through June, the choir practices on Wednesdays at 7:45 p.m.
- Performances: The choir performs at the 11:00 a.m. service, except for the third Sunday of every month when they perform at the 8:30 a.m. service.
- Questions? Contact Bob Vogel or the church office.
Bell Choir
- Who? The bell choir is available to anyone with the ability to read music and the desire to work with the bells.
- Practices: Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m.. Regular attendance at rehearsals is encouraged.
Children’s Choir
Through our children’s choir, our young people realize a special opportunity to praise God through music.
- Who? The choir is open to students 1st grade through 6th.
- Practices: Wednesday between 5:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.
Worship Team
The worship team is a group of instrumentalists and vocalists leading the monthly Evening of Prayer and Praise in classic praise and contemporary music normally held on the third Sunday of the month at 6:00 PM. Additional musicians and vocalists are welcome.
- Practices: Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
- Questions? Contact Rory Smith or the church office.
Fellowship Breakfasts
In the book of Acts, Luke writes about the early church: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42). Relationships are of utmost importance in our daily lives, and those within the Body of Christ are to be especially valued and nurtured! With that in mind, on the first Sunday of each month, Fellowship Breakfasts are held from 9:45-10:45 in the Fellowship Hall. Church members are encouraged to take advantage of this great opportunity to get to know our brothers and sisters in Christ over a delicious hot breakfast!
Important Details:
- ALL are welcome, including guests and visitors
- NO Sunday School classes, for either children or adults, are held on these dates. Families are encouraged to attend the breakfast together (children must be accompanied by a parent)
- Gluten-free and dairy-free options are always available, as well as donut holes, coffee, tea and juice
Interested in volunteering to serve at a Breakfast?
Contact: Melissa Bostaph (MelissaBostaph@ruthfred.org)
Upcoming Dates and Menus:
- February 5 – Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs, Bacon
- March 5 – Assorted Breakfast Casseroles, Hash Brown Casserole, Bacon, Muffins, Donuts, and Fresh Fruit
- April 2 – Biscuits and Gravy, Biscuits with butter and jam, Bacon and Egg Breakfast casserole, Fresh Fruit, and Cereal
- May 7 – Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Fruit
- June 4 – TBA
Clearances
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)
CLEARANCES
Thank you for your willingness to help with the children’s activities at Ruthfred Lutheran Church. Your service is much appreciated and needed.
According to Pennsylvania’s child welfare laws, clearances are required for an employee or unpaid volunteer at a minimum of every 60 months from the date of the oldest clearance. The link below will take you to the website with further instructions for obtaining the required clearances. Keep Kids Safe (pa.gov)
If you have been a resident of Pennsylvania for the last 10 years, there are two required clearances (the “Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check” and the “Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance”). Volunteers who have resided in Pennsylvania for the last 10 years can circumvent obtaining the FBI fingerprint clearance by signing the enclosed “Disclosure Statement Application for Volunteers” and returning it with your other clearances.
If you haven’t resided in Pennsylvania for the last 10 years, you are required to obtain the FBI fingerprint clearance.
In addition to the state’s required clearances, Ruthfred Lutheran Church requires all adult volunteers to read Ruthfred Lutheran Church’s Child Protection Policies and Procedures. Once complete, please return the policy’s signed Acknowledgement page to the Church office, as we must keep it on file, and retain the remaining policy pages for your reference.
Ruthfred Lutheran Church also requires the MinistrySafe online ‘Sexual Abuse Awareness Training’ video and certification. Please provide the Church office with your current email address, as the training link is sent to you via email. Once you complete the training, please provide a copy of the certificate to the Church office, as we must keep it on file.
Pennsylvania Criminal History Report
Directions on how to obtain or renew this clearance can be found HERE
Register and complete the clearance process at: epatch.state.pa.gov/home
Child Abuse History Clearance
Directions on how to obtain or renew this clearance can be found HERE
Register and complete the clearance process at: compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home
Login information is needed after the process is completed so be sure to keep it in a safe place.
Federal Criminal History report, including fingerprinting
If you have lived in Pennsylvania 10 years or longer
Click to download an affidavit HERE
OR
Directions on how to schedule an appointment to be fingerprinted can be found HERE
Fingerprinting locations and registration information can be found at:
identogo.com/services/live-scan-fingerprinting
Please submit completed clearances to Felicia Rieck digitally at feliciarieck@ruthfred.org or physical copies can be sent to:
Ruthfred Lutheran Church
Attn: Felicia Rieck
3401 South Park Road
Bethel Park, PA 15102