Our Volunteer Opportunities
Helping Hands Always Welcome
"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
I John 3:18
Whatever time, whatever talent, Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church has a place for each member's contribution. Here you will find on-going and seasonal opportunities to connect with other church members, reach out to the community, and grow in faith. We are a congregation of servants. And we welcome all who want to join us in serving others.
Children's Ministries»
Church Note Writers»
Coffee Connection Hosts»
Door Greeters»
Lay Readers»
Rose Gardeners»
San Diego Military Outreach Ministries»
Thrift Cottage Assistants»
Ushers»
Youth Ministries»
| Opportunity 1 | Awana Club Leaders . Children's Ministries |
|---|---|
| Location | Center for Christian Education 949 C Avenue, Coronado Download a Campus Map |
| Need | every Wednesday evening, Sep–May |
| Commitment | two and a half Wednesday hours every week |
| Time Requirement | 5:30–8:00pm |
| Eligibility | • male or female, ages 16 years and older • know Christ as a personal Savior • desire to communicate God's love to children |
| Helpful Skills | appreciation of children ages K–grade 6 |
| Responsibilities | • listen to children recite Scripture • direct interactions among the children • role model Christ-like patience and love |
| Training | hands-on training and a handbook |
| Contact | Email Rebecca Smith, Director of Children's Ministries |
| Opportunity 2 | Nursery Care Providers . Children's Ministries |
| Location | Noah's Nursery at Kirk Cottage 969 C Avenue, Coronado Download a Campus Map |
| Need | year round |
| Commitment | flexible |
| Time Requirement | Sundays, 8:30–noon and 4:30–6:45pm |
| Eligibility | • male or female, ages 21 years and older • know Christ as a personal Savior • desire to communicate God's love to children |
| Helpful Skills | normal life experience, common sense, experience caring for infants and toddlers |
| Responsibilities | • play with, read to, and pray for children • direct interactions among the children • role model Christ-like patience and love |
| Training | hands-on training |
| Contact | Email Rebecca Smith, Director of Children's Ministries |
| Opportunity 3 | Sunday School Teachers . Children's Ministries |
| Location | Center for Christian Education 949 C Avenue, Coronado Download a Campus Map |
| Need | year round |
| Commitment | flexible |
| Time Requirement | Sundays, 8:30–10:30am or 10:00–noon |
| Eligibility | • male or female, ages 16 years and older • know Christ as a personal Savior • desire to communicate God's love to children |
| Helpful Skills | appreciation of children in grades preschool–grade 6 |
| Responsibilities | • play with, read to, and pray for children • direct interactions among the children • role model Christ-like patience and love |
| Training | hands-on training |
| Contact | Email Rebecca Smith, Director of Children's Ministries |
| Opportunity | Church Note Writers |
|---|---|
| Location | Coronado private residence |
| Need | year round |
| Commitment | one Thursday hour per month |
| Time Requirement | 9:30–10:30am |
| Eligibility | women |
| Helpful Skills | good grammar, good spelling, and good handwriting |
| Responsibilities | handwrite correspondence to the ill and homebound, members grieving the loss of loved ones, members celebrating momentous occasions, visitors to our worships services, and financial donors |
| Training | simple verbal instruction |
| Supports | Church Note Writers, a small-group ministry of the church |
| Contact | Peg Luedtke (619) 435-6344 |
| Opportunity | Coffee Connection Hosts |
|---|---|
| Event | Coffee Connection, between morning worship services |
| Location | Center for Christian Education, Garden Room 949 C Avenue, Coronado Download a Campus Map |
| Need | every Sunday of the year |
| Commitment | three Sunday hours per month |
| Time Requirement | 8:30–11:00am |
| Eligibility | male or female, ages 16 years and older |
| Helpful Skills | normal life experience, common sense, friendly nature |
| Responsibilities | • pick up bread at Panera Bread • prepare brewed coffee • man refreshment counter • clean up Garden Room after service |
| Training | simple verbal instruction |
| Supports | Board of Deacons |
| Contact | Email Patti Ireland, Moderator of the Board of Deacons |
| Opportunity | Door Greeters |
|---|---|
| Event | all three Sunday worship services |
| Location | Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church sanctuary 975 C Avenue, Coronado Download a Campus Map |
| Need | every Sunday of the year |
| Commitment | 30 minutes, one Sunday per month |
| Time Requirement | 8:30–9:00am or 10:00–10:30am or 4:30–5:00pm |
| Eligibility | male or female, ages 16 years and older |
| Helpful Skills | normal life experience, common sense, friendly nature |
| Responsibilities | • arrive 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the service • shake hands with all who enter the sanctuary to worship • offer a worship bulletin to everyone who enters • ring the steeple bell to signal the start of worship |
| Training | simple verbal instruction |
| Supports | Board of Deacons |
| Contact | Email Patti Ireland, Moderator of the Board of Deacons |
| Opportunity | Lay Readers |
|---|---|
| Location | Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church sanctuary 975 C Avenue, Coronado Download a Campus Map |
| Need | year round |
| Commitment | one Sunday hour every 4–6 weeks |
| Time Requirement | 9:00–10:00am |
| Eligibility | men and women, ages 16 and older |
| Helpful Skills | desire to develop poise in public speaking situations |
| Responsibilities | • receive and practice reading the assigned Scripture • sit in the chancel during the worship service • lead the congregation in the Prayer of Confession • read the scriptural introduction and the Scripture • administer all non-clergical parts of the worship service in the pastor's absence (rare) |
| Training | one, two-hour hands-on group training/rehearsal session with the pastor |
| Supports | Pastor David |
| Contact | Email Sue Arnott, Church Administrative Assistant |
| Opportunity | Rose Gardeners |
|---|---|
| Location | Kirk House Reverend Kenneth Baird Carson Memorial Rose Garden 959 C Avenue, Coronado Download a Campus Map |
| Need | year round |
| Commitment | flexible |
| Time Requirement | flexible |
| Eligibility | men and women, ages 16 and older |
| Helpful Skills | any gardening experience and physical ability required of gardening |
| Responsibilities | • January mulching, pruning, and weeding • general maintenance throughout the year |
| Significance | Our campus rose garden is a perennial winner of the Coronado Floral Association Helen McNear-Robert Lamp Best Church Grounds Trophy. |
| Training | simple verbal instruction |
| Supports | Property Committee |
| Contact | Email Mary Jane Wilfong |
| Opportunity | Warehouse Workers |
|---|---|
| Location | San Diego Military Outreach Ministries Warehouse Miramar area, San Diego |
| Need | year round |
| Commitment | flexible |
| Time Requirement | flexible |
| Eligibility | men and women of all ages |
| Helpful Skills | • be willing to donate use of a pick-up truck • ability to lift and carry donations to a pick-up truck and warehouse • ability to sort and arrange donations in the warehouse |
| Training | simple verbal instruction |
| Supports | Missions Committee |
| Contact | Email Mary Jane Wilfong |
| Opportunity | Thrift Cottage Assistants |
|---|---|
| Location | Thrift Cottage 1211 Tenth Street, Coronado Download a Campus Map |
| Need | year round |
| Commitment | flexible |
| Time Requirement | flexible |
| Eligibility | men and women, ages 16 and older |
| Helpful Skills | normal life experience, common sense, friendly nature, ability to make cash change |
| Responsibilities | • merchandise newly received donations of clothing • cashier clothing purchases |
| Training | simple verbal instruction |
| Supports | Thrift Cottage, which funds church ministries and missions |
| Contact | Jean Watson, Director (619) 435–5380 |
| Opportunity | Ushers |
|---|---|
| Location | Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church sanctuary 975 C Avenue, Coronado Download a Campus Map |
| Need | year round |
| Commitment | two Sunday hours every month |
| Time Requirement | 8:30–10:30am or 10:00am–noon |
| Eligibility | • men and women, ages 16 and older • ordainment as deacon or elder not required |
| Helpful Skills | normal life experience, common sense, friendly nature |
| Responsibilities | • arrive early, help welcome worshipers in the absence of door greeters • locate seat openings and usher latecomers to service • collect the offering • serve Holy Communion to the congregation • open the sanctuary doors after the pastoral benediction • recapitulate the offering and submit to the financial secretary • police the sanctuary after worship • be prepared to administer first aid in an emergency |
| Training | orientation class Download Training Instructions and Diagram» |
| Supports | Worship and Sacrament Committee |
| Contact | Email Chipp Wilfong, Worship and Sacrament Committee Chairman |
| Opportunity 1 | Big Five Dinner Hosts . Youth Ministries |
|---|---|
| Location | Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church, Parish Hall 975 C Avenue, Coronado Download a Campus Map |
| Need | every Tuesday evening, year round |
| Commitment | two Tuesday hours, rotating with other hosts |
| Time Requirement | 4:30–6:30pm |
| Eligibility | men or women of all ages |
| Helpful Skills | ability to relate to adolescents, ages 12–14 |
| Responsibilities | • buy or prepare dinner for an average of 30 teens • serve dinner • clean up after dinner |
| Training | simple verbal instruction |
| Contact | Director of Youth Ministries (619) 435-6860 x 13 |
| Opportunity 2 | T.R.A.S.H. Hosts . Youth Ministries |
| Location | private residences in Coronado |
| Need | year round |
| Commitment | flexible |
| Time Requirement | third Tuesday any month, 7:00–8:30pm |
| Eligibility | men and women of all ages |
| Helpful Skills | ability to relate to teens, ages 15–18 |
| Responsibilities | • open your home to an average of 30 teens • prepare and serve a snack • engage in fellowship and prayer with the group |
| Training | simple verbal instruction |
| Contact | Director of Youth Ministries (619) 435-6860 x 13 |