The ministry of the Worship Commission is to identify, train, mentor, evaluate and support the liturgical gifts available to meet the worship needs of our faith community.

There is a wide variety of services to be performed during mass and various worship services. It is desirable that different parishioners exercise those services so that the talents and gifts God has placed within the Christian community are fully utilized and these roles of service are not monopolized by a few. A healthy inclusion of the whole people of God will provide the ability to keep the parish healthy in the future.

In addition to the ordained ministries there are roles in the liturgy which are exercised by lay people who place their time and talent at the service of the liturgical assembly as acolytes (altar servers), lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, cantors, choir members, instrumentalists, leaders of song and ushers. Others contribute their time and talent to planning and organizing the liturgy, to keeping the church and the vestments, vessels and appointments clean and well-ordered or to providing decorations that reflect the spirit of the liturgical feast or season.

It is not sufficient, however, simply to have a "warm body" filling a given role. Those engaged in liturgical roles need to be well-prepared for those roles and to know how to carry them out with reverence, dignity and understanding. Obtaining the proper preparation requires a further gift of time on the part of the person being prepared as well as on the part of those in the parish responsible for the training of liturgical ministers.

Before individuals can be prepared for liturgical roles, there must first be individuals who are willing to assume those roles. All the baptized need to understand that part of their duty regarding liturgy is to accept some responsibility for the liturgy, to place themselves and their God-given talents at the service of the liturgical community whenever possible. If liturgy is a duty as well as a right, then part of that duty for those able to undertake these tasks is the responsibility to assume such key roles as those of lector, server or acolyte, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, usher, choir member, etc. . Whether one brings up the gifts at the Presentation, reads the Word of God, assists with the distribution of Communion and brings the Eucharist to those unable to be present at Mass, serves at the altar, provides music that augments the joy, solemnity and festivity of the celebration or serves the assembled community as an usher, he or she is contributing to the worship of the community and fulfilling the responsibility that comes with Baptism.

Not all members of the parish community will have the time, energy, strength or ability to serve in these roles, however, individuals must be careful not to excuse themselves too easily. And it might also be helpful for us to reexamine our situation every so often. The time available to a business person or to parents with young children may be very limited. But eventually business people retire and children grow up, leaving those individuals with more free time at their disposal. What is important is that all understand that the celebration of liturgy is not just the responsibility of our Pastor. He needs the help of his people, the people who are serious about living out their baptismal right and responsibility to worship.

Those who are not exercising one of the ministry roles during the celebration of the mass are not free to sit back passively and simply let the liturgy happen around them. There is no audience in the mass. We do not have the luxury of acting as passive "pew potatoes," waiting for the hour to pass and all to be done for us. It is everyone's responsibility to be fully engaged throughout the liturgical celebration. The baptized faithful who form the congregation are called to join in praise and thanksgiving in song and spoken word; to listen attentively to God's Word, to exercise their baptismal priesthood in prayer for the Church, the world and all in need. In the Liturgy of the Eucharist they culminate their participation in the reception of the Body and Blood of the Lord, the sacrament which unites them more fully with Christ their Head and with one another.

In their sincere efforts to participate, those present minister to the priest celebrant, to others who serve in liturgical roles, and to one another. Their attention and active engagement in the celebration can draw from the priest celebrant and the other ministers the best they have to offer. Their enthusiastic song and verbal responses made with conviction can encourage others to sing and respond; their very presence at the celebration of Mass when so many other enticing options might have been chosen instead supports and reinforces others who have made the same choice.

The liturgy, then, is about the action of God's own people, each with different offices and roles, each office and role, from that of priest to that of usher and sacristan, one of service, not of social recognition or privilege, a mirror of Christ who washed the feet of his disciples and instructed his followers to imitate his example of service.

The Worship Commission regular meetings alternate every first Thursday and first Sunday of the month at the church.

For specific details, the phone number for the current chair of the Worship Commission is listed in the Chancellor.

Adoration provides a solitude where people can read the Scriptures, speak to God in their own words or listen to their heart in a unique way. It is an excellent way to pay better attention to our spiritual life - to ask whether it's growing or slipping.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place in the Adoration Chapel on Wednesday's from 10:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact Gloria Miner at 734-394-0870.

Our Catholic youth are eligible to become Altar Servers after they have received their First Communion and can continue to serve as long as they wish. Training is scheduled on a quarterly basis or as needed. All are welcome to experience this service to God and our Parish Community.

If you are interested in becoming an Altar Server or if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Cathy Hulett at one of the following numbers:

Office - 734-981-1333 ext 18
Home - 734-397-1075
Cell - 313-715-2535

If you are interested in helping decorate the church for Holidays and special occasions, contact Mary Lou James at 734-981-1333.

A life-giving parish like St. Thomas a' Becket invites parishioners to take active roles in making the liturgy alive. One way to take an active part in the mass and develop a sense of pride and ownership in the parish liturgy is to become a Eucharistic Minister.

Eucharistic Ministers serve for alternating months. One month on then one month off.

If you are interested in participating in this important ministry and have received the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation, please contact Debbie Miller at 734-981-1333.

If you feel the call of Christ to take an active part in the evangelization or our parish by proclaiming the readings and have received the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation, please contact Debbie Miller at 734-981-1333.

Lectors read once a month.

Whenever our parish family gathers to participate in a liturgical celebration, someone must be there to coordinate, oversee and prepare everything necessary in advance. That person is a Sacristan. The Sacristans develop a working relationship with the celebrants, lectors, Eucharistic Ministers and altar servers. They sit with the congregation, but are ever watchful and ready to take action and offer any needed assistance at a moments notice. During the Mass, the Sacristan plays an important role in preparing the cups for consecration and serving as a Eucharistic Minister.

Different Sacristans are assigned to each Mass, and substitutes are always needed. Any of our Sacristans will tell you that they have found this ministry to be not only a faith experience, but a source of spiritual growth. If you would like to be part of this wonderful ministry, please contact Mary Lou James at 734-981-1333.

The St. Thomas a' Becket Ushers consists of men and women, all of which are at least 16 years of age, who want to serve our parish in the ministry of Ushering.

Teams and Mass Schedule:

Saturday - 4:30 PM Mass - 2 teams, serving every other Saturday
Sunday - 8:00 AM Mass - 2 teams, serving every other Sunday
Sunday - 10:00 AM Mass - 4 teams, serving every 4th week
Sunday - 12:00 Noon Mass - 2 teams, serving every other Sunday

We are always accepting new members to the group and will do our best to accommodate your request to place you on a team that serves the mass time that you requested.

If you are interested in joining, please call Ron Baj at 734-981-0472, any day before 8:00 pm.

Meeting: A yearly meeting is scheduled, on a weekday night, the week after Thanksgiving weekend.