Those who serve in this ministry are dedicated to providing high quality Bible classes for our adult members. We offer a balance of textual, historical, and practical classes which are designed to help us grow toward maturity in the Lord and be better equipped as his servants in the world.
Those who serve in the Children’s Ministry teach the kids during Bible Hour each Sunday (during the sermon time), lead the kids during First Friday Parents' Night out and Third Thursday Kids' Night, and provide babysitting for different events. They help the kids prepare a performance piece and skit for our Easter and Christmas worship services. They also help put on our Children’s Emphasis Sunday each August where the kids take on all the roles during the worship service. This ministry also puts on a “Trunk or Treat” event each year on Halloween night in the church parking lot for all the kids in nearby neighborhoods. As this ministry grows, we would like to plan more family events and kid-centered activities and include children in the surrounding community.
The young adults meet once a week for dinner and fellowship in a small group format. They coordinate together to plan occasional special worship services and yearly retreats at Shenandoah West. They volunteer in many different capacities for the congregation according to their gifts, talents, and interests. They are in the process of developing as leaders for the church.
The greeting ministry serves to warmly welcome each person who comes to worship and ensure that each has a church bulletin. Guests are given special attention to ensure that they have a positive first experience with our congregation. The Greeting Ministry strives to promote a “family feeling” of care, attention and encouragement to all who come in our doors.
This ministry makes it a special point to maintain personal contact with guests who visit our church. We do so with the aim of welcoming them into our congregation. Members of our ministry distribute welcome packets on Sunday morning, visit first-time visitors at their home, place phone calls to keep in touch, and host dinners for guests who may want to make our congregation their church home.
Woody and Judy Square (former missionaries to PNG) lead a small group every 3 years to the country of Papua New Guinea for a month-long summer mission trip. The group travels to different congregations throughout the country (some in towns, some in villages) and ministers through song, drama, classes, and special events. The San Leandro congregation hosts fund-raisers periodically to help raise the resources needed to send the group to PNG.
The Praise Team is a group of gifted singers who lead our congregation in worship on Sunday mornings. Those interested in joining this ministry must be able to sing well and be willing to commit themselves to monthly practices as scheduled. We are a group of people who are passionate about praising God!
The members of the Prayer Ministry are dedicated to prayer and to encouraging prayer in our church family. We visit people to pray with them, pray over weekly needs and requests, plan congregational prayer services and vigils, and seek creative ways to express our praise, thanks and needs to the Lord.
The service ministry helps the members of the church to set up, coordinate food and decorations, and clean up for special events — potlucks, weddings, funerals, etc. Those involved help coordinate communion preparation and Sunday Bible Class refreshments on a weekly basis. The ministry also keeps the church kitchen stocked with paper goods and basic supplies.
The Technology Ministry provides for the audio-visual and computer needs of the ministries in our congregation. Those who serve in this way create slides, run the projector, and operate sound for worship services and Bible classes, and maintain the computer systems and network in the church building. Oh yeah, they also run the church website and are incredibly handsome.
The Worship Planning Ministry is dedicated to developing thoughtful and moving worship services for our church. We meet regularly to select songs, scripture readings, and plan other elements of both weekly services and special events. If you think creatively about encountering God in worship, we would love to have your help.
