Service Ministry
Use your talents
Grace United Methodist Church is a place where we invite and encourage our congregation to discover and use their God-given talents to serve, care, teach, and lead, and where people are equipped and empowered to do so. We invite you to explore ways to serve the church, serve in the community, or the world.
Serve the Community and Beyond
There are many ways to volunteer to help out the Olathe community at Center of Grace!
Grace UMC sends a mission team each year to Tochi, Mexico. Look for news to see how you can be involved with the next team.
Grace has also sent teams to Guatemala.
Tochi photos:
Guatemala photos:
Serve the Church
Each person plays and important part in building this body of Christ by sharing their gifts and talents with the church. Just as there are many gifts, there are many ways to serve at Grace. Let us help you find your niche.
Hospitality Ministry
How does our church offer a welcoming and friendly environment for everyone who enters our doors? By recruiting and placing welcoming and friendly people! If you have these gifts, we would love your help! Listed below are numerous opportunities to share your time and talents with Grace. If you are interested in any of the following service opportunities, please contact the leader directly or contact the church office at (913) 859-0111.
Hospitality Opportunities
Book & Coffee Shop
Role: Prepare and serve coffee for church members as they connect and fellowship with one another. Visit with members as you serve.
Frequency: One Sunday a month, 8:45-11 AM
Contact: Kristi Cooper at [email protected]
Communion Server
Role: Serve communion elements at designated communion station for one of the weekend services.
Frequency: Serve as needed
Contact: Kristi Cooper at [email protected]
Coffee Host/Hostess
Role: Make coffee for the east and west entrance on Sunday mornings. Keep coffee refilled. Deposit money collected.
Frequency: Serve once a month from 8:45-10:45 a.m.
Contact: Kristi Cooper at [email protected]
Donut & Coffee Fellowship
Role: Prepare and serve coffee for members as they connect and fellowship with one another. Visit with members as you serve.
Frequency: One Sunday a month, 8:45-11 AM
Contact: Kristi Cooper at [email protected]
Door Greeter
Role: Welcome guests and members with a handshake and a smile. Direct newcomers and answer questions as needed.
Frequency: One Sunday a month, before the worship service of your choice.
Contact: Kristi Cooper at [email protected]
Parking Lot Greeter
Role: Welcome guests before they enter the building. Aid persons entering or exiting worship who need extra assistance.
Frequency: One Sunday a month, 8:45-10:45 AM
Contact: Ken Gandy at [email protected]
Usher
Role: Greet worshipers warmly, distribute bulletins, gather the offering, and guide people during communion.
Frequency: Each Sunday or every other Sunday, during the service of your choice.
Contact: Kristi Cooper at [email protected]
Photographer
Role: Take pictures for the church at special events. You may use the church camera or bring your own, if you prefer.
Frequency: As needed, about an hour a month.
Contact: Chandler Meierarend at [email protected]
Care Ministry
Even though we are a large church, we desire to know and be in relationship with each person to the best of our ability. Help us to care for this body of Christ as we reach out and offer support to those needing comfort. Listed below are opportunities to serve as an individual or a group. If you are interested in any of the following opportunities, please contact the leader directly or contact the church office at (913) 859-0111.
Care Ministry Opportunities
Care Ministry Team Member
Role: Visit members of the church who are homebound.
Frequency: Visit at least once a month. One year commitment required.
Contact: Pastor Caren Loper at [email protected]
Caring Cooks
Role: Provide dinner for people in the congregation who have an illness or are coming home from the hospital.
Frequency: Serve as needed, about once a year.
Contact: Pastor Caren Loper at [email protected]
Funeral Dinner Team
Role: Help set up and serve funeral dinner or lunches for grieving families before or after a funeral, or prepare the food for the meal and deliver to the church.
Frequency: About 4 times a year; serve as available.
Contact: Joyce Christopher at [email protected]
Prayer Team
Role: Support members and friends of Grace UMC in prayer.
Frequency: Receive the requests daily by email.
Contact: Steph Goddard at [email protected]
Silver Set Server
Role: Serve lunch to older adults at Grace; clear tables and wash dishes after the meal.
Frequency: Serve six times a year, the second Sunday of the month from 11:30-2:30 PM
Contact: Joyce Christopher at [email protected]
Building Care
With over 1,500 people coming in the doors of our church and nearly 2,000 people in and out at the Center of Grace, you can imagine that from time to time our buildings need a little love! Consider how you can use your time help the buildings stay in shape. Listed below are opportunities to serve as an individual or a group. If you are interested in any of the following service opportunities, please contact Walt Cooper at [email protected] or by phone at (913) 859-0111.
Building Care Opportunities
Light Maintenance Team
Role: Help with small repairs/tasks around the church and/or Center of Grace, i.e. changing light bulbs, fixing broken doorknobs, pulling weeds, etc.
Frequency: Once a month for 2-3 hours, at your convenience.
Painter
Role: Help update classrooms, touch up hallways, etc. at church and/or the Center of Grace.
Frequency: Once a month for 2-3 hours, at your convenience.
Landscape Caretaker
Role: Help to keep the church looking its best by maintaining the flower beds, shrubs, and landscaping around the property.
Frequency: Serve three or four times a year, at your convenience.
Grace Kids
Grace Kids Children’s Ministry nurtures children from birth through 5th grade in their faith. From child care to Sunday school to day care, the Children’s Ministry is all about the social, emotional, and spiritual development of each child in their care.
Listed below are numerous ways you can share of your time and talents with the Children and Family Ministry Department. If you are interested in any of the following opportunities, please contact Stacy Guerrero at (913) 859-0111 or by email.
Grace Kids Volunteer Opportunities
9:15 AM Preschool Co-Leader
Role: Facilitate fun, learning, and activities by applying the morning’s theme to kids lives. All lessons, activities, and supplies are provided!
Frequency: Serve twice a month from 9:15 -10:15 AM (arrive at 9 AM)
9:15 AM Elementary Co-Leader
Role: Lead a group of kids (grouped by age level) in activities and discussion about the morning’s theme. All lessons, activities, and supplies are provided!
Frequency: Serve twice a month from 9:15 -10:15 AM (arrive at 9 AM)
9:15 AM Children’s Check-In Kiosk
Role: Greet families and assist them in printing nametags. Help new families and visitors with the check-in process and walk them to their child’s classroom.
Frequency: Serve once a month, 9-9:30 AM
Kids’ Worship Bag Buddy
Role: Clean out, replenish and fill the kids’ worship bags provided at the back of the Celebration Center and Grace Gathering Room.
Frequency: Serve twice a month at your convenience.
Grace Kids Stage Design
Role: Decorate the large group space to coordinate with monthly themes.
Frequency: Once a month between the last Sunday and the first Sunday of the month.
Grace Kids Creative Team
Role: Do you have a special skill such as woodwork, artist, seamstress, cooking, lettering, etc? Let us know what your skill is as we have special projects with which you can assist!
Frequency: At your convenience.
Grace Kids Support
Role: Help with behind-the-scenes work such as copying, cutting, hole-punching, organizing, etc.
Frequency: Serve twice a month at your convenience.
Grace Kids Volunteer Appreciation Team
Role: Find creative ways to show appreciation to the volunteers. Host a coffee/muffin table for the volunteers on Sunday mornings.
Frequency: At your convenience.
Teacher Appreciation Team
Role: Find creative ways to show appreciation to the Kid’s Place at Grace Weekday Preschool teachers.
Frequency: At your convenience.
Library Assistant
Role: Reshelve and organize books used by the Kid’s Place at Grace Weekday Preschool teachers.
Frequency: At your convenience.
Youth Ministry
Grace United Methodist Youth (GUMY) engages students from 6th grade through college in owning and strengthening their faith. Building relationships with other youth and small group leaders is fundamental for GUMY. Volunteers are needed to provide students with an environment where they are known, encouraged to grow spiritually and connected to non-parental, committed adults who care and love them just as they are.
Listed below are numerous ways you can share of your time and talents with GUMY. If you are interested in any of the following opportunities, please contact Jeff Milton at (913) 859-0111 or [email protected]
Youth Ministries Volunteer Opportunities
Middle School Life Group Co-Leader
Role: Connect with students in small groups. Groups are divided by age and gender. Engage students in group discussion using provided topics and questions.
Frequency: Serve each Sunday, 9:15-10:45 AM, September through May.
High School Life Group Co-Leader
Role: Connect with students in small groups. Groups are divided by age and gender. Engage students in group discussion using provided topics and questions.
Frequency: Serve each Wednesday, 6:30-8 PM, September through May.
GUMY Social Media and Website Volunteer
Role: Tell the GUMY story via our Facebook Group, Twitter and Instagram. Act as GUMY liaison to the communications department to manage GUMY information on the church website.
Frequency: As available.
GUMY Administrative Volunteer
Role: Spend daytime hours in the Youth Office entering data, tracking registrations and financial information, and preparing spaces for Life Groups (supplies, set up, etc.)
Frequency: One day per week for 1-3 hours.
Confirmation Mentor
Role: Establish a relationship with 8th graders as they go through the confirmation process.
Frequency: Serve Wednesday evenings, January through April.
In Worship:
Music Ministry, Audio/Visual, Decor
Our music ministries include a variety of musical opportunities and experiences for all ages and ability levels. Each group participates in worship on a regular basis and grows musically and spiritually with the dedication of their efforts to the glory of God. Listed below are numerous ways you can share of your time and talents. If you are interested in any of the following opportunities, please contact the leader directly or call the church office at (913) 859-0111.
Music, A/V, Decor Opportunities
Celebration Choir Member
Role: Share your love of music by singing in the adult choir. This group performs 1-2 songs at Sunday services and major works at Christmas and Easter.
Frequency: Rehearse on Wednesday nights from 7-8:30 PM. Sing each week at 9:15 & 10:45 AM services.
Contact: Rick Fisher at [email protected]
Instruments of Grace Member
Role: Open for all those who play brass, woodwind, string, and percussion instruments. Open to musicians of all ages.
Frequency: Rehearse on Wednesday nights from 7:30-8:45 PM; play in worship once a month.
Contact: Keith Sandrock at [email protected]
Carillon Bell Choir Member
Role: Inspire the congregation by playing in the advanced bell choir.
Frequency: Rehearse on Wednesdays from 5-6 PM; play in worship once a month.
Contact: Debbie Thomas at (913) 681-0826
Ring Forth! Bell Choir Member
Role: Inspire the congregation by playing in the introductory bell choir.
Frequency: Rehearse on Tuesdays from 6-7 PM; play in worship once a month.
Contact: Debbie Thomas at (913) 681-0826
Audio/Visual Team Member
Role: Operate the sound board, light board, or slides during the Saturday or Sunday worship services.
Frequency: Once a month
Contact: Chandler Meierarend at [email protected]
Christmas Decorating Team
Role: Prepare and adorn the sanctuary for the Christmas season; remove decorations after Christmas.
Frequency: Set up the sanctuary on the third Sunday in November from noon-2 PM; remove decorations on a Sunday in January from noon-2 PM.
Contact: Kristi Cooper at [email protected]