There are many ways to participate at LCOS, including music, worship planning, fellowship events, children’ activities, and more. Reach out to the church office, and we can put you in contact with the right ministry leader.

Worship & Music Ministries

Worship & Music Team

This team works with the pastor and music director in the planning, supervision, and support of the congregation’s worship. They plan for each liturgical season, helping envision our worship services during Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, among other seasons and holidays.

Altar Guild

This team helps prepare our sanctuary for worship each week. They set up and clean up our supplies for Holy Communion, as well as arrange the paraments and banners for each season.

Worship Stewards

Serving as a worship steward on Sunday morning is a great way to enhance your worship experience and feel the power of the Holy Spirit within you. The role of worship stewards is vital to the flow of our worship and is not difficult to learn. Positions include ushers, communion assistants, assisting minister, acolyte, and crucifer. Children and youth are especially invited to serve in our acolyte and crucifer positions.

Voice Choir

Open to all adults and youth of any age who love to sing, the voice choir performs during worship twice a month and sings a variety of songs, from traditional hymns to African American spirituals and global music in foreign languages. The voice choir also participates in our large Christmas and Easter celebrations. Soloists, ensembles, and smaller groups also contribute to our worship, especially in the summer. Choir meets on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.

Bell Choir

Open to adults and youth of any age and musical ability, the bell choir plays English handbells and offers a musical arrangement one Sunday a month during worship. The bell choir also participates in our large Christmas and Easter celebrations. Members do not need to be able to read music, and each person plays only two to three bells at a time. The Bell Choir meets on Tuesdays at 7:15 p.m.

Instrumentalists

If you play an instrument, there are many ways you can share your gift with the congregation. We welcome anyone who would like to play a solo or help provide additional accompaniment for our hymns or other music.

Discipleship Ministries

Outreach

This team provides the congregation with ways to live the ELCA slogan: “God’s work. Our hands.” This is accomplished through various community projects, such as participation at the Chesterfield Food Bank, preparing lunches for Richmond Friends of the Homeless, and making donations to needy families during Thanksgiving (enCircle) and Christmas (CCHASM).

Stewardship

This team encourages members to support the ministries of the congregation, the Virginia Synod, and the churchwide ELCA with their monetary donations. This team also gathers information regarding the God-given talents we have been blessed with and calls us to use these talents in service as thanks to our God. Click here to fill out our Time & Talent Form.

Connections

The Connections Team works to enhance the welcome that visitors feel when they worship with us, ensure new members are aware of the wide array of volunteer opportunities we have here, and embrace those in our community who are struggling, lonely, recovering from illness or injury, or just need contact with love through a personal note or phone call.

Children & Youth Ministries

Family Faith & Fellowship

Our reimagining of Sunday School, begun during the pandemic, is for all families with children (preschool through 5th grade). We gather once a month after worship during the school year. It is an opportunity for families to experience worship, fellowship, discipleship, and community together.

Vacation Bible School

VBS is hosted every summer for children age 3 through 5th grade. Come for evenings full of Bible stories, songs, and crafts that play around a Biblical character or theme.

Youth Group

Our youth ministry meets throughout the year, often in partnership with other local Lutheran churches, allowing students (middle through high school) to grow in their faith by understanding theology, worshiping, and serving their community. Some things that students can look forward to are the ELCA Youth Gathering, VA Synod gatherings, and fun fellowship events.

Social Ministries

Fellowship

Our members value a close atmosphere of caring at LCOS, and the Fellowship Team plans and carries out events throughout the year in order to foster that caring atmosphere while strengthening the bonds of fellowship within the congregation. They have hosted events like Oktoberfest, Ladies Brunch & Ornament Exchange, Fabulous 50’s Night, as well as trips to local Richmond sites.

Kingdom Builders

This group normally meets on the third Saturday of each month for breakfast at a local restaurant. It is open to all LCOS men, both new and longtime members, who are looking to connect with the church and build friendships with each other.

Esther Circle

This group normally meets on the third Saturday of each month for breakfast at a local restaurant. Topics derived from VSWO and WELCA publications concerning women, faith, and current events are studied and discussed. This group also coordinates projects within and outside of the congregation, such as making Christmas ornaments for children and organizing a dessert buffet at a local elementary school for Teacher Appreciation Week.

Other Ministries

Church Council

The Church Council oversees the life and activities of this congregation, in particular ensuring that its worship life is done in accordance with the Word of God and the faith and practice of the ELCA. The Council is also responsible for the financial and property matters of this congregation. Serving on Council is usually for a three-year term.

Property

This team arranges for the proper maintenance, renovation, and replacement of all physical congregational property. They also organize workdays throughout the year (members of all ages are encouraged to participate!) and work with Council to plan for major property improvements.

Ties That Bind

LCOS members come together throughout the year to cut, sew, stuff, and tie quilts. All finished quilts are blessed during worship once a year and then donated to Lutheran World Relief or local charities in the Richmond area.

Prayer Shawls

LCOS members faithfully knit or crochet shawls throughout the year. These shawls are blessed during worship a couple times a year and are available to give to someone in need of a little extra love, peace of mind, and comfort.

Craft Fair

Held on a Saturday in late October or early November, handiwork, artwork, baked goods, and more are made by LCOS members and sold to the local community. We have raised nearly $118,700 since 1999! Proceeds have been distributed to several organizations in Virginia and around the world, including Lutheran Disaster Response, ELCA World Hunger, Heifer International, CCHASM, and Richmond Friends of the Homeless.

Memorials

This team works with memorial gifts (donations made in memory of a member who has died). They write thank-you notes to donors and decide on the distribution of the monetary gifts. They are also responsible for approving all special memorial gifts that are nonmonetary in nature.

The Giving Tree Preschool

LCOS’ preschool has been educating children since 1992. Rooted in God’s love, the preschool provides an educational foundation by helping children navigate learning through play and nurturing their natural joy in a safe and loving environment. They have classes for two-, three-, and four-year-olds, plus a Pre-K program. Learn more at www.givingtreepreschool.org.