The Lay Readers at St. Dunstan's are licensed non-professional ministers who have grown both in numbers and in service over the past quarter-century. Originally, one lay reader served as lector, intercessor, and chalice bearer at each ten o'clock service. Now, one lay reader regularly assists Father Lantz at the 8:30 service, and two (a lector and an intercessor) serve at ten o'clock.

Morning Prayer services have been provided at Merry Heart Nursing Home by our parish every Sunday over the past three decades. Our first rector greatly expanded the role of lay readers in this parish and diocese by commissioning eight lay readers as Eucharistic Lay Ministers to empower them to bring our Lord's Holy Meal from St. Dunstan's altar to Merry Heart's patients on the first Sunday of the month, and to shut-in and hospitalized members of the congregation whenever requested. Rev. Nancy Talmage liked to remind the lay readers of St. Dunstan's that "Lay readers are 'lay leaders'"-- not only here to lead the Liturgy of the Word and the Prayers of the People, but also to lead in service -- to God, to the Rector, to the parish family, and to the community. Father Lantz reminds us that, "prayerfully and carefully," any baptized Christian is invited to read the Word at services, and all confirmed Episcopalians are welcome to become licensed and join this group's dedicated service to the worship life of St. Dunstan's.

Sandy Zulauf,
St. Dunstan's Lay Reader Leader