serving opportunities

Be part of the movement to pursue God’s hope for every life. Serving others requires no particular belief system—just a willingness to dedicate your time, abilities, and passions to helping people. You can make a difference.

Church of the Saviour is in relationship with a number of local and global ministries and organizations through which you may serve. Browse the selections below to get started. Weekly, monthly, seasonal, one-offs

COTS Youth

COTS Jr Youth (grades 6-8) and COTS Sr Youth (grades 9-12) are our ministries with middle school and high school students. It’s all about young people coming together to connect life and faith.

Serving roles include: Adult Youth Leader (Sunday mornings and youth group events), Explore (Confirmation) Mentor, Youth Mission Trip Adult, Calendar Cognescente, Serving Others Specialist

Cots Kids

The Children’s Ministry is with kids from birth through grade 5.  

The Sunday Morning Experience

Greeters, Communion Servers, Coffee Hour Hosts, Ushers

COTS Community Engagement Team

The people who help us with community events such as Music Hop, SummerFest, Easter Egg Hunt, Heights Halloween Festival, Advent Festival, Tiger 5K, etc. Opportunities typically include greeting, way finding, crafts support, food prep/serving, space set-up/tear-down.

Music Ministry

Rich music expression is a core part of Church of the Saviour’s identity. We have roles for singers, musicians, music educators, publicists, administrators and librarians. 

COTS Communications team

web management, design projects, publications, calendars, etc. 

Youth Basketball

Church of the Saviour hosts a youth basketball league for kids in Kindergarten through Grade 4, and we need a ton of volunteers to make this ministry fun and rewarding for families. Registrations begin in September, evaluations take place in November, and game days run from early January to mid-March. Roles include admins, publicists, schedulers, greeters, coaches, scorekeepers, sound technicians, prayer partners, concessions staff, and more.

Fairfax Elementary School

“Grands Day” for now.

greater cleveland habitat for humanity

Habitat for Humanity works to end substandard housing by renovating simple, decent affordable houses for lower-income families. Since 1987, Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity has built/rehabbed just over 200 homes using volunteer labor. This work has been accomplished using a variety of skill levels. Contact: Bob Layton, (216) 297-1812, email r_w_layton@yahoo.com

Meeting Basic Needs

text TBD

hunger ministries

Food donations from COTS go to two food distribution sites of the Hunger Network of Cleveland, Heights Emergency Food Center at Disciples Church on Mayfield Rd in Cleveland Heights and Cory United Methodist Hunger Center. Non-perishable donations are collected on a continuous basis with items left in the Tower Entrance plus special donation events, e.g. ‘Souper Bowl Sunday’. Cory UM provides emergency food assistance in the Glenville area; their center can also use cloth grocery bags and light rolling carts.

international student ministry: inter-varsity christian fellowship

The world’s future leaders are on campuses in Cleveland right now! The International Student Ministry with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is a strategic opportunity to share Christ’s love through meeting the practical and spiritual needs of these international students in the Greater Cleveland area. You can be a world missionary (without language study, visa or travel) by sharing a holiday meal, picking someone up at the airport, hosting a new student for 3 days, donating unused furniture or being a friendship partner; For further info, contact Bok or Heidi Chew at (216) 371-3114 or bokchew@yahoo.com.

kairos prison ministry

“Kairos” is a Greek word, meaning “God’s special time”. The mission of Kairos is to build Christian community within the prison. To introduce inmates into that community, Kairos holds two long-weekend events per year, per prison. Trained volunteers show, live, and teach the transforming love of Jesus Christ over the course of the weekend, in addition to on-going programs to support the Kairos community “inside”. Church of the Saviour supports Kairos in the form of volunteers, home-baked cookies, posters, placemats, and, of course, prayer. Contact: Pete Evangelista, (216) 647-4774

Saviour's echo (East cleveland hospitality outreach)

The ECHO group represents COTS at the St. Philomena Food and Clothing Pantry in East Cleveland. Along with volunteers from other churches and organizations we pack and distribute groceries, sort and distribute clothing, and/or provide hospitality assistance, registration and check-in for the clients. The pantry, in its new home at 14305 Shaw Avenue is open every Saturday from 10-12: ECHO service dates are periodic based on need and availability. Contact: Tom Wadsworth, (216) 321-3890, email tewadsworth@gmail.com

scranton rd. ministries c.d.c.

Scranton Rd. Ministries C.D.C. actively contributes to the spiritual, economic and physical restoration of Cleveland. Over the past 14 years, Scranton Rd. Ministries has provided over 12,570 traditionally under-served Cleveland youth and adults with a comprehensive portfolio of Biblically-based services, including workforce development, educational enrichment, legal services, medical assistance, leadership development and computer training. Our Vision is to revitalize our community, one life at a time; as lives are transformed by the Gospel of Christ and restored to His noble purpose. Contact: Tom Wadsworth, (216) 321-3890, email tewadsworth@gmail.com

Chat Pals – Share Friendship and Compassion

Chat Pals, a telephone and/or a video-conference program that offers a way for COTS members to share friendship and compassion with those in need in our community and for members who could benefit from a friendly voice. Contact: Kristen Riley at Greater Cleveland Volunteers, (216)391-9500 x2124 or kriley@greaterclevelandvolunteers.org

Teen Spiritual Summer Retreat

Scholarships for teens at the  P22 Youth Foundation annual Teen Spiritual Summer Retreat. Volunteer opportunities for church members. Contact: Joe Walker, (216)235-9868