Opportunities to serve and be involved in temple activities are available. There are several volunteer committees that maintain the buildings and manage the activities at Fullerton Temple.
Any service to the temple is appreciated and welcomed. Volunteer forms are available on the free literature table in the foyer and on the Welcome Table in front of the temple after Sunday services, as well as on our temple website. Feel free to take a volunteer form and fill it out and place it in the volunteer form box on the table in the foyer. There is also a volunteer application form that can be filled out and submitted online. You will be contacted by the Volunteer Coordinator within a week. Or you may wish to speak with one of the ministers or attend a General Temple Meeting to find out more about service opportunities.
Listed below is an outline of the various committees:
Service Committee
The Service Committee oversees the smooth running of all temple services. Responsibilities include the monthly calendar, announcements at services, overseeing the free literature, Commemoration Services setup and cleanup.
Usher Committee
The Usher Committee involves coordinating the ushering for all temple activities. Responsibilities include: scheduling of ushers, Sunday service announcement readers, meditation leaders, and Prayer Circle leaders, and submitting prayer requests to the Mother Center weekly.
Some positions on this committee require that devotees be Kriyabans (have received Kriya Yoga initiation).
Hostesses / Welcome Committee
The Hostesses / Welcome Committee schedules and provides the hostesses to greet people and answer general questions at the Welcome Table set up in front of the temple on Sundays. After the Sunday morning Lecture Service, a Welcome Cart of cookies and refreshments is also provided in the front courtyard of the temple.
Flower Committee
The Flower Committee selects all the flowers and provides flower arrangements for the weekly Sunday and Thursday services and all seasonal and special events where flowers are needed. The coordinator works with volunteers to assist them in making flower arrangements until they are comfortable on their own.
Once a year, usually in February, there is a garland making and flower arranging workshop that is open to all who would like to learn these skills.
Garland Committee
The Garland Committee makes all the beautiful garlands that are used for the commemorative services in the temple and the Sunday School. The coordinator sets up a schedule of volunteers at the beginning of each year and oversees the volunteers who create the garlands.
Maintenance Committee
The Maintenance Committee provides regular general care of the temple building and property to make certain it is in good repair. The responsibilities include general maintenance of electric, heat, air conditioning, plumbing and sound system and yearly inspections.
Most of the maintenance work at the temple is done on Service Days and on an as-needed basis. Specific skills are not required but welcomed if available.
Housekeeping Committee
The Housekeeping Committee is responsible for cleaning all areas of the temple on a weekly basis. This involves such activities as vacuuming, dusting, polishing brass, and cleaning windows, and care of cleaning supplies and restocking restroom supplies. There are cleaning crews which serve on a rotating basis for a couple hours, usually on a Saturday morning approximately every seven weeks.
Garden Committee
The Garden Committee maintains attractive landscape around the temple by performing weekly grounds-keeping tasks, planning for seasonal landscape, scheduling fertilizing and pruning, and insuring maintenance and storage of garden equipment.
Garden crews of several members complete the weekly gardening and grounds keeping tasks on a rotating basis of approximately every eight to nine weeks, serving for a couple hours on a Saturday morning. Specialized skill is not needed.
Special Events Committee
The Special Events Committee coordinates all the social activities and fundraisers throughout the calendar year. Responsibilities include planning the event, setup and cleanup, decorations and table settings, food preparation and distribution, and entertainment.
All are welcome to serve on the Special Events Committee, and no special skills are needed. It is possible to sign up to serve when available, and it is not required to serve on all the events during the year to be on this committee.
Sunday School Committee
The Sunday School Committee is made up of teachers who are Kriyabans and assistant teachers who must be SRF Lessons students. Both teachers and assistants have been approved by the Mother Center in Los Angeles. The committee strives to implement a creative program for the children that is both fun and educational, based on the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda. Teachers, assistants and Sunday School Committee members attend special teacher seminars that are held twice a year at temples in the Southern California area and include Sunday School Committee members from all SRF temples.
The Sunday School celebrates the same commemorative services that are held in the temple and also has various special events throughout the year including a One Day Youth Retreat, Easter Egg Hunt, and special Christmas Party.
Teen and Young Adult Groups
Fullerton Temple has a Teen Group for teens up to age 17, and there is also a Young Adult Group for ages 18 to 39. Activities and meetings for the groups can be found on the Fullerton Temple Calendars.
Bookroom Committee
The Bookroom Committee is responsible for operating and maintaining the Fullerton Temple Bookroom which displays and makes available to the public the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda that are published and distributed by Self-Realization Fellowship.
The Bookroom Committee activities include:
- Selling of all items available for sale
- Stocking and pricing items for sale
- Cleaning and general upkeep of the Bookroom
Some positions on the Bookroom Committee require that devotees be Kriyabans (have received Kriya Yoga initiation).
Outreach Committee
The Outreach Committee is made up of Kriyabans who assist the minister by giving personal attention to those in the congregation who may be ill, infirm, or in mourning, and they offer physical, mental and spiritual support.
The Outreach Committee also participates in meeting some humanitarian needs in the local community. To participate in this part of their activity, members do not need to be Kriyabans.
Communication Committee
The Communication Committee maintains the Fullerton Temple Website, Facebook page, and online eNewsletter.
Service Day Committee
The Service Day Committee oversees the monthly day of fellowship and volunteer projects to help keep our Temple beautiful.
The Photo Committee
The Photo Committee consists of volunteers who photograph Fullerton Temple events for the Temple Photo Archive and for limited use on our website and Facebook page.
The Kirtan Group
The Kirtan Group is a group of volunteer musicians who play the chants and bhajans at our meditations and special commemorative services.
The Knitting Group
The Knitting Group is a group of volunteers who knit and crochet prayer shawls, blankets and other knitted items for temple members who are ill. The Knitting Group serves as a special part of the Outreach Group that helps those in need.
