Servers/Crucifers
Torchbearers
Acolyte Parent
Additional Notes
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Welcome to this important ministry! We appreciate your
commitment to God, Epiphany, and each other. As we go along together, please
share your questions and your suggestions for making our acolyte program more
meaningful and open to all.
Your training
Acolyte training sessions
will be held each September/October and new and returning acolytes are expected
to attend these sessions. In addition to the September training, we will have
periodic sessions throughout the year so you can review the service and hear
updates about any changes. As you become more experienced, we will ask you to
take leadership in helping newcomers learn at these sessions.
Don’t forget: if you need
any extra coaching on Sunday morning, the Server or Acolyte Parent will be happy
to walk you through the steps.
Your installation
Soon after you become an
acolyte, we will schedule your installation by the clergy at a 10:00 service.
Each year in the fall, all acolytes—new and returning—will have their
ministry honored in this way. This will give the congregation a chance to
recognize and bless your commitment. During the installation, you will be issued
your own cross, which is yours to keep as long as you remain an acolyte at
Epiphany. Wear it proudly with your vestments! Places will be designated in the
acolyte room for the storage of your crosses.
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The acolyte team
We will have a 5-member
acolyte team at each 10:00 Sunday service:
·
One Server/ One Crucifer*:
senior member of the acolyte team,
provides leadership for the team; assists in setting and clearing the altar;
oversees all acolyte tasks during the service; carries cross in the
processional, gospel procession, and recessional.
·Two Torchbearers:
light and put out altar candles; carry torches in the processional, Gospel
procession, and recessional; collect plates at the offertory; accept bread, wine
and water from the oblationers (ushers).
·One Acolyte Parent:
Helps with the vesting; makes sure all scheduled acolytes are present; arranges
last minute substitutions as needed; answers questions about the service and
cues..
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Please
arrive each Sunday by 9:45 a.m.
Even if you are very
experienced, there may be service changes we need to discuss. It is also
important to have the full team assembled 15 minutes in advance of the service.
The service begins at 10:00am sharp—when the organist begins the prelude.
Your schedule
Every 4
months, new schedules will be developed and will be placed in the back of the
church for you to pick up. (There is one schedule for each family.)
After a few days, if the schedule is not picked up, Epiphany’s Parish
Administrator will mail the schedule to your family at your home. Please note
your acolyte assignments for the upcoming months on your own and your family
calendars; we won’t be calling with reminders! (The admin does send out a reminder
email a few days before the service, but that is often too late to find
substitutes—so it is important that you and your family stay on top of the
schedule and plan ahead for substitutions.) Please remember that this is a
year-round ministry and we will need your help during the summer.
If you have preferences
about when you would like to be scheduled—or know of Sundays when you will not
be available to serve—please call or email Rebecca or John. We will do
everything we can to accommodate your limits. It is more important to us that
you have a chance to serve than how frequently you serve.
Substitutes
If you find you cannot
serve on one of your scheduled dates, please find a replacement or arrange a
trade as soon as possible and notify the Student Acolyte Coordinators of the assignment change. This
is the acolyte’s responsibility. Some last minute cancellations are
unavoidable, but every attempt should be made to minimize them. The Sunday
service bulletin is finalized on the Tuesday before the service. Notify well in advance to ensure that acolyte names are all
correctly represented in the service bulletin.
If you are forced to
cancel or arrange a substitute after the reminder email has gone out
(the Tuesday before the service), you must contact the Acolyte Parent scheduled for that service
so he/she is aware of the last minute change and does not arrive at the service
unprepared.
If you encounter any problems and need assistance, please contact one of the
Adult Acolyte Coordinators.
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Our expectations
We expect you to help
each other, keep a flexible attitude about changes, show responsibility about
your schedule and commitment, and serve with attention and care. We also look to
you to help train new acolytes and make them feel welcome and happy in our
program. If you have a friend who would be a good acolyte, please encourage her
or him to join us!
Feel free to ask
questions at the altar, and rely on each other and the clergy for guidance.
We’re a team. Just remember that you are very visible as a member of the altar
party. No one will really know if you make a mistake in your service—we do it
all the time!—but they will know if you look as though you don’t care about
what’s going on in your role as a worship leader.
Most important, we hope
you will enjoy serving as an acolyte as a spiritual experience. You are acting
out your love of Christ by leading God’s people and serving God right at His
table.
Our commitment to you
We will do everything
we can to help you, listen to you, and grow with you in this service. Please
share this handbook with your parents, too, so they can be a part of our team.
On behalf of the entire congregation, thank you.
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May the Holy
Spirit, who has begun a good work in you, direct and uphold you in the service
of Christ and his kingdom. Amen. |
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(Please note that in the past this role has been combined
and, beginning in the fall of 2006, we are going to pilot this by separating the
roles. However, in the event that there is only one Server/Crucifer the roles
can be combined as one for that service. The following description identifies
the roles as one and also denotes the role of the crucifer when there is both a
server and a crucifer.)
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9:45 |
·
Arrive and vest
·
Find
out from Acolyte Parent and Deacon if there are any service changes
·
Ask questions!
·
Help
other acolytes with any questions they may have about their assignments |
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9:55 |
·
Gather the acolyte team to meet with
rest of altar party in front of the church
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Processional:
Singing starts |
·
Immediately carry cross up aisle and stairs
·
Leave
cross in stand, making sure it is straight and facing out towards
congregation.
·
Sit
on lectern side (same side as the organ) |
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Start of Second
Reading |
·
Check
hymnal for number of verses in Sequence Hymn |
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End of Second
Reading |
·
Go to
sacristy to light torches for Torchbearers
·
Pick
up cross from stand
·
Get
ready to process on signal from Priest or Deacon |
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Sequence Hymn |
·
When
Deacon/Priest turns from the altar with Gospel book in hand, Crucifer
and Torchbearers turn toward the congregation as a unit.
·
Proceed down steps, in front of Torchbearers, to the space behind the
Third pew. (Leave space for the Torchbearers, who will stand with
their backs against the side of the third pews.)
·
Drop
to the side and align with the torch on the lectern/organ side. |
End of Gospel
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·
Deacon steps aside to allow Crucifer (followed by Torchbearers) up
stairs, turn right outside of the railing.
·
Place
cross in holder, making sure it is straight and facing the congregation.
·
Return to lectern side seat. |
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After Birthdays/
Anniversaries
SERVER |
·
As soon as the Deacon (or Assisting Priest) is behind the altar, bring
the principal chalice and paten (the one with the corporal—table
cloth—and/or pall—the square of cardboard with white linen on it-- on
top) to the Deacon. The corporal may already be on the altar. Return
to place until Celebrant is ready to take his/her place.
·
Prepare lavabo bowl and water
·
Take towel on lavabo bowl and place over left arm—cross on the outside
·
Take lavabo bowl in left hand
·
Open water cruet and hold by handle in right hand
·
Go to side of altar
·
When Celebrant stretches hands over lavabo bowl, pour a bit of water
over his/her fingers
·
Turn slightly right to offer towel
·
Celebrant will use towel and return to your left arm
·
Return lavabo bowl and water to credence table
·
Return to place
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Server/Crucifer (cont’d)
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During
Eucharist
SERVER |
·
Stand in place during Eucharistic prayers
·
As the Celebrant offers “Gifts of God for the People of God”, bring the
two other chalices and patens from the credence table. Place these
directly on the altar by going around the Lay Eucharistic Ministers and
Assisting Priest to the front of the altar.
·
Oversee closing of altar rail gate
·
Take position on stairs and supervise acolyte team in
taking correct positions: Torchbearers on archway stairs (making
sure to leave room for people to pass easily), Crucifer and Server on
central stairs (ready to assist people up the stairs or to gesture for
them to come to the altar)
·
After congregation has taken communion, follow the ushers up the center
stairs to the altar rail and kneel for communion
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After
Eucharist |
·
Oversee opening of altar rail gate
·
Assist the deacon/assisting priest in clearing altar and credence table.
·
Priest, Deacon and LEMs will take their own vessels to sacristy; assist
as needed. Vessels go on tray to left of sink.
·
Server folds tablecloth (corporal) inward, so that any crumbs from the
bread are caught, and takes to the sacristy
·
Cover tray and vessels (anything with blessed break or wine) with the
corporal or purificator (napkin)
·
Stay
in place during sending out prayer for LEMs, post communion prayer,
final blessing and final hymn which will be sung in place |
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During Final Hymn:
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Help
the torch bearers light the torches and retrieve the cross.
·
Line
up with a torch bearer on either side in front of the altar, facing the
left side of the church.
·
At
the sign from the deacon, Crucifer and Torchbearers turn toward the
congregation as a unit
·
Lead
Torchbearers down the stairs and down the aisle to recessional music at
·
the
signal from the Deacon.
·
If
the choir will be going down the side aisle, please wait at the first
pew for the altar party to catch up. If the choir will be processing
down the center aisle, lead everyone directly down the aisle without
pause. Choir master or deacon will let you know which is going to
happen. Note: If the Paschal Candle is lit, the Server returns after
the congregation has left the church and extinguishes the candle |
Thank you for your ministry!
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9:45 |
·
Arrive and vest
·
Find
out from Acolyte Parent if there are any service changes
·
Ask
questions! |
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9:50 |
Both Torchbearers:
·
Go
down side aisle, enter the sacristy
·
Get
tapers and light them; enter altar area from lectern side
·
Go to
front of altar and reverence the altar (bow) together
·
Light
candelabra candles, starting at the inside and working out. Work in
unison with the other Torchbearer
·
After
the candelabra is lit, light the altar candle on each side. Work in
unison.
·
Reverence the altar (bow) together
·
Turn
right and exit to the sacristy
·
Replace taper in stand
·
Get
torches and go to the front of the church |
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9:55 |
·
Gather with rest of altar party in front of the church
·
Proceed to back of church (the narthex) with the Crucifer
·
Light
torches using matches provided in the narthex |
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Processional:
Singing starts |
·
Walk
immediately behind cross, side-by-side, down aisle
·
Follow cross up stairs, stop outside railing
·
When
cross turns, both turn right and go into sacristy
·
Extinguish torches and place in stands
·
Sit
together on pulpit side |
Start of Second Reading
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·
Check
hymnal for number of verses in Sequence Hymn |
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End of Second
Reading |
·
Go
into sacristy, light torches and assume places on either side of
Crucifer |
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Torchbearers (cont’d)
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Sequence Hymn:
Last verse starts |
·
Line
up on either side of the Crucifer in front of the altar, facing the left
side of the church. When Deacon/Priest turns from the altar with Gospel
book in hand, Crucifer and Torchbearers turn toward the congregation as
a unit
·
Proceed down steps and up aisle to THIRD pew. Stand with backs
toward the third pews; turn and face each other on each side of the
Gospel book |
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End of Gospel |
·
Turn
in place and wait for Crucifer, follow him/her up the stairs
·
Turn
right in front of the railing and go into the sacristy
·
Blow
out torches, replace in stand
·
Return to seats on pulpit side |
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After Birthdays /
Anniversaries |
·
At
the start of Offertory Hymn, one Torchbearer takes the large plate (on
the table on the pulpit side on the wall) and moves to front of altar,
facing congregation. Receive offering plates from usher—holding the
large plate low enough so that offering plates can be layered on top.
Offering plates are handed to the Deacon, who will then turn to the
Celebrant for the blessing of the gifts
·
Both
Torchbearers move in front of the altar and face congregation:
·
First:
Torchbearer on left accepts bread from oblationer and gives to
Deacon/Priest
·
Second:
Torchbearer on right accepts wine (first) and water (second) cruets from
the other oblationer. Cruets are taken by the body of the vessel and
presented to the Deacon/Priest so that he/she can easily grasp the
cruets by the handles. Gifts should be given to the Deacon in the order
received: first, bread; next, wine; finally, water.
·
Reverence the altar (bow) together; return to seats on pulpit side |
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Torchbearers (cont’d)
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During the
Eucharist |
·
Stand in place during Eucharistic prayers
·
Close altar rail gate
·
Take position on archway stairs
·
After
congregation has taken communion, follow the ushers up the center stairs
to the altar rail and kneel for communion with the rest of the acolyte
team |
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After the Eucharist |
·
Open
altar rail gate
·
Torchbearers go to Sacristy to get candle snuffers (remaining very quiet
during sending out prayer for LEMs, post-communion prayer and blessing) |
Final Hymn and
Recessional |
·
Do
not move during the final blessing. During final hymn, reverence the
altar (bow) together
·
Reverence the altar (bow) together
·
Go
into the sacristy and retrieve torches
·
Assume places on either side of Crucifer. At the deacon’s signal, line
up on either side of the Crucifer in front of the altar, facing the left
side of the church.
·
At
the sign from the deacon, the crucifer and Torchbearers turn toward the
congregation as a unit
·
Follow Crucifer down stairs, down aisle, and to the back of the church.
·
Blow
out torches and immediately go down side aisle to sacristy. Put torches
in stand in sacristy.
·
After
the hymn is over, extinguish candles in the reverse order from the way
they were lighted. Extinguish altar candles first, working in unison.
Then extinguish the candelabra candles, working from the outside towards
the center, working in unison.
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Before service |
·
Familiarize yourself with the acolyte assignments for
this service. Check the email that the admin sends out mid-week before the
service. This will reflect any substitutions she is aware of. You
should be contacted directly by the acolyte or one of the student
coordinators if there are additional substitutions |
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9:45 |
·
Consult with clergy about service changes
·
Help
acolytes vest—make sure robes are not too long or too short
·
Answer questions. If acolytes need help, make cue notes on service
bulletins for them
·
Recruit substitute acolytes or adjust roles as necessary in the event of
last-minute changes
·
Help
with line-up |
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After service |
·
Answer any questions
·
Offer
gentle coaching
·
Thank acolytes!
·
Enjoy
coffee hour |
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Easter and Baptisms: Paschal Candle
·
The Torchbearer should light the
Paschal Candle before all other candles. (The Server or Crucifer should oversee
and assist.)
·
The Server extinguishes the
Paschal Candle after all other candles are extinguished and everyone has left
the church.
Special Services
If you are scheduled for
a special service, there may be a rehearsal the day before or a half-hour
earlier on the day of the service. If a rehearsal is scheduled, please show up
and be on time. Your role on the worship team is particularly visible and
important on these special days. Special service days include:
St. Francis Day (October)
All Saints Day (November)
Christmas Eve/Day (December 24-25)
Epiphany Sunday (January)
Lent I
Holy Week Services
Easter
Pentecost
On occasion a baptism may
be scheduled on a Sunday other than one listed above. We will let you know, but
on baptism Sundays arrive early (9:30am) for special instructions. This is
particularly important for the Crucifer and Server.
Dress Code
Acolytes should arrive
neat and clean. No “flip-flop” sandals are permitted for members of the altar
party. Dark shoes are preferred. Remember, no gum chewing is permitted.
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