A CUSTOMARY FOR INTERCESSORS, LECTORS …stdavidchurch.org/main/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/...A CUSTOMARY FOR INTERCESSORS, LECTORS AND EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS February 1, 2007 St. David's

A CUSTOMARY FOR INTERCESSORS, LECTORS AND EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

February 1, 2007

St. David's Episcopal Church

1015 Old Roswell Road Roswell, Georgia

September 7, 2017

Copyright 2009-2017, St. David’s Episcopal Church, Roswell, Georgia

Table of Contents i

Table of Contents

GENERAL INFORMATION.......................................................................................................1

THE LAITY AS MINISTERS.................................................................................................................1 CANON LAW .....................................................................................................................................1 POLICY OF THE DIOCESE OF ATLANTA ..............................................................................................2 LAY MINISTERS AT ST. DAVID ’S.......................................................................................................2

Holy Eucharist .............................................................................................................................3 The Lector .............................................................................................................................................................................. 3 The Intercessor ....................................................................................................................................................................... 3 The Chalice Bearer................................................................................................................................................................. 3

Morning Prayer ...........................................................................................................................3 Lent and Holy Week .....................................................................................................................4 Christmas .....................................................................................................................................4 Funerals .......................................................................................................................................4

SCHEDULES.......................................................................................................................................4 Distribution of the Schedule.........................................................................................................5 Bulletin Board..............................................................................................................................5 Substitutes ....................................................................................................................................5

DUTIES OF THE LECTOR.........................................................................................................7

ARRIVAL ...........................................................................................................................................7 WHERE TO SIT...................................................................................................................................7 WALKING TO THE LECTERN...............................................................................................................7 SPEAKING TECHNIQUES....................................................................................................................7

Practice ........................................................................................................................................8 Rate ..............................................................................................................................................8 Loudness ......................................................................................................................................8 Pitch .............................................................................................................................................9 Diction..........................................................................................................................................9

DETERMINING THE LESSONS.............................................................................................................9 INTRODUCING THE LESSONS............................................................................................................10 INTRODUCING THE PSALM ...............................................................................................................10 RETURNING TO YOUR PEW..............................................................................................................11

DUTIES OF THE INTERCESSOR...........................................................................................13

ARRIVAL .........................................................................................................................................13 WHERE TO SIT.................................................................................................................................13 WALKING TO THE CHANCEL STEPS.................................................................................................13 SPEAKING TECHNIQUES..................................................................................................................14 INTRODUCING THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE...................................................................................14 READING THE PRAYERS ..................................................................................................................15

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Addition of Clergy Names..........................................................................................................15 Addition of Names of Leaders....................................................................................................15 Other Prayers.............................................................................................................................15 The Confession, Absolution, and the Peace...............................................................................16

DUTIES OF THE CHALICE BEARER ...................................................................................17

ARRIVAL AND VESTING...................................................................................................................17 USE OF HYMNALS ...........................................................................................................................17 INTERACTION WITH THE ACOLYTES.................................................................................................17 THE ENTRANCE PROCESSION..........................................................................................................18

Order..........................................................................................................................................18 Entrance to the Sanctuary..........................................................................................................18

SEATING..........................................................................................................................................18 KNEELING .......................................................................................................................................19 USE OF THE PRAYER BOOK..............................................................................................................19 DECORUM.......................................................................................................................................19 ASSISTING AT THE OFFERTORY.......................................................................................................19 ADMINISTRATION OF THE CHALICE .................................................................................................20

Receiving Your Communion ......................................................................................................20 Handling the Chalice .................................................................................................................20 Serving the Chalice to the Acolytes ...........................................................................................21 What Portion of the Rail to Cover .............................................................................................21 Use of the Purificator.................................................................................................................21 Words to Use in Administration of the Chalice .........................................................................22 Your Facial Expression .............................................................................................................22 Different Manners of Receiving Communion ............................................................................22

The Hands-off Type ............................................................................................................................................................. 22 The Tipper............................................................................................................................................................................ 23 The Grasper.......................................................................................................................................................................... 23 The Dunker .......................................................................................................................................................................... 23 Children ............................................................................................................................................................................... 23

Accidents ....................................................................................................................................24 Refilling the Chalice ..................................................................................................................24 Administration of Communion to Disabled in the Congregation ..............................................25 Administration of Communion to the Ushers ............................................................................25 Cleaning and Taking Articles to the Sacristy ............................................................................25

THE PROCESSION IN RETIREMENT...................................................................................................26 Order..........................................................................................................................................26 Hymnals .....................................................................................................................................26 Dismissal....................................................................................................................................26 Vestments and General Appearance ..........................................................................................26

APPENDIX A. CANON REGARDING LAY MINISTRIES ........ .........................................27

APPENDIX B. ANALYSIS OF VOICE AND DICTION ......... ..............................................31

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APPENDIX C. A READING FROM ST. PAUL’S SECOND LETTE R TO THE CORINTHIANS...........................................................................................................................33

APPENDIX D. SURPLICE AND CASSOCK VESTMENT ORDERING ...........................35

APPENDIX E. ROSTER OF LAY MINISTERS ....................................................................37

General Information 1

General Information

The Laity as Ministers

In The Episcopal Church Welcomes You, by William and Betty Gray (The Seabury Press, 1979), the chapter on lay ministry begins, “Every Christian is expected to be a missionary.” The ordained clergy provide leadership, but we all participate as ministers in Christ’s Church. In the Cathechism in The Book of Common Prayer, on page 855, this instruction is found:

Q. Who are the ministers of the Church? A. The ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons. Q. What is the ministry of the laity? A. The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ’s work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the

Church.

One form of lay ministry is through participation in the liturgy as lectors, intercessors, and Eucharistic ministers.

Canon Law

The canons of the Episcopal Church, specifically Canon 4 of Title III, provide for the active use of lay persons in the total life of the Church. The text of this canon is found in “Appendix A. Canon Regarding Lay Ministries” on page 27. It lists the lay ministries that require a license from the bishop in charge of a diocese. These include Eucharistic Ministers, who are sometimes referred to informally as “chalice bearers” or LEMs. Lectors and intercessors do not require licensing, but must be approved by the Rector to participate in this ministry. In this document lay liturgical minister is the generic term that will be used to refer to all three ministries.

2 General Information

Policy of the Diocese of Atlanta

The Diocese of Atlanta in previous years implemented the aforementioned canon in the following policy statement.

Lay readers are licensed for a period of three years. Licenses are required only for Eucharistic ministers and those who regularly lead worship services. Lectors and those who read the prayers of the people do not need to be licensed. In order for more people to serve in congregations where there is a surplus of people who want to be lay readers, a system of rotation should be established, e.g., three or six year terms. Lay readers should not be “clericalized” -- no tippets or copes. It is desirable for lectors and leaders of the prayers of the people not to be vested.

While this statement is no longer policy in the Diocese, it is the sentiment in the last sentence (“…not to be vested”) that is the reason why every attempt is made at St. David’s by the parish’s lay ministry coordinator to assure that persons scheduled to serve as Eucharistic ministers at a particular service are not assigned as either lector or intercessor at the same service.

Lay Ministers at St. David’s

There are many types of lay ministries at St. David’s, e.g., Altar Guild members, acolytes, and musicians. This booklet concentrates on only lay participation in the liturgy as lectors, intercessors and Eucharistic ministers. Also, it does not cover these topics in the context of St. David’s Hispanic congregation. St. David’s corps of lay liturgical ministers consists, for the most part, of persons licensed by the Bishop of the Diocese of Atlanta to the position of Eucharistic Minister. Those who have been licensed as a Eucharistic Visitor are led by another member of the parish; consult that leader for information about the ministry of Eucharistic Visitor, a licensed lay minister who takes the consecrated communion elements immediately after the service to those who are hospitalized or otherwise unable to attend church. Several of the lay liturgical ministers function as vergers of our parish, although this is a ministry not covered in the canon laws. They perform many essential duties in support of our Rector at nearly all services at St. David’s. You will see the verger referred to frequently in this booklet, since these persons provide leadership for all of the parish’s lay liturgical ministers. All lay ministers serve at the pleasure of our Rector, but only Eucharistic ministers must be licensed by the Bishop. When the Rector approves a person to serve as a LEM, he will write a letter to the Bishop of Atlanta for a license for that person to serve at St. David’s. All LEMs are expected to purchase a set of vestments (a cassock and a surplice) to wear while they perform this service. The current cost of a set of vestments is approximately $225.


Lay liturgical ministers are normally used during the regular Sunday services. They also are called upon to assist at special services, including the feast days of the church year, as well as at funerals.

Holy Eucharist

It is the policy of the Diocese of Atlanta that Holy Eucharist is to be the principal service each Sunday. The conduct of each Sunday morning service at St. David’s includes the use of up to six lay ministers, who are assigned to these duties: as a lector, an intercessor, and four chalice bearers.

The Lector

The lector reads the Biblical lessons appointed for the particular Sunday. He or she also may lead the congregation in the recitation of the Psalm assigned. This duty requires the services of a person who is both comfortable in reading aloud before a large group, as well as one whose voice will carry well in our large nave. The lector comes forward from the body of the congregation at the time during the service when the lessons are customarily read. For further information, see “Duties of the Lector” on page 7.

The Intercessor

The Prayers of the People are led by another lay minister, who also comes forward from the body of the congregation. This person also needs to be comfortable reading in front of a large group. Detailed information about the intercessor’s part in the service can be found in “Duties of the Intercessor” on page 13.

The Chalice Bearer

Many of the lay liturgical ministers at St. David’s are licensed by the Bishop of the Diocese as Eucharistic ministers, to perform the duty of chalice bearer. At each of the Sunday morning services, four of them assist during the administration of Holy Communion by serving the chalice to the communicants at the altar rail. The persons assigned this duty wear vestments and participate in the processions at the start and end of the service. Further information about this assignment is to be found in “Duties of the Chalice Bearer” on page 17. There is also a separate group of licensed Eucharistic ministers who participate in the weekly Spanish-language service; they are led by parishioners Margie and Bill Sleeper.

Morning Prayer

On rare occasions, all of our parish clergy may be away on a Sunday. When this happens, a supply priest usually will be called in to conduct services. But when there is no supply priest available, the service of Morning Prayer will be used. The verger will normally lead the congregation in this service, and will call upon chosen lay ministers to take part in the reading of the prayers. The service of Morning Prayer may also be used at other times, either with or without Holy Eucharist.

4 General Information

Lent and Holy Week

Stations of the Cross may be observed during Lent. During the week before Easter, there are many services, including early morning and evening services of the Holy Eucharist. These may include a service of Tenebrae, an Agape supper on Maunday Thursday, noon and evening services on Good Friday, and a large Baptism service on Holy Saturday (the Easter Vigil) as part of the week’s services. There is usually a very early Easter morning service, too. The lay ministers will be scheduled for these services, and volunteering to serve at these before the schedule is drawn up is appreciated.

Christmas

There are usually four Christmas Eve services at St. David’s, as well as a service on Christmas Day. If you can volunteer for these, it will be appreciated. If you’re going to be out of town, let the lay minister coordinator know that you will not be available.

Funerals

Of course, funerals are not things that we can schedule in advance. But when they occur, you may be asked if you can assist. If you wish to be considered for this, please let the rector or lay minister coordinator know of your availability for such assignments. At St. David’s, the lay ministers who have declared their availability for this duty comprise the Guild of St. Joseph of Arimathea, which is led by Mike Copps, one of the vergers at St. David’s.

Schedules

Schedules for lay minister assignments are usually distributed every three months: September, December, March, and June. Every effort is made to accommodate special needs of the lay ministers, such as coordinating with other regular duties on Sunday mornings. These include: choir, ushers, and breakfast teams. If you know far enough in advance of vacation plans, you need only communicate them to the lay minister coordinator, who will draw up the schedule with that in mind. Beginning in 2015, a sophisticated software package has been used to manage the creation of schedules. Based on client-server principles, each member of the liturgical lay ministry has access to this software via the Internet. Each minister logs in with a unique personal userid, and manages a unique personal password. While logged in, the minister specifies which services are preferred. As the time draws near for a new 3-month schedule to be created, a reminder is emailed asking each minister to log into the software and specify which dates the minister will be unavailable to serve. On the designated date for schedule creation, the software creates that next 3-month schedule, making sure that no one is scheduled on a date for which the lay minister is unavailable.


Distribution of the Schedule

The schedule is not sent to the ministers. Rather, another email is sent to remind one and all that the schedule has been created. The ministers can log in to examine the schedule. Even better, a Smartphone app can be used at any time to quickly learn when a minister will be serving in the future. And best of all, reminders are emailed to ministers during the week prior to the date they are scheduled to serve.

Bulletin Board

There is a bulletin board in the choir rehearsal room (on the wall above the water fountain) where the Sunday schedule for lay liturgical ministers is posted each week. On the day of serving, ministers are expected to place a check-mark next to their name as a means of alerting the vergers that they are present for service. This is the final clue that the verger and clergy have of who to expect to perform the lay minister duties on Sunday. This list is usually up-to-date as of the day before. Designated ministers are asked to be present in the choir rehearsal room in the minutes before the service, when the members of the altar party for the service gather for a pre-service prayer.

Substitutes

The client-server software (Ministry Scheduler Pro) has a wonderful capability for enabling the call for a substitute when a minister knows ahead of time that something has come up that will prevent the minister from serving. Using the features of the software, the minister asks for a substitute and an email goes out to every other minister who is available to serve as a substitute. The first person who responds is then slotted into the position. Usually (although it’s called a “swap”) it is merely a substitution. But the responding person can instead ask that it be treated as a true swap, and can designate some appropriate future service times to be used for swapping. The person needing a substitute can then respond as appropriate to the request, either accepting the offer, or discarding the offer and hoping for another person to respond. Each minister, by logging into the MSP software, can also access a current list of ministers to obtain a telephone number or email address with which to contact other ministers.

Duties of the Lector 7

Duties of the Lector

Arrival

The person assigned as lector should arrive early enough before the service (15 minutes before is a good rule of thumb) to let the verger and clergy know that he or she is there. This way, there will be no doubt in their minds, and they won’t be needlessly searching frantically for a last-minute substitute. You should use this time to double-check the readings for the day, in case the bulletin indicates there has been a last minute change. If you arrive early enough, you should visit the lectern to assure yourself that the introductions and lessons have been correctly marked in the large-print Bible there. Before the service, attend the pre-service prayer in the choir rehearsal room.

Where to Sit

The lector will sit in the congregation, preferably along the side aisle on the right of the nave. This will facilitate movement to and from the lectern at the proper time.

Walking to the Lectern

Immediately at the end of the collects, the lector rises and walks up the aisle to the lectern. Do this with dispatch so as to not delay the service. (If you’re not prompt about this, it may cause the verger to think that the lector is “missing in action.” A delay also calls attention to yourself, which is not desirable.) If it is your custom to reverence the cross, please do so as you exit the pew. Proceed directly to the lectern. A copy of the text of the lessons are in a 3-ring binder that is placed on top of the large Bible on the lectern. Lectors are encouraged to wear soft soled (quiet) shoes. Be particularly careful as you use the marble steps in the chancel.

Speaking Techniques

There is so much that can be said about this topic that it would fill an entire book. An excellent discussion of this topic can be found in Frederick Houk Borsch's Introducing the Lessons of the Church Year (The Seabury Press, 1978). The challenge of St. David’s is the size of our church. Fortunately, the addition of a sound amplification system has helped to contain this challenge. But there are some mighty important additional areas to be touched on here, nonetheless. A worksheet for analyzing your voice and diction is found in “Appendix B. Analysis of Voice and Diction” on page 31. Then, in “Appendix C. A Reading from St. Paul’s Second Letter to

8 Duties of the Lector

the Corinthians” on page 33, there is a challenging passage that can be used in conjunction with the worksheet to have a few other people grade your speaking voice. Every person accepted into the ministry of lector must first attend an initial training and coaching session with a professional speech coach that the parish will engage for that purpose.

Practice

No conscientious lector would attempt to read the lessons in a worship service without several practice sessions. Although we use the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible, studying the same passage from more than one translation can greatly increase your understanding of it, and make you more comfortable about reading the lesson. As you study the passages you’ll read, underline the words which need to be stressed to bring out the meaning of the lesson. Draw vertical bars between words where dramatic pauses are appropriate. Draw squiggly lines under those passages which need emotional emphasis. The aforementioned speech coach will provide a web-based link where correct pronunciations can be heard. The vergers can assist you with pronunciation, too. But use caution: this is not a dramatic reading. If you introduce drama into the reading, the message you send may be in conflict with the preacher’s subsequent sermon! Read with a more neutral tone, therefore — it is a fine line! Consider coming into the church on a Saturday or some other time it’s not in use to truly appreciate the acoustic challenge facing you.

Rate

Don’t read so fast that your words run together. Don’t read so slowly that the members of the congregation are put off by it. If you’ve read and digested and fully understand the lesson yourself, you are bound to attain that perfect middle ground for speed.

Loudness

Our sound amplification system has helped to remove loudness as a significant challenge. But if the system were to be out of action one Sunday, please be sure to realize the need to increase your volume significantly. Even with a working sound system, it is necessary that you speak as loudly as you would need to in order to be heard by people in the third pew from the front of the nave. It’s highly unlikely, short of screaming, that you can read the lessons too loudly at St. David’s. Remember that your voice must be heard all the way to the last pew, as well as up into the entire choir loft. You may carefully adjust the microphone so that it points at your mouth. In any case, you must supply enough volume so that the sound system has something with which to work. It’s all right to look up as you read. You don’t have to keep your face down towards the printed material. Let your finger keep track of where you are. This is one of the reasons you will have practiced the lessons so much, so that you can be comfortable enough to recite the words while you glance up at the congregation. This helps the voice to project to all the people, no matter where


they’re sitting. It also sends the message that the content of the lesson is familiar to you and that you understand it.

Pitch

Women’s higher pitched voices are at a distinct disadvantage in our church building without the aid of the sound system. They must compensate by using even more volume and paying particular attention to diction. The sound system helps to alleviate this disadvantage, though. Nonetheless, women must supply the needed volume to compensate for their higher-pitched voices. Men with deep voices must also pay special attention to their diction and volume, as they tend to think that a deep voice is all that’s required. It’s not.

Diction

Everyone must pay close attention to using proper diction. Diction has many separate components. Look at the aforementioned worksheet for voice analysis to see how complex a topic it is. If there are words or names in the lesson that you don’t know how to pronounce or define, be sure to look them up and learn their meaning and how to say them correctly. There’s really no excuse for a lector who mispronounces anything in the lessons. But if you encounter a momentary lapse of memory about how to pronounce something, don’t panic. Just say the word or name as best as you can with confidence, and most of the listeners won’t even notice. The goal is to not draw attention to yourself and away from the lesson. If you do make some kind of verbal mistake, please refrain from the urge to blurt out, “Excuse me!” Just pause, collect your thoughts, and begin the sentence again. Be very conscious of word endings. Even if you speak loudly enough, you can easily slur the word endings and thus become unintelligible to your audience. Keep the volume consistent for the whole word, and follow through to the last letter.

Determining the Lessons

A copy of the pages with the lesson texts is stored on the MSP database for each service. For those who want to learn more about the lectionary used by the Episcopal Church, look on page 888 of the Book of Common Prayer to find a full explanation of how to determine which of the three annual cycles of readings (A, B, or C) we’re currently using. Since dividing 2016 by 3 leaves no remainder, Cycle A begins with the First Sunday in Advent at the end of 2016. Thus, until nearly the end of 2017, we’ll be using the lessons in Year A. On December 3, 2017, the First Sunday of Advent, we’ll move into the Year B lessons. Effective with action of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the summer of 2006, the lectionary as listed in the BCP has been superseded by the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). (Recently, new printings of the BCP have the new RCL-based lectionary updated in them; but many copies of the BCP in the pews at St. David’s were printed prior to this change, so check the publication date.) While in many instances,

10 Duties of the Lector

the lessons of a Sunday are identical, nonetheless there is more variety available with the RCL. An explanation of the RCL can be found on the website of the Episcopal Church. There is an outstanding lectionary resource that can be referenced on the Internet. Its address is http://www.lectionarypage.net. This is particularly useful for lessons that come from the Aprocrypha, since most Bibles do not contain the text of those deuterocanonical books. The lesson texts shown there are from the NRSV translation, which is what we use at St. David’s, so this is an exceptionally good additional resource that lectors can use. After all your preparations and study, there always exists the possibility that there will be a last minute change in plans. Always consult the service bulletin before the service to make sure that the lessons you’ve been practicing are really the ones listed in the service bulletin and on the lectern! There exists the possibility that the clergy will make a last minute substitution of texts. This is one of the reasons why you are encouraged to arrive early when you are scheduled as a lector! When there are baptisms during the service, a lesson and/or the appointed psalm may be omitted. That’s another good reason to check-in with the vergers before the service, so that you’re informed.

Introducing the Lessons

The Book of Common Prayer specifies the words to be used to introduce and conclude the reading of each lesson. (The lesson texts on the lectern have these printed with them at the beginning.) For example, the introduction is as simple as saying, “A Reading from Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians.” At the end of the reading, pause about two beats and then say, “The Word of the Lord.” The congregation will respond with, “Thanks be to God.” At services of Evensong, the Rector would prefer that the lessons be concluded with the alternate version specified in the Evening Prayer rite: “Here Ends the Reading (Lesson).”

Introducing the Psalm

When introducing the Psalm, use words similar to this:

The proper portion of the psalter for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost is Psalm 46, verses 9 thru 18. We will read the Psalm responsively, by half verse.

You can determine which Sunday of the liturgical year it is from the introduction to the lessons or by checking the bulletin. If there is a discrepancy between the service leaflet and the lectionary, about which verses of the Psalm to read, use the verses listed in the service leaflet. After a moment or two to assure that the congregation has found the Psalm and is ready to respond, read the first verse of the selection up until the asterisk. Then be quiet while the congregation


responds with the second half of the verse. There should be a pronounced silence at the break, but no pause between verses. At the later morning service on Sundays, the Psalm is usually intoned, with organ accompaniment. Since, at the later service, separate lectors are used for the two lessons, no one will be at the lectern to lead the reading of the Psalm. However, if the service bulletin for the later service indicates that the Psalm will not be intoned, the person appointed to read the first lesson will remain at the lectern and lead the reading of the Psalm.

Returning to Your Pew

At the end of the reading, return to your seat in the congregation by the most direct route.

Duties of the Intercessor 13

Duties of the Intercessor

Arrival

There is no set time when the lay minister assigned as intercessor should arrive, but 15 minutes is a good rule of thumb. Naturally, you are expected to be seated in the congregation prior to the beginning of the service. This is especially necessary, since you can never be sure whether there will have been some change in the services to which you need to be responsive. For instance, you may find that the form of the Prayers of the People to be used has been changed from the one that you are accustomed to using. You can spend the time before the service preparing yourself for this change. Another thing to look out for is when a baptism is taking place, in which case the intercessor’s duties will have been superceded. It is most important that you make your presence known to the verger prior to the beginning of the service. Your name will be on the roster in the vesting room, and the verger will be anxiously looking for you to make sure there is someone on hand to perform this duty. Make sure to place a check-mark by your name to signal your presence and readiness. Stay in the choir rehearsal room and join with the members of the altar party in the prayer that is offered just before the opening procession. At the end of the prayer, return to your seat in the nave. In addition to letting the verger know of your presence, make sure to visit the lectern where a large-print copy of the day’s Prayers of the People are placed. Study the specific names of people to be included in several of the prayers (e.g., clergy, political leaders, and the recently departed). Be sure to inquire of the verger if there are names listed whose pronunciation you are unsure of. It is especially bad for an intercessor to not correctly pronounce names appearing in the prayers.

Where to Sit

Sit in the congregation, but it is best that you arrange to have a seat on the right aisle so that at the appropriate time you can move forward without delay. Try to sit on the right side of the congregation, the one where the lectern is located.

Walking to the Chancel Steps

The Prayers of the People take place immediately after the recitation of the Creed. One of the clergy will invite the congregation to prayer as all the clergy proceed to the communion rail to kneel. As they are doing so, you rise and move into the aisle and begin your walk to the lectern, timing it so that you are standing at the lectern at the same time that the clergy kneel. If it is your custom to reverence the cross, do so as you exit the pew.

14 Duties of the Intercessor

Speaking Techniques

All of the comments in “Speaking Techniques” on page 7 pertain as well to the intercessor. But you must also be conscious that you are leading the congregation in prayer, and not merely reading to them. Therefore, unlike the lector, it is not appropriate to be glancing around the congregation and making eye contact.

Introducing the Prayers of the People

These instructions have been largely superceded by having the Prayers of the People prepared in advance by the clergy, with a printed copy in the binder on the lectern and in the service leaflect. But if such an annotated version of the Prayers of the People were to not be available, you would use the following directions to introduce the form of the Prayers of the People specified in the service leaflet. The service leaflet contains the page number in the Book of Common Prayer for the Prayers of the People, but for the sake of visitors it is appropriate to reiterate this for the congregation. The invitation to prayer is implicit in the first sentence of most forms of the prayers. At the early service, with Rite I, the invitation, “Let us pray for the whole state of Christ’s Church and the world,” is the congregation’s signal to kneel for prayer if they so desire. If a member of the clergy has not already issued this invitation, then you will do so. Pause to give the congregation (and clergy) time to get settled on their knees, then continue with the prayers. At the later service, with Rite II, the six forms of the Prayers of the People will be handled in a similar manner. When Form VI is used, it includes an optional prayer of confession at the end that the intercessor will introduce and lead. Here are the six forms with their variations. • Form I. Simply say the first sentence of the prayer: “With all our heart and with all our mind,

let us pray to the Lord, saying, ‘Lord, have mercy.’” Pause to give the congregation time to kneel, then continue with the prayers.

• Form II. Open with, “Let us pray for the Church and for the world.” Pause to give the people

time to kneel, then begin the prayer: "I ask your prayers for God’s people ..." • Form III. Open with, “Let us pray for the Church and for the world.” Pause to give the people

time to kneel, then begin the prayer. • Form IV. Simply say the first sentence, “Let us pray for the Church and for the world,” pause

for the people to kneel, and then continue with, “Grant, Almighty God, ...”

Duties of the Intercessor 15

• Form V. Again, simply say the first sentence, “In peace, let us pray to the Lord, saying, ‘Lord, have mercy.’” Pause for the people to kneel, then continue with, “For the holy Church of God ...”

• Form VI. Once again, use the first sentence, “In peace, we pray to you, Lord God,” as the

invitation, pause for the congregation to kneel, and then continue with, “For all people ...” The Book of Common Prayer provides for customized prayers which will be crafted by the clergy from time to time. Responses will be provided.

Reading the Prayers

After the congregation has knelt, and the rustling has diminished, begin to read the prayers as printed. Study the various forms available, and practice them at home. Be conscious of what is yours to say, and what is intended as the congregational response. Where pauses are called for, honor them, for they allow members of the congregation to pray. Speak the prayers in a loud enough voice so that you can be heard all the way up into the choir loft, but don’t shout. If an annotated version of the Prayers of the People has not been provided on the bulletin board in the LEM vesting room, you are expected to be able to read the various forms from the Book of Common Prayer, making appropriate additions as written about in the following paragraphs.

Addition of Clergy Names

In some of the forms of prayer, there is a place to insert the names of the clergy. We pray for Justin (Archbishop of Canterbury), Michael (the current Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church), Robert (the Bishop of the Diocese of Atlanta), Don (the Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Atlanta), Ken (our rector), and Anne Elizabeth, Michelle and Julio (the assistants to the rector). When there is another member of the clergy present at the altar (perhaps a visiting priest or deacon), his or her name is to be added as well; it’s the polite thing to do!

Addition of Names of Leaders

At the appropriate spot in some of the forms of prayer, insert the names of our governmental leadership. Normally, we use the Christian name of the President of the United States (Donald) and of the Governor of Georgia (Nathan). Where appropriate, other national leaders’ names can be included.

Other Prayers

On special occasions, it is appropriate to add other prayers. A catalog of prayers and thanksgiving is found in the prayer book beginning on page 810. For instance, during the crisis and war in the Persian Gulf in the early 1990s, prayers for peace and for our service personnel were regularly used.

16 Duties of the Intercessor

The Confession, Absolution, and the Peace

At the beginning of the Prayers of the People, the clerics participating in the service will usually kneel, either behind the altar or at the communion rail. At the end of the Prayers of the People, the celebrant will add one of the standard collects from the Book of Common Prayer. The lector will remain at the lectern during the reading of this collect. When the invitation to confession is said by one of the clerics, leave the lectern quickly and carefully, exit thru the gate of the communion rail, and kneel at the rail near the small gate to recite the confession. After the absolution has been pronounced, when the Celebrant invites the congregation to pass the Peace, rise and greet the Celebrant as appropriate. Then, close and latch the gate, and position the kneeling cushion in front of it. Then turn and return to your seat in the congregation. The one exception is at Rite II services, with Form VI in use. In this case, you will lead the congregation in the confession that’s imbedded in the prayer with the words, “We pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins,” and lead that confession yourself from the lectern. (In all the other forms, the Celebrant will speak the exhortation to confession and lead the confession.) After the absolution by the celebrant, rise and exchange the peace as described above, and attend to the closing of the gate and placement of the cushion. Then return to your seat.

Duties of the Chalice Bearer 17

Duties of the Chalice Bearer

Arrival and Vesting

The Eucharistic ministers who are designated for chalice bearer duty should arrive at the vesting room about 15 minutes before the start of the service. They should be vested no less than 5 minutes before the procession begins. This courtesy enables the verger and clergy to be assured that a full complement of chalice bearers is available and that there is no need to begin searching urgently for “volunteers.” You should wear clothing which will not distract from the vestments you’ll be wearing during the service. Perfume, cologne, and after-shave lotion should be understated and jewelry should be minimal and quiet. Shoes must be closed-toe and black. Nothing about one’s clothing should be distracting, including shoe color. For men, especially, this means black shoes, dark socks, white shirts, and dark pants. If you do not own your own vestments, then you should have made prior arrangements to be permitted to wear a cassock and surplice owned by someone else, ones that are comfortable for your size. The bottom hem of the cassock should be no more than 2-3 inches off the floor. If you wish, you may buy your own vestments and either bring them from home for the service, or store them in the vesting room for ready availability. In the latter case, you may want to keep them in a garment bag labeled with your name. A sizing chart, price list, and ordering information can be found in “Appendix D. Surplice and Cassock Vestment Ordering” on page 35. Wait in the choir rehearsal room. Do not gather in the hall behind the nave, since being so near to the nave, your voice can carry and be very disturbing to those who have begun their prayerful meditation there. Perhaps you should strive to use this time to be quiet and prayerful, instead.

Use of Hymnals

At services with music, you should use one of the hymnals kept in the choir rehearsal room. Please help lead the congregation in the singing of the hymns. Be sure at the end of the service to carry the hymnals in the retirement procession and return them to the choir rehearsal room.

Interaction with the Acolytes

During the preparations before the service, and during the service, please be sensitive to the “chain of command” regarding the acolytes. Don’t take it upon yourself to order them around and to “straighten them out.” The verger, the clergy, and the acolyte master should be allowed to handle

18 Duties of the Chalice Bearer

any situation regarding the acolytes. A “hands-off” approach will be appreciated. These young people are still at an impressionable age, and what may seem innocuous words to you can have a devastating effect upon them, and spoil their participation in the service. A kind word and encouragement are what’s needed with them. If adult intervention is called for, please alert the aforementioned leadership to the problem and let them handle the situation.

The Entrance Procession

The processional party gathers in the choir rehearsal room. A couple of minutes before the beginning of the procession, one of the clergy will usually offer a prayer on behalf of all who are participating in the conduct of the service, with the customary words, “Let us pray.” Reverently bow your head and lend an ear to his or her prayer.

Order

A vested verger will lead the procession. The large processional cross is carried by an acolyte (the crucifer) who follows the Verger. The Verger sets the pace for the procession. Usually flanking the crucifer will be two acolytes bearing torches. With enough acolytes present, two more may follow them, carrying the American and Episcopal Church flags. If the choir processes, they follow next. Two chalice bearers come next, side by side followed by the third one, and usually accompanied by two vested prayer ministers. At the rear of the procession comes an acolyte bearing the smaller processional cross, called the clergy cross. When there are sufficient acolytes available, even this cross may be flanked by torch bearers. Finally, the clerics are the last members of the procession. During the procession, don’t bunch up to the people in front of you, but maintain a steady distance of two or three paces behind them. The chalice bearer on the right should control the spacing, and the one on the left merely keeps abreast.

Entrance to the Sanctuary

The processional party climbs the chancel steps, enters the sanctuary, and standing three abreast on the top step, the LEMs reverence the altar upon reaching the top step. They then proceed to their seats. One of the LEMs (decided before the procession by the LEMs) will move to the chair on the left side of the altar area. Be sure to make room for the acolyte who is carrying the clergy cross, who has to place it in the stand in the adjacent alcove. Stand to the side to allow the acolyte to pass by and store the cross behind the wall there. The other two chalice bearers proceed to the pew on the right closest to the back alcove. Be sure to make way for the crucifer to store the main processional cross in the alcove behind the wall there.

Seating

You will remain standing through the singing of the processional hymn and the introductory sentences. Next come the Collect of the Day and any other collects. Except for the confession later


in the service, the altar party customarily stands rather than kneeling. After the reading of the collects by the celebrant, all are seated for the reading of the Biblical lessons. The chair nearest the pulpit is reserved for the preacher, so LEMs should never sit in it. For all people located in the Sanctuary, their standing and sitting should mirror that of the Celebrant, both as a courtesy to that person as well as bringing uniformity to the movement within the Sanctuary. All acolytes and chalice bearers should follow the lead of the verger as the signal for when to sit down.

Kneeling

During the time of the confession, the chalice bearers may use the kneeling cushions provided that are stored under the pews. However, where kneeling is not healthful for a chalice bearer, standing is permitted. At present, the altar party’s “liturgical posture” (i.e., standing/kneeling/sitting) is always the Rector’s choice, so always follow the lead of the verger.

Use of the Prayer book

While today the text of each service is printed in the service leaflet, prayer books are in the seats of the pews in the sanctuary. Please leave these prayer books there at the end of the service.

Decorum

Naturally, part of the duties of the chalice bearers include serving as liturgical models for the congregation. The people take their cues for kneeling, standing, and sitting from you and the others who are seated behind the altar rail. Please be conscious of this role you play. You are “on display” as it were, and are a model for several hundred people. Avoid distracting mannerisms; pay reverent attention to all aspects of the service. Listen attentively to the sermon and announcements. Exchange the peace between each other, the clergy, and the nearby acolytes. Be watchful of the verger and clergy, and alert to their occasional need to perhaps signal you during the service for some special duty that needs performing.

Assisting at the Offertory

At the point in the service when the celebrant invites the congregation to participate in the offertory, one of the chalice bearers on the right side may need to travel via the sacristy to join the one chalice bearer on the left, in order to assist with the distribution and collection of the alms basins and children’s baskets for the offering. (The children’s offering is part of the family service.) After the celebrant’s invitation to the congregation, both chalice bearers proceed to the small shelf on the wall next to the ambry and one of them will pick up the four small basins (leave the large one on the shelf); the other one picks up the children’s baskets that are arranged on the floor beneath the shelf. Carry these to the center opening of the communion rail and hand them to the ushers and the children assisting them. Be sure to bow slightly from the waist after the exchange is made. Then return to sit beside each other until the offerings are brought forward later.


When the ushers (and, for the family service, children) bring forth the offerings and oblations, one of the chalice bearers will fetch the large basin from the shelf and both will prepare to receive the offering from the ushers and children. But first, remain to the side to allow the verger to receive the oblations from the family that has preceded the ushers in the offertory procession. Once the verger takes the chalice and breadbox up to the altar, then receive the alms basins and baskets, bowing slightly from the waist, and turn and climb to the top step facing the altar. Do not elevate (or present) the alms for the cleric to bless; they will be blessed later. Place the alms basins at the right front edge of the altar (as you face it), just to the left of the candle that’s at that corner. Place the children’s baskets on the floor against the base of the altar. Then return to your seat in the sanctuary.

Administration of the Chalice

The administration of the communion chalice is a serious responsibility, to be done with reverence and great dignity. In this service, you have the opportunity to greatly enhance the religious worship experience of the members of the congregation as they come forward to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

Receiving Your Communion

After the reading or singing of the Agnus Dei (“Oh Lamb of God....”), the celebrant holds aloft the host and chalice and invites the congregation to come forward to the communion rail. They then make their own communion. When this is done, it is time for the LEMs and acolytes to receive communion. Watch the verger, and move forward in unison with him or her. Those on the lectern side will stand beside the verger on one side of and facing the altar, while those on the pulpit side line up abreast on that side. The celebrant and other clergy commune, and then distribute the bread and wine to the waiting acolytes, prayer ministers, and chalice bearers. As the clergy move away from the altar to serve communion to the people at the altar rail, the chalice bearers move forward to the altar to each pick up a chalice and a purificator, which is the linen cloth used to wipe the lip of the chalice after each person drinks from it.

Handling the Chalice

Take a firm grasp of the chalice, but not so tightly as to paralyze your hand, for you will be handling it for some period of time. But it is important that your grip be authoritative. Especially at the beginning, when it is full to the brim, you will need to be very attentive to the need to keep it upright and steady, in order to prevent any consecrated wine from spilling out of it. As you move up and down the chancel steps, be extra attentive to prevent any spillage due to a misstep.


Serving the Chalice to the Acolytes

The acolytes join the LEMs to receive communion, and receive the bread and wine from the priests. They then return to their pews while the LEMs prepare to pick up the chalices.

What Portion of the Rail to Cover

One LEM joins with the verger to serve the chalice to the communicants kneeling on one side of the communion rail. The other two LEMs handle the other side of the communion rail. They follow the priest who is distributing the bread on their side, starting from the gate and moving towards the wall. Each pair of chalice bearers will proceed side by side, serving the wine to pairs of communicants. If you are in the lead, be alert to communicants who may incorrectly think they are being bypassed as you proceed to the next pair – they may try to grab your arm, and you must gently alert them, through a smile or sideways nod, that they will be receiving the chalice from the other LEM who is behind you.

Use of the Purificator

Before you pick up the chalice from the altar, first pick up a purificator. This small piece of linen, when spread out, is square, with a cross embroidered in its center. Then it has been folded in thirds one way, and then thirds the other to form a smaller square with the cross still centered. Unfold one set of folds, and drape the purificator over the back of your hand, grasping one end between your thumb and forefinger. The cross should be against the back of your hand. You will be wiping the edge of the chalice with the purificator after each person drinks from it. The manner described for holding the purificator has two purposes. First, it ensures that as you wipe the chalice the lipstick deposited there will not be smudged into the cross. Not only is this a form of reverence, but it also is greatly appreciated by the members of the altar guild, who lovingly wash these linens by hand each week. Removing lipstick smudges from the linen cloth is difficult enough, without having the embroidery soiled, too! The second reason for letting so much of the purificator drape over the back of your hand is this: as the lipstick smudges accumulate from wiping the chalice’s brim, you’ll want to pass the purificator back over your forefinger to accumulate in the palm of your hand, in order to have new clean areas to use. By doing it this way, you hide the unsightly lipstick smudges on the purificator from the persons to whom you are serving the chalice. After each person drinks from the chalice, discreetly but deliberately wipe the area where his or her lips were pressed, both inside and outside the rim. The purpose is to remove any lipstick and to remove any drops of wine there. As you get to the end of your altar rail section, and turn to return to the first part of it, slightly turn the chalice about so that a new section of the rim will be used for the next group of communicants. This will assist in always presenting a clean chalice to those receiving communion.


Words to Use in Administration of the Chalice

In the Book of Common Prayer you will find the words to use during the administration of the consecrated wine. For Rite I, the one used at St. David’s is the long form:

The Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ’s Blood was shed for thee, and be thankful.

For Rite II, we use the simpler,

The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.

For the longer Rite I sentences, use one sentence for each person being communicated, then the next sentence for the next person. Both chalice bearers speak the words to each person being communicated. There are two very important things to keep in mind about the words used in the administration of the cup:

a) Do not use any variations of the aforementioned words; and, it is entirely improper to have any other conversation with communicants during this sacred time.

b) Do not call people by name, since we cannot know everyone’s name or we could make a mistake and risk hurting someone’s feelings; God knows who is at the rail.

Your Facial Expression

Your duty of administering the chalice is sacred, and of course you will do it with great reverence. But don’t let yourself begin to scowl as you do it. An occasional smile is certainly appropriate, especially for those communicants who engage your line of sight. Children at the altar will be most affected if you frown, and so a smile will help them to associate good thoughts with the trip to the altar with their parents.

Different Manners of Receiving Communion

You will find a vast array of manners in which people have grown accustomed to receiving the chalice at communion. Be alert and accommodating to each. But under no circumstance lose sight of the fact that you are to ensure that the wine is not spilled. This must be done with discretion, but remember that your grasp on the chalice is to be authoritative while at the same time gently assisting each person to partake of the cup in a manner that enhances his or her worship experience.

The Hands-off Type

Inevitably, there are those who expect you to do everything. They will not lay hands on the chalice. Perhaps this is a deep-seated feeling on their part, false though it is, that they are not allowed to


touch so holy an object. (Of course, it’s the wine which is consecrated, and they’re touching it, but logic plays no role here.) Simply bring the rim to their lips gently, and elevate the cup just enough for a sip of wine to pass through to them. Don’t bang their teeth with the chalice, please! It’s really easy to do, and it hurts, so be attentive to this. Bouffant hair styles and wide-brimmed hats will complicate matters for you, so be patient and resilient.

The Tipper

Some folks will assist you in tipping the chalice by pressing its base away from them with their fingers. This is fine, and in fact preferable, as it is very helpful to ensure they receive the right amount of wine. Just remember that you must retain full control of the chalice through your grip, but again, this is done in so discreet a manner that they are not aware of your total control.

The Grasper

Some people will be very aggressive in participating in the serving of the chalice. They will grasp the bowl, sometimes with two hands. Sometimes it will be a bold grasp, sometimes simply a discreet and gentle hold. In either case, it is fine, and ensures they receive the correct amount of wine. Let the cup go where it needs to go and don’t fight their action. But discreetly retain your grasp of the chalice to prevent any spillage.

The Dunker

There are a fair number of people who prefer for one reason or another not to press the chalice to their lips. They will retain the wafer which the priest gave them and choose to dip it in the wine and consume both elements that way. That’s fine, too. This manner of receiving communion is called intinction. Accommodate their way of communing by lowering the chalice so that they can see the level of the wine. At the same time, use your forefinger under the purificator to raise it up as a bridge for the inevitable wine drops to fall as the communicant transfers the wafer to the mouth.

The Supplicant Communicant

On rare occasion, a communicant will have left the wafer in his or her outstretched palms when you arrive with the chalice. Their intent is that you will dip the wafer into the wine and place it on their tongue, and is usually a sign that the person was raised in the Roman Catholic tradition. To do this, hold the chalice and the purificator in the same hand, giving you a free hand with which to take the wafer, dip it into the chalice yourself, and place the wafer on the tongue of the communicant.

Children

Children receiving communion is a special topic. Remember that all baptized Christians are welcome to receive communion in our church. So don’t be surprised by the number of children who participate by partaking of the chalice. Ideally, those who merely accompany their parents to


the altar but don’t commune should cross their arms over their chest. But not everyone knows to do this, so assume that the child is going to commune and then look for clues to the contrary. Offer the cup; check the parent who is with the child, who should give a signal either way if there is any doubt. If a child is going to partake, he or she should stand up to do so. This allows you better control of the chalice than you’d have bending far over. Discreetly and cheerfully motion him or her to stand, or gently whisper, “Please stand up,” and smile when you do so.

Accidents

Accidents sometimes happen. If some wine is spilled, hopefully just a drop or two on the altar rail or floor, discreetly sop it up with the purificator. Don’t make a fuss. If someone using intinction accidently drops the wafer into the chalice, turn your back while you fetch it discreetly from the wine and consume the wafer yourself. Alternatively, go up to the credence table behind the altar where there’s a small silver spoon that can be used to retrieve the sodden wafer. On exceedingly rare occasions, a wafer will have fallen to the floor. In nearly all such cases, the priest will have noticed this already and dealt with the situation. If you should happen to spot a wafer which you can reach, discreetly bend down and pick it up and consume it yourself. Just be conscious of the chalice in your hand and don’t spill any of the wine. In either of these cases where the communicant fails to have a wafer to consume, discreetly make this known to the cleric distributing the wafers so that the communicant will receive a fresh one.

Refilling the Chalice

For a large congregation, it’s a sure bet that you’ll have to refill the chalice. The celebrant will have left a flagon or cruet of consecrated wine on the altar. As it becomes evident that a refill will be in order, don’t wait for the chalice to be totally empty. If you do, it becomes hard to lift it high enough for those receiving the wine to comfortably do so; the risk of having it spill out on their garments then becomes real. Take the chalice back to the altar and set it on the special linen cloth (the corporal) that the priest has unfolded. Whenever possible, a priest or deacon will “manage” the altar during communion. If present, they will refill the chalice for you. Only clergy should be behind the altar; LEMs will stand in front of the altar. If there is no cleric present filling this role, then you should lift the stopper from the glass cruet, or raise the hinged cover of the silver flagon, and pour the amount you need into the chalice. Use the purificator to wipe the inevitable drop that hangs from the spout of the flagon or the lip of the cruet. Do all this over the corporal so that any chance spill will not soil the large fair linen cloth that covers the entire altar surface. Replace the stopper or lower the silver lid gently, so as not to make a loud noise, because there is a “live” microphone on the altar.


Administration of Communion to Disabled in the Congregation

The ushers will make sure that the verger and celebrant are aware of any need to distribute communion to disabled persons who cannot come to the altar. Sometimes the celebrant will call upon you to accompany him or her down into the congregation. Do so, alert to the treacheries of the chancel steps, and administer the chalice to the recipient with quiet dignity, and using the same words used at the altar rail. Then exit through the one of the side doors into the main hallway (i.e., don’t return to the altar area), returning to the sanctuary with the chalice via the sacristy door that’s near the double doors that exit to the parking lot.

Administration of Communion to the Ushers

In cases where the communion elements are brought to a communicant in the pews, the attentive usher standing beside that person will need to have the communion elements administered to him or her, too. Please help the cleric remember to do this through a discreet nod or whispered reminder.

Cleaning and Taking Articles to the Sacristy

After all in the congregation have communed, the Eucharistic ministers leave for the sacristy carrying the chalices and purificators. Check with the priest or deacon to see if there are additional items (palls, the veil, the burse, the corporal, the patens, water and wine cruets, etc.) to carry to the sacristy. But under no circumstances try to carry too many items, for that would be both unseemly as well as inviting disaster. It is better to make multiple trips instead. (At another parish that I was visiting on vacation, a hapless LEM trying to carry two empty chalices to the sacristy actually dropped a chalice in front of the congregation. Ouch!) It makes no difference whether all go to the right side, or whether the LEM on the left chooses to go alone to the left to reach the sacristy. In the sacristy, separate the purificators and place them in the basket on the counter used for soiled linens. Place the palls, the veil, the burse, and the corporal on the island table, away from the sink. Place the flagons, cruets, chalices and patens on the counter, on the towel spread there. If consecrated wine remains in a flagon or cruet, take a “consecrated” sign from the bulletin board and place it under the edge of the vessel, so that the Altar Guild members can attend to this properly later. You may consume any wine remaining in the chalices and rinse them out, either with water from the cruet or from the faucet; alternatively, the wine in the chalice may be carefully poured into the appropriate sink reserved for this purpose. Use the small white basin for all this, as it has been constructed in a special way to accommodate our traditions. It is called a piscina and its plumbing runs out onto the ground rather than into any sewer. During this period of ablutions in the sacristy, it is important that you continue to perform your work silently. Do not use this time to comment on your experiences at the communion rail or to carry on a chatty conversation. The sacristy is well-named: it is sacred space. If you need to center your mind for this, an appropriate prayer is posted behind the piscina on the wall.


The Procession in Retirement

When you have finished in the sacristy, return to the area on the side of the altar where you were seated. You will probably arrive about the time the celebrant is administering the blessing. Sit, kneel or stand to sing, as appropriate. If there is a recessional hymn, the verger or celebrant will signal when the crucifer is to fetch the cross, and this begins the recessional.

Order

The verger will be the first one out of the gate, literally. The crucifer, flanked by the torch bearers, follows him, and the three of them stand just inside the altar rail gate, facing the altar. This leaves one acolyte who will be carrying the clergy cross; this acolyte stands facing the altar, centered at the top step. The LEMs take up their position three abreast, on the broad step just behind the acolyte with the clergy cross. The clerics will be standing behind the altar, facing you. When the celebrant determines it is time to move, the clerics move around to face the front of the altar and bow or genuflect. The altar party members bow, too, at this time. Then everyone turns around (to their right), ready to leave the sanctuary, led by the verger. Reversing what was done upon entering the sanctuary, one of the LEMs should drop back behind the other two. As you descend all the treacherous steps, don’t fail to pay close attention to them. A pratfall at this point would be an unfortunate occurrence!

Hymnals

If you carried the hymnals in from the vesting room, remember to carry them back. Sing along with the congregation.

Dismissal

At the end of the aisle, as you go out, turn to participate in the dismissal of the congregation and lend your voice to the congregational response, “Thanks be to God.”

Vestments and General Appearance

Remove your surplice and cassock and neatly hang them back up in the vesting room. If they need washing, it will be greatly appreciated if you will take them home and do that. Vestments must be kept clean, and freshly pressed.

Appendix A: Canon Regarding Lay Ministries 27

Appendix A. Canon Regarding Lay Ministries

On the following pages is the text of Title III, Canon 4, of The Episcopal Church (from the Constitutions and Canons – 2015).

28 Appendix A: Canon Regarding Lay Ministries

TITLE III MINISTRY CANON 4: Of Licensed Ministries

Sec. 1. (a) A confirmed communicant in good standing or, in extraordinary circumstances, subject to guidelines established by the Bishop, a communicant in good standing, may be licensed by the Ecclesiastical Authority to serve as Pastoral Leader, Worship Leader, Preacher, Eucharistic Minister, Eucharistic Visitor, Evangelist, or Catechist. Requirements and guidelines for the selection, training, continuing education, and deployment of such persons, and the duration of licenses shall be established by the Bishop in consultation with the Commission on Ministry.

(b) The Presiding Bishop or the Bishop Suffragan for the Armed Forces may authorize a member of the Armed Forces to exercise one or more of these ministries in the Armed Forces in accordance with the provisions of this Canon. Requirements and guidelines for the selection, training, continuing education, and deployment of such persons shall be established by the Bishop granting the license. Sec. 2. (a) The Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith may request the Ecclesiastical Authority with jurisdiction to license persons within that congregation or other community of faith to exercise such ministries. The license shall be issued for a period of time to be determined under Canon III.4.1(a) and may be renewed. The license may be revoked by the Ecclesiastical Authority upon request of or upon notice to the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith.

(b) In renewing the license, the Ecclesiastical Authority shall consider the performance of the ministry by the person licensed, continuing education in the licensed area, and the endorsement of the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith in which the person is serving.

(c) A person licensed in any Diocese under the provisions of this Canon may serve in another congregation or other community of faith in the same or another Diocese only at the invitation of the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight, and with the consent of the Ecclesiastical Authority in whose jurisdiction the service will occur. Sec. 3. A Pastoral Leader is a lay person authorized to exercise pastoral or administrative responsibility in a congregation under special circumstances, as defined by the Bishop. Sec. 4 . A Worship Leader is a lay person who regularly leads public worship under the direction of the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith.

Selection and license.

Member of the Armed Forces.

Terms.

Renewal.

Pastoral Leader.

Worship Leader.

Appendix A: Canon Regarding Lay Ministries 29

Sec. 5. A Preacher is a lay person authorized to preach. Persons so authorized shall only preach in congregations under the direction of the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith. Sec. 6. A Eucharistic Minister is a lay person authorized to administer the Consecrated Elements at a Celebration of Holy Eucharist. A Eucharistic Minister should normally act under the direction of a Deacon, if any, or otherwise, the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith. Sec. 7. A Eucharistic Visitor is a lay person authorized to take the Consecrated Elements in a timely manner following a Celebration of Holy Eucharist to members of the congregation who, by reason of illness or infirmity, were unable to be present at the Celebration. A Eucharistic Visitor should normally act under the direction of a Deacon, if any, or otherwise, the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith. Sec. 8. A Catechist is a lay person authorized to prepare persons for Baptism, Confirmation, Reception, and the Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows, and shall function under the direction of the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith. Sec. 9. An Evangelist is a lay person who presents the good news of Jesus Christ in such a way that people are led to receive Christ as Savior and follow Christ as Lord in the fellowship of the Church. An Evangelist assists with the community's ministry of evangelism in partnership with the Presbyter or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation, or as directed by the Bishop.

Preacher.

Eucharistic Minister.

Eucharistic Visitor.

Cathechist.

Evangelist.

Appendix B: Analysis of Voice and Diction 31

Appendix B. Analysis of Voice and Diction

On the following page is a worksheet that can be used to evaluate lectors. Notice the wide range of voice characteristics that need to be considered when you serve as a lector at St. David’s! And shown here is a worksheet handout created by Darlene Swanson, a professional speech coach.

32 Appendix B: Analysis of Voice and Diction

Analysis of Voice and Diction Analyze the voice in terms of the general category; then indicate in the breakdown of each category those descriptive terms which apply specifically. RATE Good _____ Average _____ Unsatisfactory ___ Too fast _____ Poor phrasing, irregular rhythm _______ Too slow _____ Hesitations _____ Unvarying, monotonous _____ Other: ________________________________ LOUDNESS Good _____ Average _____ Unsatisfactory ___ Too loud _____ Lack of variety, monotony _____ Too weak _____ Forced overuse of emphasis ____ Other: _________________________________ PITCH Good _____ Average _____ Unsatisfactory____ General level too high ____ Fixed pattern, stereotyped _____ General level too low _____ Exaggerated pitch changes _____ Lack of variety, monotony _____ Other: _________________________________ QUALITY Good _____ Average _____ Unsatisfactory____ Nasal _____ Strained, strident, shrill _____ Denasal _____ Flat, lack of vibrato _____ Hoarse, husky _____ Falsetto _____ Breathy, aspirate _____ Tremulous _____ Throaty, harsh _____ Other: _________________________________ DICTION Good _____ Average _____ Unsatisfactory____ Speech sounds: Omitted _____ Slow, labored _____ Added _____ Rapid, slurring _____ Substituted _____ Mispronunciation _____ Defective _____ Regional dialect _____ Indistinct articulation _____ Foreign dialect _____ Oral inactivity _____ Affectation _____ Other: __________________________________ GENERAL IMPRESSION GAINED FROM THE VOICE Favorable Suggesting friendliness _____ alertness _____ self-assurance _____ vitality _____ poise _____ responsiveness _____ Unfavorable Suggesting indifference _____ timidity _____ tenseness _____ indecision _____ unfriendliness _____ affectation _____ unresponsiveness _____ immaturity _____

Appendix D. Surplice and Cassock Vestment Ordering 33

Appendix C. A Reading from St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians

Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we too

believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus

and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more

and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart.

Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day. For this

slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that

are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Appendix D. Surplice and Cassock Vestment Ordering 35

Appendix D. Surplice and Cassock Vestment Ordering

American Surplice - Women and Men (Sizes in shaded boxes are custom order, require five weeks for delivery and are priced higher)

Chest or Bust Height 32” - 40” 41” - 50” 51” - 60”

5’ – 5’2” BG CG DG 5’3” - 5’5” BH CH DH 5’6” - 5’8” BJ CJ DJ 5’9” - 5’10” BK CK DK 5’11” - 6’ BM CM DM 6’1” - 6’2” BN CN DN 6’3” - 6’5” CP DP

Choir Cassock (black) – Women (Sizes in shaded boxes are custom order, require five weeks for delivery and are priced higher)

Bust Size Height 32” - 33” 34” - 36” 37” - 39” 40” - 42” 43” - 45” 46” - 48” 49” - 51” 52” - 54”

4’9” - 4’11” PF QF RF SF TF UF VF WF 5’ - 5’2” PG QG RG SG TG UG VG WG

5’3” - 5’5” PH QH RH SH TH UH VH WH 5’6” - 5’8” PJ QJ RJ SJ TJ UJ VJ WJ 5’9” - 5’11” PK QK RK SK TK UK VK WK 6’ - 6’2” PM QM RM SM TM UM VM WM

Choir Cassock (black) – Children/Men (Sizes in shaded boxes are custom order, require five weeks for delivery and are priced higher)

Chest Size Height 24” – 26” 27” - 29” 30” - 32” 33” - 35” 36” - 38” 39” - 41” 42” - 44” 45” - 47” 48” - 50”

4’6” – 4’8” BE* CE* DE* EE FE GE HE JE KE 4’9” - 4’11” BF CF* DF* EF FF GF HF JF KF 5’ - 5’2” BG CG DG* EG FG GG HG JG KG

5’3” - 5’5” BH CH DH EH FH GH HH JH KH 5’6” - 5’8” BJ CJ DJ EJ FJ GJ HJ JJ KJ 5’9” - 5’11” BK CK DK EK FK GK HK JK KK 6’ - 6’2” BM CM DM EM FM GM HM JM KM

6’3” - 6’5” BN CN DN EN FN GN HN JN KN 6’6” – 6’8” BP CP DP EP FP GP HP JP KP Note: Sizes marked with * are for children. The size table in the Almy catalog shows additional cassocks for those who are shorter than 4’6” in height. Vestments can be ordered from C. M. Almy Company, 1-800-225-2569. Major credit cards are accepted. The 2016-2018 prices: American Surplice (standard size, stock# 31600 for men, 31600W for women) -- $99 Choir Cassock (42112M – Men, 42112W – Women, QuikShip) – $115 Choir Cassock (42111C Child QuikShip) -- $86 Choir Cassock (42112N – Men, 42112NW – Women, custom size) -- $132

Appendix E. Roster of Lay Ministers 37

Appendix E. Roster of Lay Ministers

The lay minister coordinator is Bruce Thomas, who can be reached at home (770-993-8445). The rest of the lay ministers at St. David’s1 are listed below. An asterisk (*) after a name indicates that the person is not licensed to serve as a chalice bearer.

1 This list is current as of August 20, 2017.

Dick Amell Kay Anderson Mary Asbury Don Baggett* Jim Berry Richard Brady* Chris Burpo Karen Burpo Tony Cobourn* Janet Conrad* Mike Copps Robert Cox Betty Cunningham Chris Dawson* Mike Dougherty* Andy Eberhard Barbara Erdman* Beatrice Fayemi Julie Fazlollah Steve Fordham Bill Froemming Steve Granade Jared Grigsby Ken Harris Alden Hathaway Janet Horton* Vonceal Kubler Jim Landers Dawn Levy* Dick Lord* April Love-Fordham Vance McGaughey

Annarita McGovern* John McKinnon* Bob Murphy* Don Nahser CaroleAnn Padgett Joshua Paradis Rose Patrick Carolyn Powers* Steve Quinn* Susan Ragsdale Marlene Robertson* Jeff Rueppel* Saundra Rueppel Linda Salmons Rae-Ann Shepard* Georgia Stokes Mike Stokes Buffi Sutherland* Darlene Swanson* Margot Tennis* Bruce Thomas Al Thompson Lori Thompson Mike Tompros Nancy Wagner Jim Wilson Carolyn Winney* Karen Wright

Documents

A CUSTOMARY FOR INTERCESSORS, LECTORS …stdavidchurch.org/main/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/...A CUSTOMARY FOR INTERCESSORS, LECTORS AND EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS February 1, 2007 St. David's