ACOLYTE INFORMATION

REQUIRED BEHAVIOR

Our goal is to provide the best possible assistance to the priest. How the priest wants it done is how we will do it. Do your position to the best of your ability.

You are expected to behave in a quiet and reverent manner. This includes respect for your fellow acolytes. Please keep all talking to a minimum and definitely be as quiet as possible. Be aware of your posture as you are performing your duties, stand straight and keep your hands out of your pockets.

No gum chewing and no eating of candy and no sleeping during the service.

If you have a question before the service, ask the sponsor or the acolyte master. If you have a question during the service, ask the verger.

If you cannot serve when you have been scheduled, try to find a substitute and also contact your assigned sponsor or the acolyte master. Please call the acolyte master if you have any questions, problems or need training.

WHEN TO BE AT CHURCH

You should be at church 15 minutes before the service is scheduled to begin. This is to allow enough time to get robed and receive any last minute instructions.

Server 1 and Server 2 should be at church 20 minutes before the service is scheduled to begin to be able to light the altar candles 15 minutes before the service starts.

A monthly schedule is mailed out to each acolyte and sponsor that lists what date each person is scheduled to serve and has phone numbers for all acolytes, sponsors and the acolyte master.

All acolytes are welcomed and encouraged to volunteer for additional services. Contact the acolyte sponsor on duty.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR :

TORCHES

Torch 1 and Torch 2 are always together. Try to carry your torches at the same height and stay together during the opening and closing processional down the aisle. Hold your torches in such a way that they don’t make a lot of noise, especially during the gospel. Most of the time you will follow Crucifer 1 (the plain cross). Let Crucifer 1 lead you out for the opening processional, the gospel and the closing processional.

The torches are placed on either side of the lectern in the front of the church and by the choir in the back of the church.

CRUCIFER 2

Crucifer 2 carries the crucifix and comes after the choir and leads the altar party during the opening and closing procession. Crucifer 2 also leads the children out for children’s chapel before the gospel.

You should lead the children out as soon as the music for the gospel hymn starts. Remain in the back of the church by the choir during the gospel and as soon as the gospel reading is over, come forward and join the procession back up to the altar.

At the closing processional, go to the crucifix when the altar candles have been extinguished. Then wait by the pulpit until Crucifer 1 and the torches have started moving down the steps. Crucifer 2 should be in position to lead the altar party for the closing procession.

The crucifix is placed to the right of the altar in the front of the church and on the right side of the aisle by the choir in the back of the church.

CRUCIFER 1

Crucifer 1 carries the cross and leads the opening processional, the gospel procession and the closing procession. The opening processional starts when the singing starts on the opening hymn (not the start of the music). Maintain a moderate and dignified pace, this is not a race to get to the altar first.

For the gospel procession, watch for your cue from the priest. The priest Mike will look up during the singing of the gospel hymn when he is ready to start. When he looks up and over at the acolytes, that is your cue. Make sure the torches are ready and proceed to the cross and then to your position to lead the procession. Stand at the top of the steps with the two torches lined up in front of you facing the altar. After the priest gets the gospel book and turns to face the congregation, Crucifer 1 and the torches should turn around and process down the aisle to the middle of the congregation (between the second and third lights) and stand. After the gospel has been read, process back to the altar, pause briefly, then return the cross to its position and be seated.

For the closing procession, begin after the altar candles have been extinguished and when the priest has placed the veil and burse back on the chalice. Go to your cross and proceed to the position in front of the altar. Pause briefly and then turn and go to the first pew and wait. You will be cued by the sponsor at the back of the church when to proceed down the aisle.

The cross is located to the left of the altar in the front of the church and on the left side of the aisle by the choir in the back of the church.

SERVER 2

Server 2 lights and extinguishes the altar candles, processes with Server 1; holds the gospel book for the priest, gives the offering plates to the ushers, closes the gate at the altar rail and moves the cushions for kneeling, takes the offering plates from the ushers, opens the gates and moves the cushions back. And, if there are no acolytes for the flags, he or she carries the American flag during the opening and closing procession.

Server 2 and Server 1 are responsible for lighting the altar candles 15 minutes before the service is scheduled to begin. After you have both robed, proceed to the altar guild sacristy and light the tapers and then proceed to the altar to light the candles. The candles on the altar are lit first, then the candles behind the altar. After the candles are lit, return the tapers to the altar guild sacristy and close the door.

For the processions, Server 2 follows Crucifer 2. If you are carrying a flag, you follow the torches.

For the gospel procession, follow the torches. The priest will carry the gospel book and place it in your hands at the height level he wants it at. Hold the book still during the reading. After the reading, the priest will take the book from you. Stand to one side of the aisle to allow Crucifer 1, the torches and Crucifer 2 to pass by and then follow them back to the altar.

For the Holy Eucharist, go to the center of the altar rail and take the offering plates from Server 1. Then stand to one side to allow Server 1 to get to the ushers. After Server 1 receives the bread and wine from the ushers, give the ushers the offering plates, one at a time, bow to the ushers and then put the remaining plate on the far corner of the rail. Close and latch the gate on the altar rail and place the two cushions in front of the gate. Return to the far corner where the plate is and wait for the ushers to return. As the ushers come up the aisle, go to the top of the steps to meet them and receive the offering plates. Take the offering plates, bow to the ushers and then turn and hand the plates to Server 1 at the center of the altar rail. Then go to the left side of the altar rail and return to your seat. The Vestryman of the day should receive the plates from the chalice bearer. If he or she is not there, take the plates to the priest’s sacristy and return to your seat.

After the entire congregation has received communion (usually the ushers are the last group), and if there is time before the final prayer, open the gate and put the cushions back where they were. Be prepared to open the gates immediately after the last group in case the priest needs to take communion to someone in the congregation. Otherwise, if there is not time before the final prayer, then do this immediately after the final prayer. If you start to open the gate and the final prayer starts, stop and kneel until the prayer is over. After the gate has been opened, go to the far side to the altar guild sacristy and get both snuffers and then stand just outside that door and wait for Server 1. Together with Server 1 approach the altar and extinguish the altar candles and then the candles behind the altar. Return the snuffers to the altar guild sacristy.

At this point the closing procession should be lined up, so take your position behind Crucifer 2 (unless you are carrying a flag in which case you will be behind the torches).

SERVER 1

Server 1 lights and extinguishes the altar candles, processes with the Gospel book, gives the offering plates to Server 1, takes the bread and wine to the altar, assists the priest in preparing for Holy Eucharist and rings the Sanctus bells.

Server 1 and Server 2 are responsible for lighting the altar candles 15 minutes before the service is scheduled to begin. After you have both robed, proceed to the altar guild sacristy and light the tapers and then proceed to the altar to light the candles. The candles on the altar are lit first, then the candles behind the altar. After the candles are lit, return the tapers to the altar guild sacristy.

For the opening and closing processions, Server 1, holding the Gospel book up high, follows the chalice bearers.

For all prayers and blessings, kneel at the altar rail.

For the Holy Eucharist, go inside the altar rail, get the offering plates from the bottom shelf of the credence table and hand them to Server 2 from the front center of the altar. Proceed to the steps and receive the bread and wine from the ushers. The ushers will also give you a slip of paper that tells how many people are in church. Give this slip of paper and the bread to the priest and put the wine on the tray on the credence table. The priest will tell you what to hand him and when. Pay attention and listen. Usually, he will hand the bread box back to you to put on the tray then he will ask for the wine. If it is a large service, there will be a large flagon of wine in addition to the cruet of wine. The priest will tell you which one he wants first. Always hand the vessels to the priest with the handle facing the priest. After he is through with the wine, he will need the water. As he hands the vessels back, return them to the tray. When he has finished with the water, you will then assist the priest in washing his hands. Place the lavabo towel on your left arm and hold the lavabo bowl in the palm of your left hand. As the priest holds his fingers over the bowl, pour a small amount of water over his fingertips. He will then take the towel and dry his hands and return the towel to your arm. Bow to the priest and put the towel inside the lavabo bowl and return everything to the tray. After Server 2 receives the offering plates from the ushers, he will hand the plates over the altar rail to you. You should be standing in front of the altar to receive the plates. Take the plates and hand them to the priest from the side of the altar (not over the top) and then step back to stand by the rail. After the priest has blessed the offering, step back outside the altar rail and return to your position. Server 1 should have the Book of Common Prayer open to the proper page so he will know when to move to the altar rail for the ringing of the Sanctus bells.

Server 1's cue for going to the altar rail and kneeling is when we reach the part of the liturgy that says "with Angels and Archangels and all the company of heaven". At this point, Server 1 should go to the side altar rail and kneel and have his hand on the Sanctus bells in preparation to ring them. The Sanctus bells are rung for each "Holy" on the "Holy, Holy, Holy", for a total of three times. (They are not rung on the repeat "Holy, Holy, Holy" during the chanting of Rite II.) The next time the Sanctus bells are rung is after the priest elevates the elements and says "do this in remembrance of Me". This happens for the bread and also for the wine. Server 1 remains kneeling at the altar rail after ringing the Sanctus bells.

At the end of communion, Server 1 should watch the priest to see if he needs anything. At most services, Father Mike does the ablutions (rinsing of the vessels) after the final prayer. At the 8:00 service he does the ablutions before the final prayer. For a visiting priest, Server 1 should watch to see at what point that particular priest prefers to do the ablutions. Server 1 assists the priest by handing the water cruet to the priest and returning it to the tray. At the 10:30 service, the chalice bearer often will do this so that Server 1 may proceed to extinguish the altar candles. Server 1 should go to where Server 2 is standing outside the altar guild sacristy. Server 1 and Server 2 together approach the altar and extinguish the candles. Return the snuffers to the altar guild sacristy.

At this point the recessional should be lined up, so take the Gospel book from the altar and stand by the pulpit. When the chalice bearers get lined up, be prepared to fall in behind them for the procession.

FLAGS

Flag 1 and Flag 2 carry the American and the Episcopal flags in the opening and closing procession. Their position is behind the torches and in front of Crucifer 2. Be careful to not follow the torches too closely or the flags will run into the back of the torch bearers. You should watch the other flag and try to hold the American flag slightly higher than the Episcopal flag.

The American flag is on the left side of the church and the Episcopal flag is on the right side of the church.

VERGER

Some of the functions of the Verger during a service are to answer any questions the acolytes might have about what to do during the service and to assist with any problems that may occur.

The Verger leads the priest in the opening, gospel and closing processions. The Verger assists Crucifer 1 to watch for the priest’s cues on when to go out for the gospel and when to go out for the closing processions and will assist any acolyte who has a question, gets ill or has a problem with their equipment during the service. The Verger is knowledgeable about what each acolyte’s position entails in order to assist as needed.

The Verger will enforce the required standards of behavior for all the acolytes on duty for that service.

SPONSOR

The sponsor is notified before a service, preferably as early as possible, if an acolyte is going to be absent for any reason and will help, if necessary, to find a substitute. The sponsor assists before the service by answering any questions, assigning positions to substitutes, making sure the altar candles and torches have been lit and the crosses and torches are in the back of the church, making sure all acolyte positions are filled and all acolytes are robed and ready.

At the end of the service during the final hymn, the sponsor will stand in the back of the church to cue Crucifer 1 when to continue down the aisle for the closing processional.

The sponsor will enforce the required standards of behavior for all acolytes for that service.

ACOLYTE MASTER

The Acolyte Master serves under the direction of the priest and organizes all aspects of the acolyte corps. This includes recruiting, training, scheduling and directing the acolytes. Any questions or problems that an acolyte or a parent has concerning the acolyte corps should be directed to the Acolyte Master.