Instructions for Acolytes, Crucifer, Processionals and Communion Entrusted Duties

GROOMING

·         Dress appropriately for service

·         Exercise good grooming habit

ARRIVAL

·         Arrive 20 minutes before start of service

·         Dress with ankle length white robe (called alb) and rope belt (called cinture) fastened around waist

·         Assure you have necessary books and worship bulletin at your setting place

PREPARATION

·         Acolytes light candles

-       Light candles well ahead of time, 10-15 minutes before start of service.

No need to wait for organ prelude to begin

-       Use brass candlelighter

Candlelighters are located in same closet where find robes

Assure candlelighter has sufficient (long enough) wax wick. If not, replace it. There is a supply of long wax wick in boxes on shelf in back room. Replace wick by sliding short wick out of candlelighter, pull short wick out and insert long wick. If necessary, trim access wick with scissors.

Use matches to light candlelighter.  Proceed to light the candles

-       Candles to be lit include the following two sets of candles.

1)       Two Processional Candles

These Candles and Cross are located behind the altar to the left (as one faces the altar)

2)       Two Candles to right and left side of altar

If only one acolyte, the candle on right (as one faces the altar) side is lit first.

After lighting alter candles, pause and reverence (bow)

·         Select the Acolytes who will

-       Go and call the children back to sanctuary after sermon

·         Assemble for procession

-       Carry cross and processional candles from back of sanctuary for start of service

Walk down the right (as one faces the back of sanctuary) side

Crucifer leads carrying the cross

Acolytes follow carrying processional candles.

NOTE: Carrying the processional candles to one’s side will help in the prevention of possible tripping.

Acolytes serving as Bookbearers follow behind candles

NOTE: Bookbearer is needed for “Gospel Processional (Service)”

-       Order of procession assembly

Crucifer carrying cross

Two acolytes carrying processional candles.  One on right and one on left side.

Acolytes serving as Bookbearer

NOTE: Bookbearer is needed for Gospel Processionals  (For special Sunday worship e.g. Reformation Sunday)

Presiding Minister(s), Assisting Minister(s), and/or Deacon follow.

OPENING PROCESSION

·         Crucifer starts walking when congregation begins singing

·         Both acolytes follow closely behind carrying candle at same height

·         Stop at top of first step to altar and wait for others in procession

Crucifer stops and turns to face congregation

NOTE: If the Christ Candle is in place, Crucifers stands behind the Christ Candle.

Acolytes will proceed to get behind Crucifer

Wait for node from presiding minister indicating ok to proceed to return Cross and Candles to place behind alter.

·         Place Cross and Candles in place behind altar

·         Find your sitting place to the right (as one faces the congregation) side. This is same side of pulpit

WORSHIP

·         Follow worship bulletin.

GOSPEL PROCESSIONAL (For special Sunday worship e.g. Reformation Sunday) 

·         Immediately after the reading of “The Lesson”, the Crucifer, Acolytes, and Bookbear prepare to carry the Cross, Candles, and Bible to the center isle.

-       Crucifer leads the Gospel Processional down the center isle

-       The order of the Gospel Processional

Crucifer carrying cross

Acolytes carrying candle

Bookbearer carrying the Bible

Presiding Minister who will read from the Gospel

-       Crucifer stops 3 / 4 down the center isle and turns to face the altar

-       The Acolytes stops in front of the Crucifer and turn to face each other leaving          space for the Bookbearer.

-       The Bookbearer stops in front of the Acolytes and turns to face the altar

-       The Bookbearer positions the Bible so that the presiding minister can open it            for the reading of the Gospel.

·         After the reading of the Gospel, begin to return to altar

-       Acolytes, Bookbearer and presiding minister step back to let crucifer through to return Cross to back of altar

-       Acolytes follows Crucifer to return candles to back of altar

-       Bookbears follows Acoolytes to return Bible to pulpit

-       Presiding Minister follows Bookbearer

·         After the sermon, acolyte exits through back room to go and call the children back into sanctuary.

PRESENTATION OF BREAD/OFFERINGS/GIFTS

·         Crucifier brings Large Offering Plate so that ushers can place offering on plate

Large Offering Plate is to the side of the Acolytes sitting area

·         Present the Large Offering Plate

-       Before proceeding to return Large Offering Plate, crucifier turns and raise the Large Offering Plate to the altar

·         Crucifier returns Large Offering Plate to it’s place

COMMUNION

·         Crucifer and Acolytes move to altar  to receive communion and to assist with serving communion

·         Once given chalice of wine, follow presiding minister and/or assisting minister to one side

·         Serving wine

-       Say “Blood Of Christ Shed For You”

-       Present the wine for either dipping (called intinction)  or drinking

-       Use linen napkin for drippings of wine

-       If someone drinks the wine

Use linen napkin to clean chalice followed by ¼ turn

-       If bread gets into chalice

Proceed to altar to remove bread from chalice with spoon.  Place soaked piece on tray and avoid staining altar linen.

Do this as quickly as possible but safely

-       If wine is running low

Proceed to altar to refill.

Do this as quickly as possible but safely

·         Once all have received communion, proceed to altar and hand the wine chalice to presiding minister

NOTE: Never place chalice directly on the linen.

CLOSING PROCESSION

·         Crucifer and Acolytes gather at first step to altar for Closing Procession

·         At appropriate time, Crucifer begins walking to the back.

NOTE: Closing procession starts when congregation begins singing last verse.

Crucifer leads.

Acolytes follow closely behind carrying candles at same height.

·         Stop at back and wait for others (presiding minister, etc)

Crucifer stops and turns to face alter and congregation.

Acolytes will proceed to get behind Crucifer.

Wait for the Dismissal ending (e.g “Thanks Be To God”) from congregation.

Using the side aisles, proceed to return Cross and Candles behind altar.

FINAL DUTIES

·         Return Cross and Candles to appropriate place behind altar.

·         Extinguish (put out) all candles with extinguish end of Candlelighter.

NOTE: If the Christ Candle or the Advent Wreath are lit, put them out also.

·         Return white robe (called alb), rope belt (called cinture) and Candlelighter to appropriate place in closet

Robes are wash and wear. If your robe needs cleaning (e.g. Wine stains), take home and wash in cold water. NO BLEACH, NO IRONING.