St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Richmond, Texas Acolyte and Chalice Bearer Instructions Ministry Description Thank you for answering the call to serve as a crucifer, torchbearer, gospel bearer, and/or chalice bearer in our parish. Every one of these ministries serves an important purpose in our worship at St. Mark’s. Our parish life and all ministries of our parish are shaped and transformed by our worship. Thus, the rector and people of St. Mark’s thank you for your part in glorifying God through our worship. Below are the definitions of the aforementioned ministries specific to the typical Sunday service at St. Mark’s, Richmond: Crucifer – the minister who carries the cross at the properly appointed times and assists the celebrant in setting the table at the Eucharist. In our parish, the crucifer also bears the first chalice during the time of communion. Torchbearer – the minister who lights the candles before the service, carries the torches at the properly appointed times and extinguishes the candles after the service Gospel Bearer – the minister who carries the gospel book at the properly appointed times. In our parish, the gospel bearer also bears the second chalice during the time of communion. Each of these ministries requires responsibility not only on the Sunday you serve but also in the event that you cannot serve on the day you are scheduled. You are responsible for finding a substitute from the attached list of available ministers. After finding a substitute, you need to notify the office of the change no later than the Wednesday prior to the service at which you were originally scheduled to serve. Please contact the office either by phone or email. Prior to the Service 1) Arrive in vesting room at least 15 minutes before the service. 2) We are a sacramental faith, a faith necessarily experienced through the senses of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching. I do not have to tell you what to wear, but I would tell anybody to wear his or her Sunday best (let the reader understand). 3) Vest in the robe called an alb. You will also wear the white cord called a cincture. Make sure your alb is clean and if you accidentally stain it with wine or something else, please have it cleaned and bring the alb back to the church. 4) The torchbearers light all the candles 10 minutes prior to the service. One torchbearer will light the candles before the service and the other will extinguish them after the service. In the event we do not have torchbearers, the crucifer will be responsible for lighting the candles. First, light the candles behind the altar in the following order: 6 5 4 1 2 3 Second, light the candles on the altar in the following order: 2 1 It helps to remember that the candle or candles on the Gospel/Pulpit side (the left side of the altar as you stand in front of it) of the altar never burn alone. 5) The gospel bearer should retrieve the gospel book and have it with him/her before the procession. 6) The torchbearers will have their torches lit 5 minutes before the service. 7) After the announcements and during the prelude, the clergy and other ministers will gather for prayer. 1 Procession 1) We will begin our procession on the second verse of the processional hymn in the following order: CRUCIFER1 TORCHBEARER (TB1) TORCHBEARER (TB2) GOSPEL BEARER (GB)2 CELEBRANT (CL) 2) TB1 and TB2 may refer to the illustration on page 8 to see how they will carry the torches. GB may refer to the illustrations on page 8 to see how he/she will carry the gospel book (whenever you are walking) and she he/she will hold the gospel book (whenever you are not walking). 3) The CRUCIFER leads everybody, and once we process into the chancel (the area enclosed by our altar rail), we will line up in the following configuration: Everybody will be facing the altar. The shoulders of TB1, CRUCIFER and TB2 will be in a straight line parallel with the altar. The shoulders of GB and CL will be in a staringt line parallel with the altar. After lining up, everybody EXCEPT the CRUCIFER and TORCHBEARERS will reverence. In other words, only the GB and CL will reverence. 4) The celebrant will tug on the CRUCIFER’s alb and he/or she will turn right as the cue for the front group to get moving. TB2 takes his/her torch to its stand on the right side and he/she takes her seat. CRUCIFER takes the cross to its stand on the right side and he/she takes her seat. TB1 takes his/her torch to its stand on the left side and he/she takes her seat. GB places the gospel book on the left side of the altar, opposite the altar book. He/she then takes her seat on the left side. CL will stay in the center for the opening sentences (the first part of the service). 1 CRUCIFER will take the first chalice during the Eucharist. 2 The GOSPEL BEARER will take the the second chalice at the time of the Eucharist. 2 Gospel Procession 1) At the beginning of the second to last verse of the sequence hymn (and yes, this could be the first verse of the hymn!), the crucifer will retrieve the cross and go to the position below: At this point, the CRUCIFER will be facing the altar and standing center to the altar. 2) Once the CRUCIFER has taken his/her position, GB will head to the altar to retrieve the gospel book. GB will hold the book like it is held in the illustration below. GB will take his/her position in front of the crucifer as follows: At this point, GB will also be facing the altar, immediately in front of the CRUCIFER. 3) CL will then take the position as follows: Facing the altar, only the CL will reverence. 4) After CL reverences, he will turn around to directly face GB. At that point, both crucifer and GB turn around. After CL, GB and CRUCIFER have turned, CRUCIFER leads the gospel procession: 3 5) CRUCIFER leads GB and CL into the congregation. CRUCIFER, GB and CL process in a single file line. CRUCIFER stops the procession at the third row from the front. At this point, CRUCIFER turns around facing toward the altar. GB also turns around, standing directly in front of CRUCIFER. CL will be facing CRUCIFER ready to read the gospel. The configuration will be as follows: CL GB CRUCIFER 6) GB will hold the gospel book for the CL during the reading of the gospel. After CL reads the gospel, he or she will elevate the book and say “The gospel of the Lord” and hand back the book to GB. After the people say, “Praise to you, Lord Christ”, CL and GB will move to one side (the kitchen side) and let the CRUCIFER process back towards the altar. The procession back into the chancel will be as follows: CRUCIFER GB CL 7) CRUCIFER walks straight to the altar. Once he/she is standing immediately in front of the altar, he/she turns ninety degrees to the right and takes the cross back to its place. After putting the cross in its place, he/she returns to his/her chair and stands in front of his/her chair. 8) GB follows the CRUCIFER back into the sanctuary, places the gospel book back in its place (on the left side of the altar). He/she then returns to his/her chair and stands in front of his/her chair. 9) CL will go to the pulpit and open his sermon. After he says, “In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit”, the entire altar party and congregation may be seated. 4 Preparing the Table for Eucharist 1) After the exchange of peace and at the beginning of the Offertory Anthem, CRUCIFER (without the cross!) will go to the center, in front of the altar and receive the bread and the wine from the sacrament presenters. 2) With the bread and wine, turn around to face the altar, and place the bread and wine on the altar. CRUCIFER will place it in front of CL and take the stopper off the top of the cruet of wine. 3) CRUCIFER will walk around the altar, toward the credence table, and leave the stopper of the wine cruet on a silver plate at the credence table. 4) CRUCIFER will then go to CL and he or she will give CRUCIFER the container of bread that will not be consecrated. 5) CRUCIFER takes the container of bread to the credence table and leaves it there. 6) CRUCIFER will take off the stopper of the water cruet and leave the stopper at the credence table. Then place lavabo bowl purificator over your left forearm. Take hold of the water cruet (w/o top) and the lavabo bowl. Now head directly to the CL. 7) CL will first only take the cruet of water and pour water into the chalice of wine and cruet of wine. Keep standing there. 8) CL will then hand the cruet of water back to CRUCIFER. 9) CRUCIFER will pour water into lavabo over the fingertips of the CL. This is a cleansing ritual. After washing, CL will dry his or her hands with lavabo bowl purificator and place it back on CRUCIFER’s left forearm. 10) CRUCIFER will take bowl, purificator and water cruet back to credence table.