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Home , Acolyte, Altar rail, Crucifer, Gospel (liturgy), Gospel Book, Postcommunion

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Richmond, Texas and Bearer Instructions

Ministry Description

Thank you for answering the call to serve as a , torchbearer, 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 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 who carries the cross at the properly appointed times and assists the celebrant in setting the table at the . In our parish, the crucifer also bears the first chalice during the time of .

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 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 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 understand).

3) Vest in the robe called an . You will also wear the white cord called a . 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 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/ 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 .

6) The torchbearers will have their torches lit 5 minutes before the service.

7) After the announcements and during the prelude, the and other ministers will gather for prayer. 1

Procession

1) We will begin our procession on the second verse of the processional 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 (the area enclosed by our ), 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 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:

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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 , 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 . After he says, “In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit”, the entire altar party and congregation may be seated.

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Preparing the Table for Eucharist

1) After the exchange of peace and at the beginning of the Anthem, CRUCIFER (without the cross!) will go to the center, in front of the altar and receive the bread and the wine from the 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 of wine.

3) CRUCIFER will walk around the altar, toward the , 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 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.

11) When the ushers are ready and the music begins, CRUCIFER will go to the center (same place where CRUCIFER received bread and wine), in front of the altar. CRUCIFER will receive plate(s) from ushers.

12) With the plate(s), turn around to face the altar and hand the plate(s) to CL. If CL is not quite ready, just wait a second or two, and when he or she is ready, hand the plate(s) to him or her.

13) CL will elevate the plate(s) and place them on the altar.

14) After CRUCIFER has handed the plates to CL, he/she comes around the altar to stand on CL’s left- hand side

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The Eucharist

1) When the doxology music begins, GB will accompany CL at the altar, standing on his right-hand side.

2) Both CRUCIFER and GB can leave their service bulletins at their respective chairs.

3) CRUCIFER and GB will stand through the entire Eucharistic prayer.

4) CRUCIFER and GB are free to perform signs of reverence and cross themselves with the CL. You can perform those manual acts of piety or simply stand erect through the Eucharistic prayer. Below are the times when Father Bert will do such things:  He will slightly bow at “Holy, holy, holy Lord…” and he will remained in the bowed position until “full of your glory.” He will come up as we say/sing “full of your glory.”  He will make the at “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”  He will reverence after putting the bread down after he says “…remembrance of me.”  He will reverence after putting the chalice down after he says “…remembrance of me.”  He will cross himself during the when he says, “Sanctify us also (Prayer A)” or “…being sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Prayer B)”.  He will reverence after putting the bread and wine down after we all say “AMEN” at the very end of the Eucharistic prayer.

5) After the people say, “[] Therefore let us keep the feast”, the CRUCIFER will retrieve the second chalice and purificator from the credence table (the first chalice is already on the altar). CRUCIFER will give the second chalice to the CL.

6) CL will then fill that second chalice and hand it to GB.

7) CL will hand the first chalice to the CRUCIFER.

8) CL will take the (plate with the bread) in order to elevate.

9) The occurs when the CL elevates the paten, the CRUCIFER elevates his/her chalice with both hands (no purificator), and the GB elevates his/her chalice with both hands. The CL, the CRUCIFER and the GB elevate the gifts (the bread and wine) at the same time. CL will say, “The gifts of God for the people of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.”

10) After the elevation, the CL will take the from the CRUCIFER and the GB, and he will place them back on the altar.

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Administration of the Eucharist

1) TB1 will join GB at the altar to receive communion. TB2 will join CRUCIFER at the altar to receive communion.

2) After CL has given himself bread and wine, he will give bread to the entire altar party (CRUCIFER, GB, TB1 and TB2).

3) CL will give wine to the entire altar party. The last person to receive the wine will be the CRUCIFER and he/she will take the chalice after receiving wine. CL will hand the second chalice and purificator to GB.

4) TB1 and TB2 can take their seats after receiving communion.

5) The people will begin to make their way to the altar rail. CRUCIFER will administer wine to all the people on the side of the altar rail (the side on which he/she had been seated) and GB will administer wine to all the people on the pulpit side of the altar rail (the side on which he/she had been seated).

6) Do not let go of the chalice when administering the wine. Wipe the edge of the chalice after each person has drunk from it. Rotate the chalice and change the position of the purificator so that a clean spot is used.

7) When administering the wine, tip the chalice gently so each person gets a small sip of wine.

8) Some people will dip their bread into the chalice. If the bread falls into the chalice, remove it with the spoon found on the credence table and eat it. Then let CL know so he can administer another wafer to the person.

9) At the end of communion, GB may place the chalice and purificator on the altar.

10) CRUCIFER can assist CL in putting everything (paten, chalices, , etc.) on the credence table.

11) After the communion hymn, at the time of the prayer, CL will return to stand behind the altar. CRUCIFER and GB will remain at his/her chairs. When the CL says, “Let us pray”, the CRUCIFER and GB will stand for the postcommunion prayer. After the postcommunion prayer and , the CL will return to stand in front of his chair.

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Recessional

1) At the beginning of the third to last verse of the recessional hymn (and yes, this could be the first verse of the hymn!), the crucifer will retrieve the cross and go to the position below. Once the CRUCIFER is making his/her way to his/her position, TB1 and TB2 retrieve their torches and go their position below:

At this time, the CRUCIFER, TB1 and TB2 will be facing the altar.

2) GB and CL will come from their chairs and take their places to complete the configuration:

3) GB and CL will reverence and turn around. When they turn around, so will CRUCIFER, TB1 and TB1.

4) CRUCIFER then leads everybody out in the following configuration:

CL GB TB1 TB2 CRUCIFER

After the Service

1) The CRUCIFER returns the cross to its place

2) TB1 and TB2 extinguish torches put them back in their holders. Then TB1 and TB2 extinguish the candles in the reverse order in which they were lit. If we do not have torchbearers, it will be the CRUCIFER’s responsibility to extinguish the candles.

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Illustrations

Eucharistic Vessels and Linens

Torches

Gospel Book

Carrying the Gospel Book Holding the Gospel Book

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