Procedure for the 8:00AM LEM Role DRAFT
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St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church | Austin, TX Procedure for the 8:00AM LEM Role DRAFT Document Date – October 10, 2018 (Revised Jan, 2020) Audience – 8:00AM LEMs and Clergy Summary – The 8:00AM LEM is responsible for preparing the Altar and Credence tables with the appropriate Communion Elements and to coordinate amongst Clergy and Head Usher the various Lay assignments for the service. Generally, the Altar Guild prepares, in advance, all required elements and vessels for use at the 8:00AM service. These elements, normally covered and appropriately labeled, will be placed on the right-side counter in the Altar Guild Sacristy (AGS). The use of Lay persons at this service should follow the BCP rubrics which require an ordained person (Priest, Deacon, Curate, etc.) to prepare the Altar and to handle the disposition of the bread and wine after the Holy Communion. To the extent possible, these requirements should be maintained. Consult with Clergy for any questions or clarification. The 8:00AM LEM should request church keys to access a) external doors to Sanctuary, b) both Sacristies, and c) Vesting Rooms in basement. Procedure – Prior to the Service • Arrive at the church ~7:15AM. While you will vest to serve, you may choose to wait and vest once most of the work preparing for the service is finished. There are times when the church is used on Saturday nights for events that may require additional effort to prepare the Chancel area (area around Altar). Examples include location of candles, Fair Linen, Altar Cover, placements of linens on Credence Tables, even location of Altar, etc. • Retrieve the requisite number of travel communion kits from the Priest Sacristy. Only use kits that are tagged as clean and ready. Quantity of kits required will be communicated via the weekly reminder. Carry these kits to the AGS. Consult with Clergy to determine if more or less than the communicated number of kits are required and adjust as needed. If Clergy is not yet at the church, proceed with the number originally requested on the weekly reminder. • Retrieve the silver cruet used for wine from the 8:00AM tray previously set out by the Altar Guild. The wine cruet can be easily identified as it’s stained on the inside vs the water cruet. • Fill this cruet to within ~1” from the top with wine from the supply bottle. This supply bottle will likely be on the counter near the 8:00AM tray. New supply bottles are located in the lower cabinet to right of sink. Return the wine cruet to the 8:00AM tray. • Retrieve the silver cruet used for water from the 8:00AM tray. Add water from the sink to this cruet to ~1” from the top. • Remove the containers within each travel kit that will hold the consecrated wafers and wine. • For the empty wine container(s), add wine (~3/4” from bottom) to each from the wine cruet. For each, add a drop of water from the water cruet. Secure lids to each and place each container on the 8:00AM tray. • Return each of the wine and water cruets back onto the 8:00AM tray. • For the empty wafer container(s), retrieve the Ciborium from the Tabernacle. Retrieve wafers from the Ciborium and add five to each wafer container(s). Update the wafer count on the paper tally inside the Ciborium, reducing the count by the number of wafers removed (5, 10, etc). Secure lids to each and place back into the travel kits. (Note…wafers from the Ciborium are already consecrated.) • Both kits are to be placed on the floor, beneath the credence table to the left side. • Once in the Chancel, ensure the following – o Candles on each side of the Altar are appropriately placed. o Paschal Candle is present – depending on the season and/or service. Check with Clergy. o Advent Wreath is present – during Advent and through Epiphany. o Fair Linen is placed on top of the Altar. If the dust cover (secondary linen) is present, remove it, fold it neatly, and place on the left-side counter in the AGS. o Two corporals placed on top of the Altar, along the back edge. One in the middle and the other to the immediate right. There should be vinyl sheets below each to prevent spills from staining the Fair Linen. o Missal and Missal stand should be place on the Altar to the left of the center corporal. o Check with Clergy to see if the Gospel Book is required and if so, place it on the Altar near the front, right corner as facing the congregation. o Proper liturgical vestments are in place on Altar and front of podium. It’s highly unlikely these vestments are not in place. Clergy can assist as needed. o Long, narrow linens placed on top of the three credence tables – one table in the center directly behind the Altar and one on each side of the red, carpeted platform against the wall. o In the podium, ensure the microphone is functional and that there are large-print copies of the First Lesson, Psalm, Second Lesson, and Gospel present along with a current Order of Service. Depending on timing, these copies may not have been brought in yet by the Usher. The PA system can be turned on by pressing the single black button on the wall to the right of the door to the Priest’s Sacristy. Once the button is pressed, it may take several seconds for the light to come on indicating the PA system is functional. o Two small cups of water, covered by saran wrap, on shelf below podium. This is normally placed by the Alter Guild. • Light the small votive candle and carry this candle along with the Ciborium to the credence table, placing both on top, at the back, right-hand corner. • Confirm that the Colatorium (small, silver strainer) is in place, atop a small crystal dish on the small credence table opposite the choir area. • There may be up to five purificators alongside the Colatorium placed out by the Altar Guild. These will be used by the 10:30AM LEMs and will be confirmed to be in place by the Altar Guild prior to the 10:30AM service. • On the 8:00AM tray, confirm the following are present – o Vested Chalice. The Vested Chalice is made up of a Chalice, Paten, Priest’s wafer, Mortar, and Vestment. Please check to ensure all elements of the Vested Chalice are in place. o One Chalice. Rarely, a second Chalice may be needed depending on the estimated number of those attending the service. Check with Clergy. o Two cruets – one wine and one water. o One pewter Porridge bowl for use in the event a second Chalice is used. The Ciborium will be used by one of or the single Bread server. o One silver container, with lid, containing bagged, unconsecrated standard wafers. o One paten with baggie containing ~4 gluten free GF) wafers. o Silver dish and towel for use when cleansing Celebrant’s hands prior to Eucharist. o Extra baggies of unconsecrated standard and GF wafers. These may already be on the lower shelf of the credence table. o Folded veil used to cover the consecrated elements on the credence table following Communion. This may already be on the lower shelf of the credence table. • Carefully carry this tray and place it on the top of the credence table. o Move the Vested Chalice to the Altar, placing it on and at the middle-front of the center corporal. Be sure the vestment is arranged properly. o Move each remaining item off the tray onto the top of the credence table, arranging per the photo below. • Place the tray on the floor under the credence table for use by the Altar Guild following the service. • If not already in place and time permitting, hang the Hymn Board. Ask an usher to help if needed. It is not critical that the Hymn Board is in place for the 8:00AM service as it’s used primarily for the 10:30AM service. o If the Hymn Board is not hung, it is likely on the left-side counter in the AGS. The Altar Guild is responsible for populating the Hymn Board. If not populated, do not hang it. • Return to the AGS, turn out light, and close door – do not lock the door. • If not already vested, now would be a good time to do so. The 8:00AM LEM should be vested no later than 7:40AM and well before parishioners begin arriving. o Either prior to or immediately following vesting, unlock both the Women’s and Acolyte’s vesting rooms. • Check with the Celebrant and offer to place his / her Chasuble across the station 1 communion rail for use during the Eucharist. • Consult with the Clergy for any additional requirements. • Approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the service, light the candles on either side of the Altar (along with Pascal candle and Advent Wreath candles as required). • Return to the Narthex and review assigned readings with the ushers. Generally, the head usher assigns 8:00AM readings (First Lesson, Psalm, and Second Lesson) to volunteers ordinarily attending this service. Assigning these readings is not the responsibility of the 8:0AM LEM though the 8:00AM LEM may be requested to read one or more passages (beyond Intercessory Prayers – see below). • Confirm the following with the Celebrant – o Seating location of Clergy and Lay in the Chancel (left or right side behind Altar).