A CUSTOMARY FOR LECTORS Church of the Holy Spirit - Anglican

The Role of the Lector The lector reads the Biblical lessons appointed for a particular Sunday or service, which may include leading the recitation of the Psalm. Also, he or she may lead the Nicene Creed and the Prayers of the People.

Lector 1 - Old Testament and Psalter Lector 2 - Epistle, Nicene Creed, and Prayers of the People

Lectionary: http://lectionarypage.net Pronunciation Guide: http://thebibleworkshop.com/bible-name-pronunciation/

Distribution of the Schedule Several weeks before a new schedule is prepared, an e-mail is sent regarding scheduling preferences. The schedule is made to cover a 3-4 month period typically and upon completion, will be e-mailed to you.

Duties of the Lector

Arrival The persons assigned as lectors should arrive 10-15 minutes before the service. This way, there will be no frantic searching for a last-minute substitute. Take a moment to double- check the readings for the day, in case the bulletin indicates a change. A copy of the bulletin will be available at the lectern. If you get to the lectern and there is no service bulletin, borrow one from the nearest acolyte.

Where to Sit The lector will sit in the congregation, unless serving in another role at the altar, along either side. This will facilitate movement to and from the lectern at the proper time. Please take timing into consideration if you choose to sit in the back or are serving in music ministry.

Walking to the Lectern Immediately at the end of the collects, the lector rises (perhaps before the conclusion, depending on seating) and walks up the aisle to the lectern. Do / plan this with dispatch so as to not delay the service. (If you’re not prompt about this, it causes others to think that the lector is “missing in action.” In addition, a delay calls attention to yourself, which is not desirable.) Please reverence the altar with a full bow upon entrance to and exit from the chancel. At the conclusion of the Psalm, lector 1 and lector 2 will intersect and reverence the altar together at the bottom of the steps. Speaking Techniques There is so much that can be said about this topic that it would fill an entire book. Consider the difference between recitation and proclamation as well as the following information.

Practice No conscientious lector would attempt to read the lessons in a worship service without several practice sessions. Although we use the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible, studying the same passage from more than one translation can greatly increase your understanding of it, and make you more comfortable about reading the lesson. As you study the passages you’ll read, underline the words which need to be stressed to bring out the meaning of the lesson - typically the verbs. Draw vertical bars between words where pauses are appropriate. A pronunciation guide is listed above or feel free to ask.

Rate Don’t read so fast that your words run together. Don’t read so slowly that the members of the congregation are put off by it. If you’ve read, digested, and fully understand the lesson yourself, you are bound to attain that perfect middle ground for speed, allowing the congregation time to absorb the lesson. There are two definite pauses that should be observed - the space between “A reading from...” and the beginning of the reading as well as the space between the conclusion of the reading and “the Word of the Lord...” (suggested 2 count). Use meaning and punctuation to guide - pause at periods, partial pause at commas, semi-colons, etc.

Loudness / Pitch It is necessary that you speak as loudly as you would need to in order to be heard by people in the middle of the nave. When you arrive at the lectern, gently adjust the mic to just below your mouth. If you are lector 2, a clip-on mic is available at the sound system area for use with the Nicene Creed and Prayers of the People. If you notice an increase in pitch due to nervousness, set your intention to lower the voice a bit.

It’s all right to look up as you read, rather than keep your face down towards the printed material. Let your finger keep track of where you are. This is one of the reasons you will have practiced the lessons enough, so that you can be comfortable with the text. This helps the voice to project to all the people, no matter where they’re sitting. It also sends the message that the content of the lesson is familiar to you.

Diction Pay close attention to using proper diction. If you encounter a momentary lapse of memory about how to pronounce something, don’t panic. Just say the word or name as best as you can with confidence, and most of the listeners won’t even notice. The goal is to not draw attention to yourself and away from the lesson. If you do make some kind of verbal mistake, keep going! Please refrain from the urge to blurt out. Be very conscious of word endings and clearly produce final consonants. Even if you speak loudly enough, you can easily slur the word endings and become unintelligible to your audience. Keep the volume consistent for the whole word, and follow through to the last letter. De-emphasize articles (a, the). When using the mic, be careful of sibilants (phonemes /s, z, sh, ch, j/, which can give a hiss), and plosives (voiced and voiceless phonemes /p, b, t, d, k, g/, which give a puff of air). Speak with moderate inflection, reading with vitality. Please use caution: this is not a dramatic reading. Embrace your dialect if you have an accent.

Determining the Lessons The Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) is used and a link is listed above for you to determine the lessons. We are currently in year A in the cycle. Also, a bulletin will be e- mailed to you, typically the Thursday before your scheduled Sunday. Always consult the service bulletin before the service to make sure that the lessons you’ve been practicing are really the ones listed! There exists the possibility that the clergy will make a substitution of texts. This is one of the reasons why you are encouraged to arrive early when you are scheduled as a lector. If you notice anything unusual, check in with me before the service so you can remain informed.

Introducing the Lessons The Book of Common Prayer specifies the words to be used to introduce and conclude the reading of each lesson. For example, the introduction is as simple as saying, “A Reading from...” Simply state the name of the book only (not the chapter or verses) or the fancy way noted in Appendix A. Pause about two beats to allow the page to be found. At the end of the reading, pause about two beats and then say, “The Word of the Lord.” The congregation will respond with, “Thanks be to God.” Please wait for the reply before stepping away from the lectern. If a book of the Apocrypha is used, the final verbalization is “Here Endeth the Reading.”

Introducing the Psalm When introducing the Psalm, use these words: “The portion of the Psalter appointed for today is (book + chapter) found on page (#) of the bulletin. Let us read it in unison / responsively by whole verse / responsively by half verse / alternately with the men reading the odd verses and the women reading the even verses / alternately with the Epistle side reading the odd verses and the Gospel side reading the even verses.” Whichever way is chosen, be sure you lead the first verse. At the conclusion of the Psalm, pivot from the lectern to face the cross for the Gloria Patri, then turn to leave with timing to meet lector 2 to bow at the base of the steps leading to the chancel. At various times throughout the church year, the Psalm may be sung in unison or responsively with a cantor leading and the congregation singing a refrain. In this case, depart the chancel after the Old Testament reading.

Timing The service is a group effort, all members participating help with the pacing. Take care to pay attention to the happenings and be ready for your role. Returning to Your Pew At the end of the reading, reverence the altar with a full bow at the waist (if solo, at the top of the steps in the chancel; if with another lector, at the bottom, together) and return to your seat in the congregation by the most direct route.

Nicene Creed / Prayers of the People Upon the conclusion of the homily, proceed directly to the center aisle about 2/3 of the way back in the nave. This place allows you voice to project to those in front of you and still be heard by those behind you. It is fine to allow a pause for meditation after the homily, just do so in place so that no one thinks the role was forgotten. Introduce with “Let us stand and affirm our faith with the words of the Nicene Creed.” Pause for people to stand before beginning. Allow a pause before beginning the Prayers of the People. When the word silence is noted, please take an extended pause and allow a few moments of silence without rushing. When prayers permit space for people to mention petitions or names, wait until voicing begins to wane before proceeding. Feel free to offer your own petitions during the spaces within the text. One word of caution, remember in this role, your prayers are being offered on behalf of all people. The Prayers of the People are always concluded with a collect by the celebrant / priest.

Prayer Spending time in prayer with the lesson is encouraged. There is power in the Word of God, and you are the instrument of speaking that word to his people.

Attendance If you are not able to keep the assigned schedule for some reason, simply arrange for a sub. If you cannot find a sub, contact me. A list of phone numbers will be attached to the schedule.

Note: Giant bookmarks are available for your use with the introductory words, one for the Psalm (kept on the lectern), one for the Nicene Creed (kept in a wall pocket in the narthex - feel free to borrow and return it). Appendix A

A reading from...

The book of Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Proverbs Ecclesiastes Lamentations

The first book of Samuel Kings Chronicles

The second book of Samuel Kings Chronicles

The Song of Solomon

The Book of the Prophet Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi The Gospel according to Matthew Mark Luke John

The Acts of the Apostles

The letter of Paul to the Romans Paul’s letter to the Galatians the Ephesians the Philippians the Colossians Titus Philemon

The first letter of Paul to the Corinthians Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians Timothy

The second letter of Paul to the Corinthians Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians Timothy

The Epistle to the Hebrews

The letter of James Jude

The first letter of Peter John

The second letter of Peter John

The third letter of John

The Revelation to John