Calvary Episcopal Church Cleveland MS

A Handbook for Acolytes Acolyte (Summer)

During the summer months, a single acolyte performs all needed duties to assist the clergy, lay ministers and ushers in the service.

Basic description and duties The Acolyte has to literally do everything during the summer. The Acolyte leads the Entrance and Retiring processions as well as the Gospel procession. In addition, the Acolyte helps prepare the altar for communion, distributes and collects the plates for communion, and executes any other duties as directed by the clergy during the service. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the service to allow time to get vested and complete preparations for your role in the service.

Preparation/Lighting the Candles • Vest and light the altar candles. You should plan to light the candles about 10 minutes prior to the service. • It's a good idea to bend the end of the wick over a little to give a better angle to access the candles. You only need about 1-2 inches of wick extending beyond the brass tube. If you use a very long wick, there's a risk that you'll drip wax from the wick onto a surface; that will make you very unpopular with the Altar Guild who will be cleaning up your mess. • Light the candles on the altar first. Light the Epistle side first, then the Gospel side. Then light the candles in the back, Epistle side first, .lighting from inside to outside. Then light the Gospel side, lighting from inside to the outside. When all the candles are lit, extinguish the taper and return it to its place next to the altar. • If a candle is hard to light- the wick gets submerged or some other problem, it's OK to take the candle down to get a better view of the wick. Take care that you don't spill wax on any surface.

The Entrance Procession • The Procession starts with lyrics of the first hymn. You will carry the Cross and set the pace. • Maintain a stately, steady pace. Much like the conductor of an orchestra, everyone else-other acolytes, choir, lay ministers and clergy- is looking to you for the right timing and leadership. • Hold the Cross upright in a secure, relaxed manner. • Pause briefly when you reach the sanctuary entrance. Then proceed to the epistle side and secure the Cross at the end of the first pew. After securing the Cross, enter the sanctuary and take your place on the gospel side.

The Gospel Procession • When the priest signals you, go out of the sanctuary and take the cross out of the support on the pew. Stand at the sanctuary entrance and wait for the priest to get the Gospel Book. • When the priest turns, lead him/her to the middle of the church. Stop at the 5th pew and turn to face the altar. • After the Gospel reading, lead the procession to the sanctuary. Secure the Cross before returning to your seat in the sanctuary. The Offertory • After the Announcements, take the Gospel book off the altar and get the offertory plates. Accompany the Lay Reader to the the head of the steps, carrying the plates. • Give plates to the ushers, then return to the credence table to assist the priest in preparing the elements for communion. • If needed, hand the priest additional bread/wafers including the gluten-free wafer. • Remove the stoppers from the wine and water cruets. If there is enough wine in the flagon, the wine cruet will not be needed. The priest will add water to wine in the flagon and the chalice. Hold the cruets so that the handle is toward the priest. When transferring either cruet, reverence the priest. • When the altar is prepared, assist the priest with the lavabo. Hold the lavabo in your left hand with the lavabo towel over your left wrist. Pour water over the priest's fingers from the water cruet, which you should have in your right hand. (If you are left-handed, it's fine to reverse the positions of the lavabo and cruet.) • At the start of the Doxology, take the offertory plate and move move back to the head of the steps. Receive the plates from the ushers and move up to the sanctuary. Hand the plates to the Lay Reader. • After the presentation of the offering, close the sanctuary rail and move the kneeler cushion.

The Retiring Procession • Working with the Worship Leader, extinguish the altar candles (and the Paschal candle if applicable). See the diagram below for the extinguishing sequence. • After extinguishing the candles and returning the snuffer to its place in the corner, go out and get the cross. Wait at the entrance to the altar, facing the altar. The priest will signal you to start the retiring processional. • Lead the Procession down the aisle to the Narthex maintaining a stately pace. Remember, the choir, lay ministers and clergy need time to process as well. The objective is to have a procession with flow rather than gaps. • After reaching the narthex, return the Cross to the sacristry, then put away your vestments.