STEWARDESS GUIDE Modeling Excellence In Ministry 277 STUYVESANT AVENUE | BROOKLYN, NY 11221 718.452.3936VOICE 718.453.4134FAX [email protected] www.bridgestreetbrooklyn.org Rev. David B. Cousin, Sr., Pastor Rev. Valerie E. Cousin, Executive Minister TABLE OF CONTENTS The Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:17-24) 3 Acknowledgements by Pastor David B. Cousin, Sr. 4 The Composition, Duties & Amenability of Stewardesses 5 Demonstrated Qualities of A Stewardess 6 The Role of Stewardesses at Bridge Street AME Church 7-8 Baptism Weddings Funerals Memorials Holy Communion Wednesday LoveFeast Weekday, Saturday and Sunday Afternoon Services Sundays: Invitation to Christian Discipleship Altar Work throughout the Liturgical Year 9 Advent Christmas Ash Wednesday Palm Sunday Maundy-Thursday Good Friday Easter Pentecost Meaning of Liturgical Colors 10 The Liturgical Year: Seasons, Emphasis, Message & Colors 11 Season Emphasis Message Colors Official Uniform: Shoes, Hosiery, Dress & Head Covering 12 Junior Stewardesses: Training Our Youth for Service 13 Stewardess Commitment Form 14 Stewardess Recommendation Form 15 Notes Page 16 B R I D G E S T R E E T AME C H U R C H | 2 7 7 S T U Y V E S A N T AV E N U E | B ROOKLYN , NY PAGE 2 The Lord’s Supper 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 [NRSV] Abuses at the Lord’s Supper 17 Now in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, to begin with, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and to some extent I believe it. 19 Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine. 20 When you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord’s supper. 21 For when the time comes to eat, each of you goes ahead with your own supper, and one goes hungry and another becomes drunk. 22 What! Do you not have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I commend you? In this matter I do not commend you! The Institution of the Lord’s Supper 23 For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Partaking of the Supper Unworthily 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves. 30 For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. 33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 If you are hungry, eat at home, so that when you come together, it will not be for your condemnation. About the other things I will give instructions when I come. B R I D G E S T R E E T AME C H U R C H | 2 7 7 S T U Y V E S A N T AV E N U E | B ROOKLYN , NY PAGE 3 acknowledgements ”Serving as a stewardess is one of the most sacred and reverent offices one could hold in the kingdom of God because stewardesses oversee the altar work and the Elements [the body and blood] of Christ.” I am so grateful to the Executive Minister, Rev. Valerie Cousin, Sister Thomasena Williams and the Stewardesses for coming together to discuss the layout of this manual so that it might guide the work we have been called and commissioned to do concerning God’s kingdom. As you may have read in 1 Corinthians 11:17-24, overseeing and partaking of the Lord’s Elements is serious sacred work, and those who are responsible for such tasks should not take their responsibilities lightly. Not only are those who handle the Sacraments responsible for maintaining piety and purity of heart and spirit before approaching the work they have been commissioned to perform, but they are also responsible for ensuring the God’s peace is present during the disposition of their duties. To partake of the Lord’s Elements apart from purity of heart is to bring judgment upon oneself. Let me reiterate, Altar work is serious, sacred work and it is not to be taken lightly. Persons who have been appointed as Stewardesses are required to continually examine themselves: their hearts, actions and motives to ensure that their will and spirit aligns with God’s will and spirit as they attempt to fulfill the duties of a Stewardess. Covering the altar for Communion Sunday, weddings, funerals and Holy Services occurring throughout the year are major aspects of the work stewardesses have been called and appointed to do. Stewardesses should therefore live righteously and work together in a unified, harmonious manner if they are to oversee the sacred Elements of Christ [cf. 1 Corinthians 11:17-34]. I pray that this manual and our Stewardess Training will serve as guideposts for the work you have been called to do and will thus engage throughout the Christian Year! May God’s richest blessings be upon you. Pastor David B. Cousin, Sr. B R I D G E S T R E E T AME C H U R C H | 2 7 7 S T U Y V E S A N T AV E N U E | B ROOKLYN , NY PAGE 4 The Composition, Duties & Amenability of Stewardesses Source: The Doctrine and Discipline of the AME Church Composition a. The pastor in charge may nominate one or more Boards of Stewardesses, according to the size of the local church. The persons nominated shall be in good and regular standing in the local church and of good character. b. The pastor in charge shall submit the nominations to the stewards, who shall either confirm or reject them. Those stewardesses who are confirmed shall be held responsible by the stewards for their duties. c. There shall be appointed a Junior Board of Stewardesses which shall operate under the direction of the pastor and the Senior Board of Stewardesses. Duties of Stewardesses The function of stewardesses is outlined in the 2012 Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church as is recorded as follows: a. To provide the implements and elements of the Holy Communion and Holy Baptism. 1 Prepare the bread itself as a service of love and devotion rather than purchase it. 2 Make adequate preparations for all baptisms. Where there is not a baptismal font, they shall provide a basin of water, clean white linen towels, and such other items as may be required. b. To dress the pulpit and altar rail with suitable clean white coverings for these rituals. 1 The linen used for the table should always be white and perfectly clean. The linen may be embellished with embroidered or crocheted Protestant religious symbols. 2 The utensils should be polished. 3 As the washing of hands is both ceremonial and practical, special care should be given to sanitizing the ministers’ hands for serving the Holy Communion. Using soap, warm water should be poured over the hands of the ministers for appropriate washing. Small white towels should be applied for each minister to dry their hands before administering the sacrament. The common bowl of water must be avoided. Hand sanitizers or antibacterial agents are acceptable. Stewardesses should practice health-conscious and safety methods in preparing the elements of the Holy Communion consistent with a standard that meets or exceeds local health laws regarding the preparation of food for public consumption. 4 To dress the pulpit and altar with suitable, clean, colored coverings for the various seasons of the Christian year, for funerals and memorials. Amenability a. There shall be a training course for stewardesses under the supervision of the pastor and senior stewardesses. b. Whenever it is necessary, the pastor and stewards shall remove a stewardess(es) for the good of the church and fill the vacancy(ies). B R I D G E S T R E E T AME C H U R C H | 2 7 7 S T U Y V E S A N T AV E N U E | B ROOKLYN , NY PAGE 5 DEMONSTRATED QUALITIES OF A STEWARDESS An effective Stewardess is one who… ❖ Tithes and gives generously. ❖ Honors and respects the pastoral leadership. ❖ Has a polite, caring and cooperative spirit. ❖ Is spiritual and reverent in carrying out their duties. ❖ Attends monthly meetings, and respects the leadership of their board.