The Altar Guild Manual Trinity Cathedral 1100 Sumter Street Columbia, South Carolina 29201 (803)-771-7300 Ninth Printing 2017 The members of the Altar Guild dedicate this manual to Rosalee Fleming Salley in grateful appreciation and admiration for her twenty years (1961 - 1981) of service as chairman of the Altar Guild of Trinity Cathedral Parish. Third Printing, August 1984 Fourth Printing, April 1989 Fifth Printing, December 1997 Sixth Printing, July 2002 Seventh Printing, August 2013 Eighth Printing February 2014 Ninth Printing September 2017 PRAYER OF THE ALTAR GUILD by Mrs. David St. Pierre DuBose Dear God, Heavenly Father, thank you for this opportunity to serve Thee in This, Thy earthly sanctuary. Create in us a pure desire to love and serve Thee better. Cleanse Thy church and this altar guild, beginning with me. Root out all prejudice, bitterness and blindness of heart. May we have a true feeling of cooperation, joyful devotion and glad willingness. Be with our clergy as they try to interpret the Gospel of Jesus. Hold them close, especially in times of discouragement and tiredness. And grant that we may be of real help to them. This we ask in Thy dear Son’s Name. Amen. A PRAYER FOR THE ALTAR GUILD (found among Miss Roberta Aldrich’s papers) O God, who hast granted unto us, Thy servants, the privilege of caring for Thy earthly sanctuary, enable us, we beseech Thee to discharge the duties of our office with humility and godly fear. May we have grace ever to be mindful of Thy presence and of the solemnity of the work in which we are engaged. May our reverence increase as we become more familiar with holy things. Make us faithful here in serving Thee, that we may be better fitted hereafter to praise Thee with all the company of Thy saints - those blessed ones who stand before Thy throne and serve Thee day and night in Thy temple; through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen. 3 THE REQUISITES FOR OUR MINISTRY ARE: Reverence - we are working with holy things Cheerfulness - we are giving ourselves and our time Promptness - services must be done on time Ranna Dial DuBose Reverence is a tender, affectionate regard for holy things. Reverence is placed first because it is our greatest need in the preparation of our work in the sanctuary. Whatever else we lack, reverence we must have. This spirit of reverence lies underneath and behind all our work in the sanctuary. A Handbook for Altar Guilds by Lucy V. Mackrille 4 TERMS USED IN ALTAR GUILD WORK ALTAR - the holy table for preparing the Eucharist RETABLE - raised part behind altar for cross, candelabra and vases of flowers CREDENCE SHELVES a) on Epistle (south) side of altar for Eucharistic elements and vessels b) on Gospel (north) side of altar for large alms basin CREDENCE TABLES – Table on Epistle (south) side of altar for Eucharistic elements and vessels, and table in Seibels chapel SACRED VESSELS a) Chalice - cup used to administer wine to the communicants b) Paten - plate to hold the bread c) Cruet – small cruet for wine and water d) Flagon - large cruet for wine e) Bread box or bowl – container for Eucharistic wafers f) Ciborium – goblet-shaped vessel with top for holding Eucharistic wafers g) Lavabo – basin for celebrant’s ablutions LINENS a) Fair Linen – cloth to cover top of altar and fall 18 inches on either side. It has embroidered on it five crosses representing the five stabs Christ received at the Crucifixion. b) Corporal – linen cloth with cross embroidered at the hem. It is placed on the fair linen beneath the chalice (make sure cross is toward Celebrant and that corporal covers very edge of fair linen). c) Pall – linen square stiffened; used as cover for chalice and paten containing priest’s Host. Also, a heavy cloth that covers a casket or cremains’ urn. d) Purificator – small linen cloth with cross in center used for cleansing the chalice at the altar e) Chalice Veil – a silk square (seasonal color) used to cover the chalice, purificator, paten and pall f) Burse – two silk squares stiffened and attached (seasonal color) – placed on top of chalice veil to hold extra purificators, hinged side toward congregation 5 g) Credence cover – linen cloth to fit credence shelf or table h) Lavabo towel – linen towel placed next to Lavabo i) Cere cloth – a waterproof protector for a stone or marble altar j) Baptismal towel – small white linen towel embroidered with a shell to be used at Baptism k) Spillage towel – embroidered in red with either a cross, triangle, or the word, “Trinity” l) White cross towel – white linen towel, embroidered with a white cross. Used for drying Eucharistic vessels COLOR USE – hangings are used (in the colors of the seasons of the Christian year) on the pulpit, lectern and marker in the Missal. Check church calendar for proper color. Green signifies spring, the triumph of life over death, charity, regeneration of the soul through good works, hope, peace and growth. Green is used for part of Epiphany and the season after Pentecost. Purple signifies royalty, penitence and mourning. It is used during Advent and Lent. Red signifies love, the Holy Spirit, fire and blood, and martyred saints. It is used at Pentecost, Palm Sunday, Holy Week (except for Good Friday), and often for confirmation and ordination. White signifies innocence of soul, purity, celebration, holiness of life, and saints not martyred. It is used on Christmas Day, Epiphany, Easter, the Ascension, Trinity Sunday, the Transfiguration, All Saints’ Day, All Saints’ Sunday, Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, and Thanksgiving Day Black - signifies death. 6 VESTED VESSELS Vested Vessels 1. Chalice 2. Purificator 3. Paten (place priest’s Host on this) 4. Pall 5. Chalice Veil (same material as hangings) 6. Burse (containing extra purificators, hinged side toward congregation) 7 INTERIOR OF TRINITY CATHEDRAL Marion Street Altar EAST G S e e r n v a a t i e s S S t t r r e e e e t t S N Sumter Street WEST 8 REGULAR SUNDAY SERVICE SCHEDULE 7:45 a.m. Holy Eucharist in the Cathedral (Rite I) 9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II (In the Cathedral & Seibels Chapel) 11:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist in the Cathedral (Rite I) 11:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist in Keenan Chapel (Rite II) 6:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist in Keenan Chapel (Rite II) 4:00 p.m. Evensong SUMMER SUNDAY SCHEDULE 7:45 a.m. Holy Eucharist in the Cathedral (Rite I) 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist in the Cathedral (Rite I) 11:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist in Keenan Chapel 6:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist in Keenan Chapel (Rite II) 9 CATHEDRAL MORNING OR EVENING PRAYER 1. Check color of hangings (color of date on calendar) on pulpit, lectern, and marker in Missal. 2. Put order of service in Bible on lectern. 3. Put Gospel Book on Gospel (north) side of altar. 4. On Retable: a) Cross b) Candelabra c) Flowers 5. On Altar: (a) Cere Cloth (b) Fair Linen (c) Gospel Book 6. On credence shelf (Gospel [north] side) – large alms basin and mat 7. Six (6) alms basins (red mat in each) on very back pew benches after ushers arrive 10 Holy Eucharist Sunday – 7:45 a.m. THE PASCHAL CANDLE IS USED FROM EASTER THROUGH THE DAY OF PENTECOST 1. Check color of hangings on pulpit, lectern, and marker in Missal. Check color of chalice veil and burse (the color of date on calendar except use white for Baptisms). 2. Put two deep alms basins (red mat in each) on very back pew benches after ushers arrive. 3. On credence shelf (Gospel [north] side) – large alms basin and red mat Sunday, 7:45 a.m. HE 11 4. On credence shelf (Epistle [south] side): a) Credence Cover b) Two silver cruets - wine (2 cups) on right; water on left; handles toward wall 5. c) Chased silver flagon of wine (2 cups); handle toward wall d) 75 loose wafers, paper stating 75, plus one bag of 50 wafers in bread box e) Trinity red cross towel on lower credence shelf Credence Shelf, 7:45 a.m. HE 6. On credence table: a) Credence cover b) Chalice, Purificator and Paten c) Lavabo (no water) and lavabo towel to side of lavabo Eucharist minister will handle consecrated elements and gluten free wafers—just make sure the small silver tray is on the table 12 7. Retable: a) Silver Cross on marble base b) Candelabra (unlit) c) Flowers 8. On High Altar: a) Cere cloth b) Fair linen c) Large corporal (make sure cross is toward celebrant and that corporal covers very edge of fair linen) d) Chalice i) Purificator ii) Paten iii) Priest’s Host iv) Pall v) Silk Veil vi) Burse with four purificators, hinged side toward congregation e) Eucharistic candles (only Eucharistic candles are lit at 7:45 service—not candelabra) f) Missal on Missal stand (on south side) 9. Put Order of Service in Missal, Bible and both prayer desks 10. Put Gospel Book (gold) on deacon’s bench (south side) 11. Put cup of water on pulpit rail . Cup of water on pulpit rail 13 HOLY EUCHARIST HIGH ALTAR AND SEIBELS CHAPEL ALTAR Sunday - 9:00 a.m. FILL OIL CANDLES THE PASCHAL CANDLE IS USED FROM EASTER THROUGH THE DAY OF PENTECOST 1. Check color of hangings on pulpit, lectern, and marker in Missal. Check color of chalice veil and burse (color of date on calendar, except use white for Baptisms.) 2. Put eight alms basins (red mat in each) on the very back pew benches after ushers arrive.