Servers training manual

This Server/Crucifer manual belongs to

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Services of Holy Communion are the foundation of worship at All Saints. The liturgies at our services reflect our regular rhythm of praise and thanksgiving. All Saints encourages a shared approach to ministry.

Thank you for serving. It is the church's prayer that through this ministry, you will grow in relationship with God. In the meantime, the boy Samuel continued to serve the Lord, wearing a sacred linen apron. Each year his mother would make a little robe and take it to him... The boy Samuel grew up in the service of the Lord. (1 Samuel 2:18-21) Samuel is one of the first examples of an assistant to a priest. Your job is to assist the celebrant (the priest in charge of a worship service) and enhance the worship service to help glorify God.

Servers' clothes THE AMICE: Symbolic of a mediaeval headpiece. Symbol of the Helmet of Salvation. (ref. Ephesians 6.10ff - put on the armour of God). White for purity. With embroidered strips called an ‘Apparel’ which forms a stif standing collar and co-ordinates in colour with the liturgical season.

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THE ALB: White to symbolise purity. Worn over a blue cassock. it symbolises putting on the purity of Christ. The person wearing it symbolises the work Christ did by forgiving our sins and making us clean and pure.

AMICE (before it's folded) and ALB:

Look at the next picture showing the alb with the amice folded into a collar.

You will choose the Apparel to match the liturgical season of the year.

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THE GIRDLE:

A belt made of rope, which wraps around the waist. Practical use: it helps to gather up the alb when it may be too long. It symbolises the girdle of faith which we are wrapped up in. Church are discerning

whether we simplify our servers' attire. You might like to share an opinion about this.

The Eucharist Holy Communion1 The season decides the Communion table frontals and the colour of the chasuble to be worn by the celebrant. The burse and chalice veil also co-ordinate with the seasonal colour.

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The communion table upon which the Holy mysteries are celebrated is referred to by many as the Altar for good historical and theological reasons. The liturgy and canons of the Church of England use the simpler word "table," hence either the word Altartable or communion table will be used.

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The Chalice Purificator The Paten Priest’s Host Pall Chalice Veil Burse

A purificator is placed over the chalice with the embroidered cross facing up.

The paten is placed on the chalice, over the purificator.

The Priest’s wafer is placed on the paten for fraction (”We break this bread to share...”).

The Priest's wafer is covered with the pall.

Place the veil over the pall, the ‘front’ displaying embroidery. The bottom edge should meet the communion table. If the chalice is to be carried, fold the back of the veil up over the top over the pall.

Place the burse over the veil.

A folded corporal* should be in the burse. The hinge of the burse faces the congregation, the opening of the burse faces the celebrant.

Place the vested chalice on the Communion table, the other chalice on the credence shelf.

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Cycle of the Church year

For vestments, Altar-table frontals and apparels Ash Wednesday, Lent & Advent: Purple Christmas & Epiphany: White or Gold Palm Sunday & Good Friday: Red Easter Sunday up to Ascension: White or Gold Pentecost: Red Trinity Sunday: White or Gold Sundays in Ordinary Time: Green Baptism Sundays: White

Vestments For the main Sunday service servers should be vested 20 minutes before the start of a service; which means you should arrive no later than 25 minutes before a service starts. When serving, you should always wear black or dark shoes, with dark socks.

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Candles Candles remind us that Jesus is the Light of the World and recall the days of the early Christians when candles and oil lamps were the only sources of light indoors. There will always be two candles on or near the Communion table. The lights on the Altar-table at the Eucharist or Holy Communion always have come to be called the Eucharistic lights and the symbolism is in their representing to us the two natures of Christ: his humanity and his divinity.

Candles should be lighted no later than ten minutes before the start of a service. A paschal candle is used during the 50 days of Easter and at baptisms and funerals. It is placed in front of the Communion table and is lighted well before the start of the service. If a paschal candle is present and not lighted by the time you are vested, ask the Celebrant whether you should light it. For a baptism it is placed at the back of church so that it can be used to light a baptismal candle and symbolise the newly baptised taking the light of Christ into the world.

Advent wreath candles are lighted to correspond to the week of Advent. A rose-coloured candle represents the third Sunday of Advent for Gaudete Sunday.

The Procession Crucifers should check with the Celebrant for any special instructions for the upcoming service (for example, if there are changes to processions as there will be with baptisms). Prepare for worship with the choir and the celebrant with prayers in the choir vestry. After this and with the choir take your positions for the procession. The usual order for a procession is shown below. Three servers are used for the main Sunday service: a Crucifer/Gospel bearer and two torch bearers/servers. Procession Order : 1)Crucifer and Torch-bearers/servers 2)Choir 3)Celebrant

The Gospel Procession Think about the length of the Gospel hymn and with enough time before singing finishes, the gospel bearer should collect the Gospel/lectionary from the Communion table and lift it high with reverence and then, joined by the servers/torch-bearers, begin to process down the chancel and to a position adjacent with the second pillar in the central aisle. The celebrant will follow you.

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You should position yourselves to face the Communion table and hold the gospel open at the page marked with the ribbon for the day. After the Gospel has been read, the celebrant/reader will step to the side of the aisle enabling you to lead the procession back. Return to the sanctuary for the sermon but at this point on All Together/All Ages services join the congregation.

Holy Communion During the time of the ofering, you will assist the Celebrant in preparing the elements for communion. Servers will collect the elements from the sidespeople. The crucifer/gospel-bearer will collect the ofertory plate from the sidespeople and the financial gift will be held while the celebrant prays. Regarding the elements, one server takes the ciborium of wafers to the back of the Communion table (South). Another server takes the cruets of water and wine and places them on the credence shelf (North of the table). The celebrant will prepare wafers from the ciborium first.

When it comes to the wine and water please ofer the cruets with handles towards the celebrant. The celebrant will fill the chalices and then return the cruets to you for you to return to the credence shelf.

Be ready with the water cruet and lavabo for the washing of the celebrant's hands.

After all have received communion, the celebrant will need access to the water cruet for the cleansing of the vessels. The celebrant will hand vessels and other items to you for you to place at the back of the Communion table (on the credence shelf) so that the table is cleared.

The Recession At the start of the recessional hymn, the torch-bearers'/servers' carry their candles and the crucifer the cross once removed from its holder.

The crucifer and the torch bearers/servers lead the choir and then the celebrant down the chancel and the aisle to the back of the church for the assembly's dismissal into the world. After the recessional hymn, extinguish all the candles. Pray with the celebrant before the celebrant greets the people and you return with the choir to the vestry. You will be asked to return the celebrant's chasuble and box microphone to the clergy vestry.

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The vicar sets up 8am, Wed and eve services this way 1. Open the folded Corporal** and centre it on the Altar-table at the edge of the Fair Linen, with any embroidered cross toward the priest. Place the Chalice already filled with a modest amount of wine and a drop of water in the centre of the Corporal.

2. Place the middle third of a folded Purificator over the Chalice, with the end thirds hanging over each side of the Chalice.

3. Place the Paten over the Purificator.

4. Place the Priest’s Host (large wafer and 7 smaller wafers) in the Paten. Ensure the bread box containing extra wafers is on the credence shelf in case usual congregation here bring guests.

5. Place the Pall over the Host and Paten.

6. An alms bag needs to be made available for the collection at the Book of Common Prayer service and bibles or bible sheets and the service book or the Book of Common Prayer should be placed in each chair.

Note on *The corporal

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It's your turn to serve It is good practice to turn up half an hour before the beginning of the service.

You will robe and assist any younger children with robing if they ask for help and give you permission to help.

The Sacristans will have prepared the Eucharist.

Check that this has happened and if it has not, inform the priest and begin to set up yourself.

Keep a calm and reverent atmosphere in the clergy vestry. It is a precious, prayerful time for the minister who is preparing for the service in prayer.

The crucifer will become the gospel bearer and is therefore to have checked that the lectionary is on the Altar-table with the ribbon in the right place for the gospel reading.

Altar-table candles are to be lighted by the servers (torch-bearers/acolytes).

In the clergy vestry, candles for processing are to be lighted and the crucifer is to be ready with the cross. The priest will ask you all to join the gathered choir and Director of Music in the choir vestry as prayers are said before processing.

The procession should occur in an orderly manner towards the font, pause for the priest to step forward and greet the people. The priest will then let the crucifer and choir lead to the chancel. Please take your places within the sanctuary.

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Decide whether you are going to serve the priest to the left (facing Altar-table) (North) or right (facing table) (South) of the Altar-table.

If you serve on the right, you will take the “bread” from the sidespeople during the offertory hymn and when the priest is ready, after they have prayed over the financial offering, you will hand a ciborium containing wafers (bread) to the priest. On the left you will offer the cruets of wine and then water for the priest to pour into the chalices (two chalices – one which has also been dressed with a veil and burse. You will then wash the priest's hands by pouring a small trickle of water over the priest's hands to be caught in the small glass dish beneath (lavabo). You will then offer a small napkin for handdrying. (Be careful not to confuse the water used at the Offertory to add to the wine, with the water used for lavabo).

For the Gospel The crucifer will be the gospel-bearer. During the gradual hymn walk to the Altar-table and lift the lectionary/gospel, accompanied by the acolytes you will then be followed by the priest as you make your way to the second pillar and then turn to face the Altar-table opening up the lectionary where it is marked with a ribbon. At the end of the reading process to the Altar-table with the lectionary elevated and place upon the Altar-table.

At the end of the Eucharist The priest will be wanting to return the Eucharist items to the left credence table – you should take items from the priest as they are handed to you.

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Unconsumed bread and wine will be consumed by the priest and you should swill cups with a few drops of water so that the priest can consume all traces of bread and wine that are contained in the chalices, the priest will have already tipped any crumbs from the paten into the chalice.

The ablutions The Book of Common Prayer has stated “if any remain of the Bread and Wine which was consecrated, it shall not be carried out of the Church, but the Priest, and such other as he shall then call unto him, shall … reverently eat and drink the same.” [The Book of Common Prayer... the communion vessels shall be careful and thoroughly cleansed with water.” This means they should not be fed to the birds, poured down the sink or onto the grass in the churchyard … Always talk to the priest about any remaining bread and wine.

Recessional You will lead the choir and the priest to the back of the church for the final dismissal into the world on the last hymn. Please remain for a moment before you return to the choir vestry and clergy vestry to pray and offer to take any vestments and microphone boxes from the priest. Please hang up your garments carefully and inform the priest if you think any are in need of laundering.

Thank you for all that you do!

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Words to learn ABLUTIONS Cleansing of Chalices and Paten after the Eucharist.

Normally ablutions are done by the priest (and chalicists when there is a large quantity left) before the post-communion prayer.

ACOLYTE One who assists in worship in a variety of actions, such as carrying crosses, torches, banners, etc., assisting with the setting of the table, etc.

ALB A sleeved ankle-length vestment, usually white, worn by the priests and other members of the Altar party at celebrations of the Holy Eucharist.

ALTAR -TABLE A table made usually of wood or stone upon which the Eucharist is celebrated.

ALTAR CROSS The Cross made of brass which stands behind the Altar-table ALTAR-TABLE HANGINGS The Frontal and the Superfrontal that hang in front of the Altar-table and vary in colour with the Church Year.

ALTAR-TABLE LINEN Pieces of linen used to cover Altar-table and Communion vessels, for services of the Holy Eucharist. They consist of the white “Fair Linen Cloth,� the Corporal, the Veil, the Purificators and the Pall.

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BAPTISMAL SHELL A shell, either real or of precious metal, sometimes used by the priest for pouring water in Baptism upon the head of the person to be baptized.

BISHOP’S CHAIR A chair placed at the Gospel side of the Sanctuary for use of the Bishop on his visitation.

BURSE The square pocket or purse which is made to contain the Corporal. It is placed over the veiled Chalice and Paten on the Altar before services of Holy Communion.

CASSOCK A long garment reaching from shoulders to ankles, worn by the choir.

CELEBRANT The one who celebrates the Eucharist, whether Bishop or Priest. Usually, the celebrant wears a chasuble, a colourful poncho-like garment, over alb and stole.

CHALICE The cup, usually of silver, in which consecrated wine is served to the people. Its stem usually has a thickened place in it called a knopf, which distinguishes it from an ordinary goblet.

CHANCEL (from Latin for “lattice”) That part of the church which contains the Sanctuary and Choir. It is usually raised by steps above the Nave of the church.

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CHASUBLE Outer vestment worn by the Celebrant at services of the Eucharist. It is a large oval colourful shaped garment without sleeves, but with a hole in the centre for the head.

CIBORIUM A covered Chalice usually of silver, to contain bread for the Eucharist.

CORPORAL (from Latin “corpus” for “body”) A napkin of fine linen to be spread over the Altar -table and over the “Fair Linen Cloth” upon which the sacred vessels are placed for the Eucharist. A small cross is embroidered on one side, centred near the edge.

CREDENCE The shelf or table made of stone at the side of the Sanctuary upon which are placed the elements preparatory to their consecration.

CRUETS For the use of the Priest in the celebration of the Eucharist, two bottles, called cruets, are provided, holding unconsecrated water and wine respectively, and placed upon the Credence.

ELEMENTS The bread and wine for the Eucharist.

EPISTLE One of the letters in the New Testament. A portion of an Epistle (or another portion of the New Testament) is appointed to be read in services of the Eucharist after the Old Testament lesson and before the Gospel. A psalm is said between.

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EWER A pitcher of silver for the water to be used in Holy Baptism.

FAIR WHITE LINEN CLOTH The long linen cloth covering the top of the Altartable and hanging over the ends. It represents the cloth which was wound about His body at His burial.

FLAGON Another word for a cruet. A flagon is larger.

FONT Contains the water for Baptism.

GOSPEL, THE HOLY A portion of a Gospel must be read at all services of the Eucharist.

HOST (from Latin hostia, “a victim”) The consecrated bread or wafer.

INTINCTION The dipping of the consecrated Bread of the Holy Communion in the consecrated Wine of the Chalice, thus the elements are received at the same time.

LAVABO (from Latin “I will wash”) 1) The ceremonial cleansing of the Celebrant’s hands; 2) The small towel used; and 3) The bowl used for the water.

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LECTERN The stand upon which the Bible is placed and from which are read the Old and New Testament lessons for the day.

LECTIONARY A table of passages of Scripture to be read as lessons for each day of the Church Year. The Sunday, Eucharistic Lectionary is a three-year cycle.

NAVE (from Latin navis, “ship”) The body of the Church building in front of the Chancel where the congregation sits.

PALL A cloth, usually of black, purple or white, spread over a casket; 2) A square piece of cardboard or metal, covered with white linen, which is placed over the Chalice at a Celebration of the Holy Communion.

PARAMENTS The hangings which may decorate a pulpit or lectern.

PASCHAL CANDLE A large candle placed in the large Paschal Candlestick. It is lit on Easter Eve and remains lighted until Ascension Day. It is always used at Baptisms and Funerals.

PATEN (from Greek for “flat, open dish”) A round silver plate upon which the Bread is consecrated and from which it is administered to recipients.

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PROPER The Collect and Scripture readings proper for the day.

PROCESSIONAL CROSS A cross, usually of brass, attached to a pole of wood or metal and carried in front of a procession.

PULPIT (from Latin for “platform”) The structure in a church from which the sermon is delivered, usually located at the front of the Chancel in a position to allow the preacher to be heard and seen well by all in the nave.

PURIFICATOR A small linen napkin with a cross embroidered in the centre, used to wipe the chalice after each person receives the consecrated wine. A few extra purificators are placed on the credence and in the burse in case of spills or other need.

RETABLE A shelf at the rear of the Altar on which may be placed the Altar Cross, vases for flowers, and candlesticks.

RUBRIC (from Latin for “red”) A rule or direction as to the conduct of the services, printed in the Prayer or Service Book, formerly in red, now usually in italics.

SANCTUARY (from Latin for “holy place”) A portion of the Chancel behind the Communion rail.

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SEDILIA (from Latin sedile “a seat”) A series of seats, usually three in number, placed on the right side of the Sanctuary.

SERVER See Acolyte.

SPOON One of the pieces of the Communion Silver, usually perforated, to recover crumbs of bread or wafers which may have been dropped in the Chalice.

STALL A seat on either side of the Chancel with a back and armrests for the use of the clergy and long benches with back and ends placed lengthwise of the Choir portion of the Chancel.

STOLE (from Greek for “equipment, array”) A long band or scarf which is worn during Communion services by the clergy. It is usually made of silk, the colour of the Season or Day of the Christian Year and embroidered with ecclesiastical symbols.

VEIL The embroidered colour silk covering for the Communion vessels, usually the colour of the season or day, also called “the silk veil,” or Communion Veil.

VESSELS The Chalice, Paten, Ciborium, Flagon, Cruets, etc.,

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VESTMENTS The garments worn by the clergy and many who assist in a service, which provide a uniform appearance as well as indicating, in some cases, the function of the person wearing them.

VESTRY 1) The room within or attached to the Church building used for vesting (i.e. putting on vestments); 2) Parish meetings are held here, usually referred to in the Church of England as the meetings of the PCC (Parochial Parish Council) WAFER A small, flat disc of unleavened bread, usually stamped with a cross or the letters IHS (the first three letters of Jesus’ Name in Greek) and used in most churches for the bread of the Holy Communion.

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Easy instruction sheet for a Crucifer (the gospel-bearer too) Please be at church half an hour before the service starts.

Before the service 1. Are the candles lit near the Altar-table?

2. Is the gospel book on the Altar-table?

3. Set the gospel book to the correct gospel reading with the ribbon.

4. Check Common Worship for the right page (the minister might have their own copy).

5. Help the servers with their robes if required.

6. Light the servers' candles in the clergy vestry if they need help.

7. Gather with the servers and minister for prayer in the choir vestry.

8. With the minister and servers, pray with the choir in the choir vestry At the beginning of the service 1. Lead the procession during the organ prelude to the font.

Server

Crucifer Choir Any assisting ministers Vicar

Server

2. After the priest has greeted the congregation, you will lead the procession to the Altar-table during the first hymn.

Preparing for the Word of God 1. During the (Gradual) hymn before the Gospel, prompt the servers to stand in front of their candles in preparation for processing.

2. With servers carry gospel (lectionary) to centre of the assembly.

3. Hold the gospel (lectionary) open at the right page.

For Holy Communion 1. Set out the chalices on the Altar-table ready for the priest.

2. Prompt servers to collect bread and wine from sidespersons 3. Prompt the servers to stand in front of their candles at the Altartable once they have assisted the priest.

After Holy Communion Return the cross to the clergy vestry and help servers hang robes.

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Easy instruction sheet for an Acolyte/Server/torchbearer Please be at church half an hour before the service starts.

Before the service 1. Robe 2. Light your candles in the Clergy Vestry.

3. With minister and crucifer, pray with the choir in the Choir Vestry At the beginning of the service 1. Lead the procession during the organ prelude to the font. The order is as follows: Server

Crucifer Choir Any assisting ministers Vicar

Server

2. After the priest has greeted the congregation, during the first hymn you will lead the procession to the Altar-table with the crucifer.

Preparing for the Word of God 1. During the hymn before the Gospel stand in front of your candles in preparation for processing 2. With the gospel bearer light the aisle for the gospel (lectionary) as it's brought to the centre of the assembly.

3. Wait whilst the gospel (lectionary) is read and then accompany it back to the Altar-table with the bearer.

For Holy Communion 1. Server on the right - collect the bread. Server on the left collect wine & water from sidespersons 2. Server (right) - pass the ciborium to the priest 3. Server (left) - lavabo for priest, please. Pass the wine and water to the priest.

4. Stand in front candles at the Altar-table once you have assisted After Holy Communion Hang up your robes.

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YOUR NOTES AND QUESTIONS

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All Saints Church Ealing Common Prepared by Rev'd Rachel Marszalek November 2014

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