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TORCH BEARER Position : Tips and Reminders!

Congratulations! You have decided to serve our Lord, and to participate as a member of our church family, by being an acolyte. The first position to learn is that of Torch Bearer. It is really easy; and being a part of our worship at church is very rewarding to those who serve and pleasing to God! In the future, as you gain experience in the program you will learn the role of Crucifer (the acolyte carrying the cross) and of Server (the acolyte who assists the priest with Communion). Here are some things to remember…

Be in the vesting room by 10:15 when scheduled to serve. This may mean leaving Sunday School a few minutes early. If you are later than that, we will have to be looking for replacements so church starts on time. But, I know you won’t be late!!! Remember to wear a cross also when getting ready.

Please hold the torch as close to straight up and down as you can. The candles usually are not wax candles like you may have at home; they burn oil (the church’s altar guild keeps the torches filled with oil). Still, if you hold the torch sideways you will spill oil and make a mess!

The crucifer will light the torches before church. You will go up into sanctuary (the front of the church) and get your torch before church when the crucifer says to. Go to the front of the altar, then follow the crucifer to the back of the church to wait until church starts.

When you walk in at the start of church, that is called the Processional. Follow behind the crucifer. Walk slowly; it’s not a race!!! When you reach the front, bow to the cross behind the altar, and walk to the side. Place your torch in the stand and take your seat. Worship as you normally would from there with the others serving that day.

IF YOUR TORCH GOES OUT>>> lighters are kept where the readers stand in the sanctuary. However, the RIGHT way to get your torch re-lit is to tell the crucifer, who will get the candle lighter, light the lighter from the gospel candle, and re-light your torch with the candle lighter.

When the Gospel Hymn starts, get your torch, prepare to go out into the congregation, stop for the reading of the Gospel, and then return. Things can get a little confusing here, but just remember to follow the crucifer! I’ll show you how this works. The reason you carry a torch is to be a symbol of how people worshiped a long time ago before electricity… candle light was needed to be able to read when they did not have lights!

Go and receive communion when the other people serving do. After ALL of the people serving have received, all serving bow to the cross behind the altar together, and then return to your seat.

When you go out of church at the end, that is called the recessional. Go get your torch, stand by the torch stand, wait for the crucifer to put out the candles and get the cross. Then, go stand in front of the altar while the people sing a hymn. When the priest motions to the crucifer to go out, let the crucifer go first and just follow him/her. After you get to the back, blow out your torch, and go back up front with the crucifer and the other torch bearer. Put your torch back; wait for the crucifer, go to the front of the altar, bow, and go back to the vesting room. Your finished (until next time!). Be sure to mark your service time, so you can participate in the recognition program!

REMEMBER TO FOLLOW THE CRUCIFER!! ASK ANOTHER ACOLYTE FOR HELP IF NEEDED.

QUESTIONS? PAUL MCKELVEY, ACOLYTE DIRECTOR, 281 292 1676 APRIL 2004

Crucifer: Outline and tips for service

WAY TO GO! For many services now, you have carried torches in our church service, symbolizing the Light of Christ in our lives, and a reminder of the early church days when Bible lessons had to be read by candlelight, because of course there was no electricity. Now, it is time to take on the role of Crucifer. You will become an integral part of our service, actually leading our altar party in and out of church!

GENERAL: 1) You will be passing back and forth in front of the cross behind the altar many times. Remember to reverence the cross (slight bow at the waist) whenever you enter the altar area and whenever you walk from one side of the altar area to the other. 2) You will be leading the altar party in and out of church. Lead at a slow but steady pace, and make sure the torch bearers stay a pace behind you. 3) When you carry the cross and when you handle the collection plates, wear the white gloves! Feel free to take them off during the service (you have to have them off during Communion), but be ready to get them back on before your parts below. 4) Carry the cross as high as you are comfortable doing so.

GETTING READY: . As before, be in the vesting room by 15 minutes before the service. This is even more important now, as you have another duty… lighting the candles. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE GLOVES ON ! As soon as you are vested, go into the altar area, retrieve the candle lighter and light the candle lighter. Light the right candle (the Epistle candle) first, and the Gospel candle (left) next. If there is a ceremonial candle (ie, for Baptisms) in the altar area, light it next. Then, light both torches. Put out the candle lighter and return to the vesting area. Lead the two torch bearers into the altar area, retrieve the cross while the Torch Bearers get the torches, and proceed back to the church.

PROCESSIONAL: ( GLOVES ON !!! ) When the priest gives you a “head nod” or other signal, it’s time to go in to church. Walk slow and steady… you are carrying the Cross to remind our worshipers of the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the Cross. Note that in the Episcopal Church, our cross does not have a likeness of Jesus on the cross, as you will see sometimes in other churches. This is because we emphasize that Christ is NO LONGER ON THE CROSS. HE IS RISEN, and is with us always, if we accept his gift of salvation by expressing faith. When you get to the altar area step up and stop, allowing room for the torch bearers. When the torch bearers are also up the step, the three of you reverence the cross by bowing slightly, and then go place the cross in its holder. Go to your pew to participate in the service.

GOSPEL READING: ( GLOVES ON !!! ) You’ve done this many times, now just do it with the cross! As soon as the Gospel hymn starts, retrieve the cross, Go to the front of the church in the middle in front of the altar, facing the altar. After a verse of the hymn, the priest will give you the head-nod signal. Turn around (you will go first, the torches will be behind you) and proceed about 5 pews out into the nave (where the church attendance is standing). Turn around, face the altar, and stay there while the Gospel is read. When the priest has read the Gospel, music will start again. The priest and the server will stand aside, and you will proceed in front leading everyone back into the altar. As before, let the torch bearers step up with you, bow, and return the cross to its place.

THE OFFERTORY: (GLOVES ON !!! ) (ie, when the ushers collect money and the priest prepares for communion). After the Peace and announcements, the priest will say the Offertory Sentence (something like… “remember the words of our Lord Jesus, how it is more blessed to give than to receive…”). Go to the other side of the church, get the collection plates from the credence table. Stand aside, while the server gets the bread and wine from those bringing it forward. As soon as the server has left from the front, go give the offering plates to the ushers. After the ushers pick them both up, give a slight bow to each other. By this you are acknowledging each other for the role you are playing in our worship of Christ. Stand aside, while the collection is taken up. As soon as the song the choir sings during the collection is over, they will go into another song (you will have to be on your toes listening for this). The song is called the Doxology. Go stand in front of the altar rail, facing the congregation while the ushers walk forward. This can be a little tough, standing in front of everyone. Don’t worry… focus your eyes on the wall in back of the church in order to not be nervous! Take the two collection plates from the ushers, slightly bow to each other, then go to the right and take them to the priest. He will take them from you, raise them up, and give them back. Go place them on the bottom shelf of the credence table, and then return to your seat.

COMMUNION: DO NOT WEAR GLOVES WHEN TAKING COMMUNION.

You have no special role during Communion. Instead of standing where you did as a torch bearer, you will be standing all the way to the left. After you receive Communion, the acolytes all reverence the cross together, and return to your seat.

THE RECESSIONAL: As soon as the hymn starts at the end of church, without delay put out the candles. Reverse order that you lit them! Left candle out first, right candle out second. If there is a large ceremonial candle also at the altar, DO NOT put it out. Remember to reverence the cross when passing in front of the altar. Then, go get your cross. Just like the Gospel, wait for the priest to give you a signal to leave. Lead the altar party out of the church, then lead the torch bearers back to the altar area where you put up the cross and torches. Meet in front of the altar as before, reverence the cross, and proceed back to the vesting room.

HEADS UP>>> sometimes, the crucifer forgets to put out the candles before getting the cross to go out of church. Don’t panic! Just wait until you take the cross back up to the altar area. Put the cross in its place, get the candle snuffer, and and put out the candles then. Also, sometimes the candles or torches go out during the service. If they do, look for an appropriate time in the service (I will review that with you); light the lighter from the gospel candle, and re-light the candle that went out.

THAT’S ALL !

Server Position: Tips and Reminders!

Congratulations! For some time now, you have proudly carried our Lord’s cross and the torches in our church services. Now, it’s time to learn the role of Server. You probably know most of this, since you have been an acolyte for some time now. Here are some things to remember…

As the senior acolyte at the service, take the responsibility to make sure all acolytes are vested in time for church. Make sure the Crucifer lights the candles timely. If the Crucifer is running late, go ahead and get the candles lit so church can begin on time.

In general, all through the service you now have the additional responsibility to be on the lookout for things that need attention. Pay close attention to our priest during the service; he sometimes needs to ask for help and YOU are the best one to do so. For example, he may need a glass of water, he may have left his Bible in the vesting room, etc. Especially while preparing or closing after Holy Communion (beyond the established role for the Server outlined below) the priest may need you to hand him/her the visitor’s Communion kit (the black box), to retrieve or return blessed bread or wine (the Reserve Sacrament) to the Aumbry, (by the sanctuary candle) etc. Be ready to lend help to the Torch Bearers or to remind the Crucifer of what to do if new guys are in that role.

As always, remember to reverence the cross (bow) whenever you pass in front of the altar.

At the reading of the Gospel, you will carry the book containing the Gospel readings (the Missal) and hold it for the priest. When going to and from the altar, hold the book over your head and in front of you; this is in respect for God’s word contained in the Gospels. You have carried the cross many times before, so you know how this goes. REMEMBER to hold it in a way that is UPSIDE DOWN to you, so it will be right side up when you hold if for the priest! Try to hold it as still as possible; the priest is reading! After the reading is complete, stand off to the side, let the Crucifer and Torch Bearers head toward the altar, and you follow.

At the Offertory (after announcements), this is where you assist the priest in getting ready to celebrate Holy Communion

First, when the Ushers come up front to get the collection plates, you need to be in front of the altar and take the bread and wine from the folks (usually younger children) who bring the bread and wine from the congregation. Bread in your right hand; wine in left. Then, take it to the priest.
In general always give to the priest with your right hand. Take from the priest with your left hand. When bringing two things to the priest, the first item needs to be in your right hand; then pass the other item from your left hand to your right. When handling vessels with handles, you hold by the body and give to the priest where he/she can take by the handle.
The general sequence for assisting for preparation for Holy Communion is:
- The bread and wine from the congregation. Take from the youth at the altar rail, and give them to the priest.
- Then, the container of unblessed wafers from the credence table. The priest will take what is needed and give it back to you; return it to the credence table.
- Then, the water and the wine. TAKE THE TOPS OFF at the credence table. Wine in right hand; Water in left. It will be set up that way on the Credence Table. Wine first (priest usually keeps wine cruet on the altar). Priest will return water to you (easy to remember… since you need the water for the next step!) NOTE: sometimes there are 2 vessels with wine and only one with water. If so, take the two wine vessels up at the same time, then go back and get the water.

REMEMBER: take the tops off the cruets (with the wine and water in them) before giving to the priest, and re-cap them (regardless of if they are empty or full) when you bring them back to the Credence Table.

After this, prepare to wash the priest’s hands with the water. Place the cloth over your left wrist, and hold the bowl in your left hand. Pour a small amount of water over his/her hands in the bowl which you hold in your left hand; moving your hands in the shape of a cross. Don’t worry, everyone spills a little! Turn sideways to the priest, and he/she will dry hands on the cloth you have over your left wrist.
RECAP ALL VESSELS when returned to the credence table.
You and the priest should bow slightly to each other when finished with the hand washing, and with other sequence of tasks related to getting ready for, or after, Communion. It is a silent way of thanking each other in the Lord’s service, and saying “done!”

At any time in this sequence, if you forget what to do just ask the priest. He/she understands! Visiting priests always seem to do things a little different. Your role is to listen to what they want and do it.

When the lay ministers and acolytes go to the front of the altar to receive communion… you will be on the far right side. After receiving the wine, go to the credence table, get the extra empty chalice, and place it near the front of the altar. Return to the spot where you received communion. Reverence the cross with the whole serving party at the same time, and return to your seat. WHEN GOING TO GET THE SECOND CHALICE, THE TORCH BEARER MAY ACCIDENTALLY FOLLOW YOU BACK TO HIS/HER SEAT. Keep an eye out for this, motion for the torch bearer to stay there until all in the serving party have received Communion.

Keep an eye on the priest and the lay ministers during Communion at the altar rail, to see if they need anything.

After the priest has given all Communicants (people receiving Communion) the bread, he/she will return to behind the altar. WATCH FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AND GET UP; go stand by the altar. The priest will give you items to return to the credence table or to the Aumbry (he will tell you if blessed bread or wine (the Reserve Sacrament) is to go in the Aumbry). The priest will also need you to get the water off the credence table for use in washing the communion vessels. THE MOST OFTEN MADE MISTAKE FOR NEW SERVERS IS TO NOT MEET THE PRIEST AFTER COMMUNION TO ASSIST IN THE PRIEST’S CLOSING.

When we have a visiting priest, introduce yourself before the service. The visiting priest likely celebrates communion a little bit differently from our regular priest. YOU need to be prepared to adjust; listen to the instructions of the visiting priest. This is one of the most uncomfortable things a Server must do, but you play an important role in keeping our service running smoothly.

QUESTIONS: Paul McKelvey, Acolyte Director, 281 292 1676.