Beginning May 5th, we will have 3 lay ministers for each service, lessons reader, prayers reader/chalice bearer, and the acolyte/chalice bearer. More details are given below.
All lay ministers on the day of the service
Arrive by 10:15, prepare your heart for service, join in with the other teams to participate in prayer.
Lessons Reader
Prior to Sunday when you are scheduled to read - Download the lessons for the upcoming Sunday, usually available on the preceding Wednesday I’ll send out a link to a printed version, but the lectionary is located here: 2024 HCSI Lessons / Series - Google Sheets
Practice reading the lessons. Look up any names you are not familiar with (the internet has a number of resources for this). Review First Rule for Lectors document if needed.
Prior to the service
After the service has started
After the opening welcome and prayer, the Clergy will say “please be seated for the lessons”, stand up and approach the lectern. As you step to the lectern, have a smile on your face. Remember: “I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122:1) Holy Cross is all about joy and grace. Help show it the whole time you are in front of the congregation. Smile.
Speak with the authority of God’s word. You are giving the people God’s revelation. Speak boldly, with joy and gladness in your heart.
Begin with the words, “A reading from…it can be found on page X in your pew Bible”. Please pause a few seconds so folks can open their Bibles. At the end of each lesson end with the words, “The word of the Lord.” Every single time, every single Sunday. One exception – if you ever read a lesson from the apocrypha (and you probably want with the current set of clergy), then end the lesson with “Here ends the reading.” That is the only exception. Otherwise, ALWAYS end the lesson with “The word of the Lord.”
Once the lessons have been completed, return to your seat. This completes the lessons reader’s responsibility for the service. Thank you!
Prayers Reader
Before the service – Verify that the prayers and list of names are at the lectern. Review the names and ask the clergy about pronunciations you may need.
Sit in one of the first few pews so that it doesn’t take long for you to reach the lectern when it’s time to proceed to the lectern.
The prayers are read after the sermon and Nicene Creed are completed. The Clergy will say something just prior about entering a time of prayer. Stand up and approach the lectern.
Please pause a few seconds between each prayer item to allow time for parishioners to add their own prayers. At the end of the prayers when it is opened up for the congregation’s prayers, stay at the podium until the clergy has closed out the prayers and return to your seat.
After the peace and announcements have been completed, the acolyte and prayers reader follow the clergy to the altar, bow to the cross at the railing. Help the acolyte close the railing if needed. Proceed to the left cubby hole seat close to the altar and sit there during the offertory and setting of the Communion table.
Receive communion at the altar. The Clergy will hand you a chalice and towel. Follow behind one of them, staying 2-3 steps back, give those at the railing the chalice to dip their wafer. For each parishioner, say “The blood of Christ, the cup of salvation”. Do this until everyone has been served. Hand the chalice back to the Clergy, return to the cubby seat, and sit down.
Once the acolyte has extinguished the candles, the acolyte and prayers reader will leave. Turn at the railing, bow to the cross, and head down the aisle together. The clergy will follow.
Thank you for your service!
Acolyte
Acolyte – before the service
After the peace and announcements have been completed, the acolyte and prayers reader follow the clergy to the altar, bow to the cross at the railing, close the gate to the railing and move the extra kneeling pad in front of the gate.
Grab the offertory plates and give them to the ushers when they reach the railing. The ushers will give you a slip of paper with the attendance for the service. Place that slip of paper on the altar (helps Clergy with wafer count and wine amount). Go sit in the seat in the right cubby while the table is being set.
When the Doxology starts, go to the railing, and take the plates from the ushers. Turn, stand in front of the altar, give the plates to the Clergy, stand there until the congregation says “and of our own have we given you”. Come around to the back of the table -- Clergy hands the collection plates back to you. Put the collection plates on the side shelf in the right cubby.
Go stand/sit back at your seat until all the pre-communion payers are completed.
Receive communion at the altar. The Clergy will hand you a chalice and towel. Follow behind one of them, staying 2-3 steps back, give those at the railing the chalice to dip their wafer. For each parishioner, say “The blood of Christ, the cup of salvation”. Do this until everyone has been served.
The ushers are normally the last to receive communion and will open the railing/move the cushion. If they forget, please do that. At this point if there is anyone in the pews who were unable to come up front, you may need to go with a Clergy and administer communion in their pew. When everyone has been served, hand the chalice back to the Clergy, return to the cubby seat, and sit down.
Once this is wrapped up and the last song starts, extinguish the candles (no need to remove the wind guards when extinguishing). Extinguish in reverse order, left to right.
Once the acolyte has extinguished the candles, the acolyte and prayers reader will leave. Turn at the railing, bow to the cross, and head down the aisle together. The clergy will follow.
Note: Unless there is only one clergy, you will not have to set the communion table. I have included the instructions for that just in case, but there should be a card on the side table showing the order and the clergy will guide you.
Acolyte - Helping to Set the table for Holy Communion
If there is only one clergy at the service, the acolyte will need to assist in setting the table by handing the Clergy the dishes, food, wine, and water. They also wash the Clergy’s hands with Holy Water.
Hand the elements to the Clergy to set the table.
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