The Acolyte carries the Lectionary during the reading of the Gospel and assists the priest in preparing for Communion. Acolytes must be baptized and confirmed.

PREPARATION

1. Arrive 20 minutes early to vest and prepare.
2. 10 minutes before the service, light the candles.  See Diagram in sacristy.  Light candles on  Epistle side of altar first (right), then the Gospel side (left).
3. Check the Lectionary to see if it is on the right page.
4. Get a bulletin, place it at your seat

PROCESSION

1. Acolyte follows the choir.  Chalice Bearer is on your left.
2. At top of the steps, reverence the altar, go to your seat.

GOSPEL

1. When gradual hymn begins, cross to get the Lectionary stopping to face and reverence the altar.
2. Raise the book high, stand between torch bearers, facing the altar.
3. At priest’s signal, turn around, following the crucifer, keep book high.
4. When crucifer stops, turn around to face priest, lowering the book.
5. After the reading, step to the left.
6. Follow crucifer holding book high, return book.  Go to your seat, remembering to reverence altar.

COMMUNION

1. After announcements, follow priest into sanctuary. Chalice Bearer gives offering plates to crucifer.
2. Go to the rail to receive the gifts.
3. Take the bread box and paper, hand to priest.
4. Take water & wine cruets, bow to bearers, and place the cruets on the credence table.
5. Take the wine in your left hand, handle out, lid up, hand to priest.
6. Take water in your left hand, handle out, lid up, hand to priest.  Take the wine from him with right hand.
7. Place wine on table.
8. Take lavabo in left hand, place purificator on left wrist, cross facing out.
9. Turn to priest, take water cruet with right hand, pour some over his hands.  He will dry them on the purificator.  Bow.
10. Return water cruet, lavabo and purificator to table.
11. Prepare to ring the bell.  Keep back straight when kneeling.  Allow bell to resonate.
12. Priest will serve you Eucharist.  Stand to receive the chalice and purificator.
13. Follow priest, serving wine, saying what the priest said to you, remembering to wipe and turn cup.
14. Give chalice and purificator to priest.  You may be asked to drink leftover in the chalice.
15. Hand water to priest. Or he may hold out the chalice to you, pour some water in it.

POST COMMUNION

• After the blessing, leave the sanctuary before the priest.  Turn, with Chalice Bearer, to reverence the altar.
• Follow the choir in the recessional.
• Extinguish candles.  Reverse order from lighting.  See diagram in sacristry.

The Chalice Bearer assists in serving the cup at Holy Eucharist.

PREPARATION

• Arrive 20 minutes early to vest and prepare.
• Get a bulletin, place it at your seat

PROCESSION

• Chalice Bearer follows the choir.  Acolyte is on your right.
• At top of the steps, reverence the altar, go to your seat.

OFFERING

• After announcements, follow priest into sanctuary.
• Get the offering plates, sit down.
• After the gift bearers leave the altar rail, go to the rail, give plates to crucifer. You keep the large one.  Bow.
• Return to your seat.
• When we begin singing the Doxology, go to the rail to receive the plates.  Bow.
• Turn; hold up the plates for the priest to bless.
• Return the plates.

COMMUNION

• Stand/kneel at the side of the altar.
• Priest will serve you Eucharist.  Stand to receive the chalice and purificator.
• Follow priest, serving wine, saying what the priest said to you, remembering to wipe & turn cup.  Begin at the center and move to the right.
• Give chalice and purificator to priest.  You may be asked to drink leftover in the chalice.

POST COMMUNION

• After the blessing, leave the sanctuary before the priest.  Stand next to acolyte, turn to reverence the altar.
• Follow the choir in the recessional

The primary purpose of the crucifer is to carry the processional cross at the entrance, during a solemn procession, at the gospel procession and at the retiring procession.  At St. John’s the crucifer is also responsible for the offering plates.

PREPARATION

• Always carry the cross with dignity.
• Hold the cross firmly with both hands in the middle of the pole, relax elbows. 
• Carry the cross straight up and slightly raised from the ground.
• Be sure the symbol or figure of Christ crucified is facing out.
• Never reverence the altar when carrying the cross.
• Arrive 15 minutes before the service to vest and prepare.
• Get bulletin, place it at your seat.
• Get the cross, go to back of church.

PROCESSIONAL

• The cross is first in the procession. Begin when the singing begins.
• Go to the altar rail, stand until the opening hymn is finished.
• Place the cross back in its holder, sit in the chair next to it.

Gradual/Reading of the Gospel

• When gradual hymn begins, take the cross, walk straight to the middle, turn to the right, go to the top of the stairs.  Turn to the right until facing the altar.
• Watch the priest for the signal to turn (to the right) and proceed down the steps. 
• Stop about 1/3 of the way down the aisle.
• Turn to face the reader.  Rest the base of the cross on the floor.
• After the reading done, the torch bearers, priest and acolyte will stand aside. 
• You process up the aisle, they will follow.
• Go the altar rail, turn to the left, replace the cross and sit down.

Offering

• After the announcements, the priest, acolyte and chalice bearer will go to the altar. You go to the altar rail and receive the offering plates.  Return to your chair and sit.  (If there is no chalice bearer, go inside the altar and get the plates.)
• After the gift bearers leave the altar, take the plates, walk to the center in front of the altar, turn, walk to the top of the stairs, lower the plates so the ushers can each take one.  You keep the large plate, bow to the ushers. Return to your seat.
• When the Doxology begins go to the top of the stairs to meet the ushers.  They will place the plates in the large one you are carrying. Bow
• Go to the altar, hand the plates to the chalice bearer.  (if no Chalice Bearer, step up to the altar, hold up the plates for the priest to bless, return them to their place.)  Return to your seat.

Recessional

• Get the cross; go to the top of the steps, turn to face the altar. 
• The priest will give the signal for you to start the recessional.
• Go all the way to the back of the church

The Torchbearer carries the torch during the procession. There are always at least 2 torch bearers.

PREPARATION

• Always carry the torch with dignity.
• Hold the pole firmly with both hands.
• The 2 flames should be at the same height—at the forehead of the taller of the 2 bearers; but never taller than the cross.
• When standing still, rest the torch on the floor
• Never reverence the altar when holding the torch.
• During the service, it is very important to be still and quiet.  Keep hands to yourself.
• Arrive 15 minutes early to vest and get your torch.
• Get quiet and still inside yourself.

PROCESSIONAL

• Go to the back of the church with the torch. Someone will light it
• Torch bearers walk on either side of, or behind, the Crucifer.  When you reach the altar, behind the Crucifer, turn to the left and go to your places.
• Put the lighted torches in their holders.

THE GOSPEL READING

• When the hymn begins, get your torch, walk together to the front of the altar, turn, go the Crucifer, one on either side.  Turn facing each other.
• Follow the Crucifer.
• When the Crucifer stops, you stand on either side of the reader, facing each other.
• When the reader is finished, wait for the crucifer to pass then, proceed up to the altar.
• Turn left and return the torches to their places, sit down.

RECESSIONAL

• When the crucifer goes to the top of the stairs, take your torches and go to each side of crucifer, turn facing each other.
• When the crucifer starts walking, follow, either walking behind or beside the crucifer.

The Lector reads the Lessons.

The Gift Bearer brings the gifts, the wine, water and bread to the altar.

The Usher hands out bulletins, makes people feel welcome and takes up the offering.

• Be at church 15 minutes before the service begins. Stand at the back of the church. Greet people with a smile and hand them bulletins or whatever they will need for the service. Assist them in any way you can. After the service begins, you should stay at the doors at the back of the church. If new people come in late, we must be there to welcome them and make them feel at ease.
• As soon as the service starts, check the bulletin and make sure the people assigned as gift bearers are there. If they aren’t, draft someone. Help them get the gifts and then stand behind them at the back of the church until the acolyte signals them to come. Follow them and wait at the bottom of the stairs until they return. Do not follow them out. Just wait for the Crucifer to bring you the plates. Take them, bow, and  begin the offering collection.
• After the collection ushers wait at the rear of the church until the beginning notes of the Doxology then start down the aisle and the Crucifer gets up and goes to the top of the chancel steps to receive the plates. Bowing afterwards. Crucifer takes the plates. Ushers go back down the aisle.
• When the Priest says “the gifts of God for the people of God..”, come to the bottom of the steps. Stand facing the altar until the choir is all at the communion rail. Then turn to the congregation and if necessary motion to them to come forward. Try to keep them off the steps. Motion for them to wait until the line in the chancel moves before they go up. We want to keep access to the rails available for those who need it.
• When everyone has had communion, you go up to the rail and get yours. Then go back to your place at the back of the church.