The Customary - 2010
Download a pdf file of The Customary + Glossary here.
An online glossary is available here.
The Order of Procession is at the bottom of this page, here.
If you are interesting in finding out more about any of these important ministries, please read about opportunities to serve.
The Customary
St. Michael’s Parish
Litchfield, CT
2010
“Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship in the breaking of bread,
and in the prayers?”
I will, with God’s help.
As the people of God, we gather regularly for corporate worship, uniting ourselves with others to acknowledge God’s holiness, to hear God’s Word, to celebrate the sacraments, to pray and to give thanks for all the benefits of redemption through Jesus Christ. Depending on the gifts of God given us, some people are called to participate in the leading of worship for the benefit of the whole. Therefore, anyone called to these ministries honors God and the body of Christ gathered, by well-trained, respectful, and joyful leadership enacted in good order.
For background and eligibility, see Volunteer Ministries at St. Michael’s.
The Altar Guild is responsible for setting up the liturgies of the parish; they are guided by their own Handbook available in the sacristy. This includes paraments, chalice, paten, water, wine, bread, candle preparation, polishing, linens, tidying of the space, flower placement, setting of books, etc. These preparations are done before the liturgy. The Altar Guild is also responsible for cleaning up and storing vessels, etc. following the liturgy.
{Dennis Michno’s, The Ceremonies of the Church, and A Manual for Acolytes are quoted extensively.}
Vestments
Albs, provided by the parish and available in the sacristy, are worn by acolytes and chalicists. In the summer, chalicists may either vest and process or not vest and come forward to the altar at the fraction to help in the distribution of communion. The choir vests in cassock and surplice available in the Music Room. If a vestment is soiled, take it home and wash it, returning it by the next Sunday.
A note: appropriate footwear is preferred, no flip-flops or shoes that make a flapping sound please, as the sound is distracting.
Ceremonial Acts
Solemn Bow: The solemn bow is used in reverencing the altar, during confession (if made standing), at the name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit, and as the cross passes beside or before one. The solemn bow is made from the waist, inclining the head and shoulders so that if your hands were out in front of you, they would almost touch your knees. Bows are NEVER made when carrying the cross or torches. Under those circumstances, a respectful pause is made before the altar before changing direction.
Simple Bow: At the name of Jesus a simple bow is made with the head, inclining the shoulders slightly.
Sitting: One should sit up straight in the chair. Hands should be either on the knees or folded on the lap. Legs should be kept together and feet flat on the floor. Legs should not be crossed! Eyes should either be on the liturgical action, lowered or kept respectful.
åWalking: Keep hands either folded, holding a book or carrying an object. Do not let them swing at your sides. Your posture should not be a distraction.
Standing: Stand up straight. You are a leader of worship and subject to attention. Your posture should not be a distraction. Hold hands in front of you.
Kneeling: Kneel upright with your weight on your knees and your back straight. If you are kneeling in front of a bench, your arms may rest on it, if kneeling otherwise, hands should be folded or holding a book, not down at your sides.
Acolytes
- Say a prayer while vesting.
- Light all candles being used. During the Easter season, at funerals and baptisms, the paschal candle is lit first – before ALL others and extinguished last. During Advent, the wreath in lit before all others and extinguished last. The candles on the gospel side (same side as the pulpit) are never lit alone, so they are lit last and extinguished first. Lectern candles are lit after altar candles unless two people are lighting then the labor is divided.
A note on candles: The purpose of candles is either to give light for reading, or to signify a special action or a place of devotion. Candles in processions were originally used to light the way. They are seldom needed for this purpose now. When carried in a Gospel procession they emphasize the special honor accorded to the Word of God.
- Gather objects (cross, torches, books) for which you are responsible in your particular role and wait quietly in the vestibule for the prayer before worship with all the ministers of worship.
- Begin procession during the introduction to the opening hymn, or at the bidding of the celebrant.
- With full choir, the procession generally begins in the vestibule, proceeds along the south wall, turns right at the south doors and turns right again at the font, then continues down the center aisle into the chancel.
- On special occasions, we process in solemn procession that, depending on where it begins, includes processing along all the aisles approximating a figure eight. A diagram will be provided.
- For low masses and summer services, the procession begins in the vestibule at the celebrant’s bidding, turns right in the transcept and proceeds to the choir or chancel.
- Except in the summer, there is a gospel procession that begins during the final stanza – or at the celebrant’s bidding – of the sequence hymn. The crucifer and torchbearers assemble in front of the altar, turn counter-clockwise and process to the Warden’s staves in the middle of the nave, the crucifer turns clockwise to face the altar and the torchbearers turn and face one another. (The torchbearer on the epistle side turns clockwise, the torchbearer on the gospel side turns counterclockwise.) After the gospel is read, the reader steps aside, the torchbearers allow the crucifer to walk between them then follow back to the chancel.
- In the absence of a deacon, the crucifer will assist the celebrant in the setting of the table for The Holy Eucharist. After the Offertory Sentence, the crucifer joins the celebrant at the altar. After the corporeal is on the altar and the chalice and paten are in place, the crucifer hands the missal to the celebrant. When the elements are on the altar and wine has been poured, the water cruet is passed (all passing of vessels with handles are passed handle first). When additional bread is not needed, the crucifer will receive from the celebrant the small ciborium. Following the setting of the table, the crucifer returns to the seat by the cross.
- After the fraction and fraction anthem, the acolytes come forward to receive communion, along with the musical minister/s of worship.
- For the final procession into the world, acolytes shall retrieve cross and torches during the next to last hymn stanza, then begin procession at the last stanza, unless otherwise directed by the celebrant. (Occasionally, the entire hymn is sung before beginning retiring procession.)
- After storing torches and cross, the acolyte extinguishes all candles. Paschal Candle or Advent wreath first, gospel candles next, epistle and lectern candles finally.
- Retire to the sacristy and store vestments in appropriate closet. Give thanks.
Chalicists
Note: at the Sunday, 8 am Holy Eucharist, when a chalicist is present s/he serves as acolyte and intercessor.
- Say a prayer while vesting.
- At 8 am candles are lit before the liturgy and extinquished at the liturgy’s conclusion. At 10 am gather in the vestibule for pre-liturgy prayers with other ministers of worship.
- Process behind the choir and in front of the clergy.
- Take seats in the chancel.
- During the gospel procession, one of the chalicists serves as the sub-deacon, following the crucifer, turn clockwise to face the gospeler, hold gospel book as the gospel is being read. (The gospeler will hand you the book.) Carry gospel book back to and replacing it on the altar, back where it began - on the gospel side. The Book of Gospels remains on the altar throughout the liturgy except when the gospel is read.
- After the table is set and before the reception of alms, come forward to the altar and take positions on either side of the celebrant. (The exception is when multiple clergy are in attendance, in which case come forward to help with the distribution of communion after the fraction.) If needed, assist in the placement of the offertory of alms or foodstuffs on or under the credence table. Assist the celebrant if needed in case of glitches or emergencies.
- Receive communion first and begin distribution. Be mindful to hold the chalice low, keep your fingers out of the way and offer the words of distribution (see pages 338 and 365). As one member said, “You serve the Divine, treat it like that!” Both chalicists communicate the choir – one beginning on the gospel side, the other beginning at the high altar. Communicate the people, one beginning on the epistle side, the other beginning at the center aisle.
- Assist the celebrant in any ablutions. Consume remaining sacrament facing the altar. Return to the chancel for the post-communion prayer, blessing and dismissal.
- Depending on the season, follow the choir or the crucifer in the retiring procession, allowing the choir and LEM to precede you.
- Retire to the sacristy and store vestments appropriately. Give thanks for what God has done and continues to do for us in Christ.
Lectors/Intercessors - God’s Word, through the human voice
- Review lections or intercessory form in advance. A dictionary for name and place pronunciation is available in the sacristy. Check before the service to see that the altar guild has marked the correct reading in the book on the lectern. If there is any discrepancy between the lectern book and the bulletin, ask the celebrant.
- Sit on the aisle so that, if you are the reader, during the final psalm verse you can walk to the lectern, if you are the intercessor, you can begin walking toward the lectern during the final paragraph ( “We believe in the Holy Spirit…”) of the Creed. The walk to the lectern should be timed so that you arrive there as the congregation is finishing the psalm and the Creed.. There should be a pregnant pause before beginning. AVOID SPEED READING.
- Silence is an integral part of liturgical worship. It affords us the opportunity to reflect, to think. To pray, to offer personal petition and praise, and, above all, to be in the presence of God. Silence should never be seen as a waste of time or a needless addition to the service. It also marks different stages in the liturgy. Silence is desirable after a reading of Scripture, before the versicle (“The Word of the Lord”, or “Hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches”) and response. Silence is also desirable either after the initial bidding in the Prayers of the People or in those prayers which provide for silence, as well as after the final petition in the Prayers of the People, before the celebrant says the concluding collect. Please remain at the lectern until after the concluding collect or until after the absolution if Form VI has been used.
- A note on when to include commendations and thanksgivings Form by Form: People who have been commended to our prayers are all petitions; People on the Parish Cycle of Prayer, those celebrating birthdays and/or anniversaries are all thanksgivings. Katherine is our Presiding Bishop. Our Bishops are Andrew, James and Laura. Whenever a saint is acknowledged, it’s always “Blessed Michael", or "Blessed Jude", or "the Blessed Virgin Mary,” etc.
“ …..And we most humbly beseech thee, of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succor [all petitions go in here – don’t forget to come back to complete the sentence] all those who, in this transitory life, are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness or any other adversity.”
Note the rubric at the top of BCP, p. 330, “We offer thanksgiving for all those on the Parish Cycle of Prayer, and those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries this week”, etc.Rite II – The Prayers of the People
Form I: “ For __________, let us pray to the Lord.” (Include all those for whom we are praying, in Petition AND Thanksgiving.) Form II: “ I ask your prayers for ________. (Petitions)
“I ask your thanksgiving for _________. (Thanksgivings)Form III: “Let us pray for our own needs and those of others… Those for whom our prayers are asked:______________. Those for whom we give thanks:______________.” Form IV: “Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours ___________(Thanksgivings), and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he loves us.”
“Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit _______________ (Petitions); give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation.”
“We commend to your mercy all who have died _______ (and especially NN), that your will for them may be fulfilled; and we pray that we may share with all your saints in your eternal kingdom."Form V: “For all who live and work in this community [especially _______ (Thanksgivings)], we pray to you, O Lord.”
“For _____________ (Petitions), we pray to you, O Lord.Form VI: “For the special needs and concerns of this congregation. (Add Petitions)
“We thank you Lord, for all the blessings of this life. (Add Thanksgivings)
Ushers: Representatives of the Congregation
“In bringing forward the elements, tokens of each member of the congregation is offered in a spirit of bringing their life to God for consecration at the altar.”
- Arrive by 9:40 AM – say a prayer.
- Check the pews for cleanliness, removing stray bulletins, etc. as needed.
- Open doors – to street, for choir, check lights, fans and the food basket in the vestibule – if food stuffs are in the basket, they come forward at The Offertory.
- Make sure elements (bread and wine) are on Towne Shelf and two alms basins on front pews, if none appear, find an altar guild member for assistance (in sacristy).
- Cordially greet worshippers and provide them with a bulletin. Provide any other assistance as needed.
- Prior to taking up the Elements, get a count of people, including choir, ministers of worship and Church School, write the number on a slip of paper to include in the bread box (ciborium). Bring elements forward when celebrant begins dissembling the stack.
- Collect the offering with the two alms basins during the anthem or offertory hymn (if a hymn is sung).
- Take the offering and food basket to the altar at the end of the offertory anthemor during the final stanza of the hymn(if a hymn is sung).
- Remain standing facing the altar until the celebrant has offered (raised, lifted up) the alms, food AND the elements. As part of the liturgical action of the offertory, it is appropriate that the oblation bearers (i.e. the ushers) to participate in the actual action of the offertory, rather than turning one’s backs on the offering prematurely, i.e. before it is actually offered. People may come to the altar rail after the chalicists have received.
- Direct folks to come to the altar for communion along with the choir as they are receiving so that some portion of us surround the altar simultaneously. This will mean that people AND choir come to communion at the same time. Face the altar when sending people forward.
- At the end of the liturgy, please pick up service litter throughout the pews; turn off the lights and the sound system, be sure that the south door is locked and that the inner front door is completely closed so that it will automatically lock Sunday evening.
- Give thanks.
Greeters: Ministers of Hospitality
Greeters provide a ministry of welcome to all who gather for worship. They make a point of putting visitors and new members at ease, making sure to invite them to coffee hour and introducing them to other members of the parish. Greeters are asked to accompany the rector in greeting worshippers at the conclusion of the liturgy, and to invite and accompany visitors to coffee hour for the purpose of simple welcome and to making additional introductions at Coffee Hour. Anyone who is willing to meet the Christ in others is suitable for this ministry.
Order of Procession
Processional Order
Thurifer
Boat
Crucifer
Torch Bearers
Choir
Eucharistic Ministers
[Crucifer]
[Torch Bearers]
Clergy
Bishop
Solemn Procession
