Holy Spirit Catholic Parish ALTAR SERVER GUIDELINES

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1 ALTAR SERVER GUIDELINES Before Mass 1. Come 15 minutes early and check off your name on the schedule. 2. Get dressed in robe, check calendar for color of belt to wear,(always use that Sunday s color) and then light the candles. 3. Gather with the rest of the ministers at church entry for prayer and any special instructions. Procession 1. Servers will walk side by side (Book-holder on the left side, go-for on right) about half the pew-length behind the crossbearer. Servers walk single file if one of them is also carrying the cross. 2. Stop at the sanctuary steps, bow together and then split to go to servers chairs. Opening Rites 1. Hold the Sacramentary book for the priest when he says: Let us pray. When the deacon is there, he will open the book and hand it to your to hold. Preparation of the Altar 1. When the collection, begins, the Book server takes the Sacramentary to the altar and places it there, as in illustration #1, and brings wooden stand back to your chair. The other server begins to bring chalices to the altar. The Book Server will assist. Preparation of the Gifts 1. After the Stewardship Prayer is prayed, servers go to the credence table and pick up the large chalice, water pitcher, the bowl and the towel, and come to the side of the altar. 2. The priest or deacon will hold the chalice for you to pour a small amount of water into. 3. After he offers the wine, the priest will come to you and wash his hands. Take the dishes and towel back to the table, get the kneeling pad from the corner and return to step by the altar. 4. During the rest of Mass, do what the people do. When they sit, stand or kneel, servers will always do the same.

2 Communion 1. After you have shared the sign of peace with others, the Go-fer goes to the credence table and bring all the chalices, cloth purificators, and communion bowls to the altar. Place them on the altar as in illustration #2. 2. To receive communion, go through the first pew. Return to your seat. Closing Prayer 1. Hold the Sacramentary for the priest when he says, Let us pray. 2. Sometimes he will ask you to continue to hold it for the blessing. Recession After the blessing while the final song is being sung, the priest will go to the sanctuary step. Follow him and stand, one on each side of him. The server on the right carries the collection basket. When all are in place, bow and leave church following the crossbearer. Place the collection basket next to the sink in the sacristy. After Mass When the song is over, put out the candles and then hang up your robe. Thanks for doing a good job! Ill. #1 Book Altar Cloth Ill. #2 Altar Cloth Cups Bowls

3 CROSS BEARER GUIDELINES Before Mass Arrive 15 minutes before Mass, and put a check by your name on the schedule in the sacristy. Dress appropriately (like you would for school pictures). When the announcements begin, bring the cross to wait with the other ministers. Review what you will be doing. During Mass You will always lead the procession into church. Hold the cross up high enough not to hit your knees. Walk slowly and steadily. When you reach the steps of the platform in the front of the church, stop in front of the 1 st step and bow your head. Do not wait for the other ministers. Take the cross to the stand behind the post, and then return to your seat with your family. End of Mass At the end of Mass, after the priest blesses the people, you will go get the cross and bring it down to the steps. Stand facing the altar. The Presider and servers will meet you there. When the Presider reverences (bows to) the altar, turn and lead the procession out of the church. Hold the cross high, remembering to walk slowly and steadily. At the entrance of the church, return the cross to its stand, and then meet up with your family. If you are not able to make you scheduled time, please call another cross bearer to take your place or to trade times.

4 INSTRUCTIONS FOR GIFT PRESENTERS Before Mass Arrive 10 minutes before Mass begins and sign in on schedule. Review with your family or partners who will take baskets where at collection, and who will carry which items to the altar in the procession. If you have any questions, ask the sacristan or priest. During Mass When the General Intercessions begin, after the Creed, go to where the baskets are kept. As soon as the General Intercessions are finished and the assembly is seated, walk down the center aisle to the altar platform, make a slight bow to the altar. Take the collection baskets to the front of the pews and hand one to a person in each section to get them started. Follow along from the front to the back to make sure they keep moving. SMILE! Bring the filled baskets to behind the pews and empty them into the Offering Basket. The Presentation of the Gifts should begin as quickly as possible as soon as all the collection baskets are emptied. The order of procession is collection, wine, bread. When the money basket is to the first pew, the wine carrier starts up the aisle. Likewise, when the wine is at first pew, the bread carrier starts. Hold the containers high, for the community to see. Remember; you are presenting the gifts of the community, which will become the Body and Blood of Christ. When you reach the altar steps, turn around to the assembly, holding the gifts high, and remain there while the Stewardship Prayer is recited. Then the persons with the bread and wine go up the stairs, around the altar and place the bread and wine on the altar, and circle back to their place at the step. The person with the collection places it in front of the altar. Stand at the bottom of the stairs, bow with the Presider, then return to your places. If you are unable to go up the steps, let one of the other presenters take your gift to its place. After Mass After the final blessing, you may help pass bulletin out, standing near the couches as people leave. Greet people as they leave- they will remember the last thing heard at church. We are a Welcoming Community!!

5 Guidelines for Ministers of Hospitality (Greeters) Dress appropriately for welcoming others to our parish. Arrive about minutes before Mass and become familiar with any parish function that might be scheduled that weekend. Station yourself near the entrance, in the hallway between the doors to the social hall. You may need to reach out to others rather than waiting until they come to you. It is important to greet people with warmth and friendliness but without being too intrusive. Welcome everyone you can. Introduce yourself to newcomers and welcome them to the parish. Avoid getting into extended conversations at this time that may keep you from greeting others as they arrive. Catch up with friends while enjoying Coffee and Rolls after Mass. Be sure to greet children and teens as well as adults. Encourage people to use the coat room, located just past the parish offices. Locate the restrooms and the drinking fountains so you will be able to direct people to them. Remember that there is a family bathroom with a changing table around the corner from the sacristy. Also be able to find the parish materials, such as registration slips, Time and Talent forms, formation information, etc. At the end of Mass, station yourself near the exit from the church in the gathering space, hand out bulletins, tell people goodbye, generally be a friendly presence. Make every effort to be as attentive as you can to people s varying moods or dispositions and respond to them appropriately. Try to remember people s names and faces. When you see them again, you might introduce them to other parishioners and help them to get acquainted. Offer assistance to anyone who appears to need it elderly persons, adults with small children, persons with a disability. Give them freedom to refuse. Point out the automatic doors. Remain open to new ideas, and keep looking for ways to serve in this ministry more graciously and effectively. Pass your ideas on to the coordinator and other hospitality ministers. Finally, but not least, know how much you are appreciated by the community! Your ministry is the first contact and the last, and so you have the opportunity to change hearts and minds. Enjoy doing the work of the Gospel.

6 LECTOR INSTRUCTIONS Prior to Coming to Church: During the week before you are scheduled to lector, locate the Sunday s readings in The Workbook for Lectors that you received during training. Take time to study and meditate on all three readings, with their commentaries, so that you have a sense of how they fit together. The first person listed on the schedule carries the Gospel book in procession (except when a deacon is assisting) and reads the first reading. The second person reads the second reading and the General Intercessions. Be prepared to do all readings, in case the other lector is not there. Read aloud your reading several times during the week. You should be familiar enough with the reading that you are comfortable with the sound of your voice and are able to finish each sentence without looking at the page. Before Mass: Please come dressed appropriately, respecting all who are in the assembly. (*See clothing guidelines at end.) Arrive 15 minutes before Mass. Check with the other assigned Lector for the day to make sure you are both there and clear on which readings each will do. The first lector makes sure that the books are in the proper place; the Lectionary should be on the ambo and the Gospel Book on the stand in the gathering space. The second Lector finds the General Intercessions, usually on the ambo in a binder, and reads through them. Often there are names included for one certain Mass and not for the others, as well as names that maybe difficult to pronounce without practice. If you are uncertain of a proper pronunciation, check with Presider. The Lectionary is placed on the ambo prior to Mass, open to first reading. The second Lector may be seated after checking in. During Mass: The Lector carrying the Gospel Book in procession will follow the servers. Begin walking when the servers reach the front pew. The Book is to be held up as high as is comfortable. The Lector pauses in front of the platform, climbs the stairs from the front, moves around the altar to the back, then places the Gospel Book on the stand in the middle of the altar from the back, continues around the same way, dismounts the platform and goes to their place in the Assembly. Immediately after the Opening Prayer is concluded, the first Lector comes to ambo. Move to the center of the platform stairs, and reverence the altar by pausing and

7 bowing (see note at end). Still on the floor level, walk around the platform to where the ambo is and go up the steps to the ambo. Proclaim the reading, hold still to allow the prayer to continue with the people (you may bow your head) and wait 10 seconds. Go down the steps, and go to your place in the assembly by the shortest way. The psalm is never read. (If there is no cantor, there is to be a period of silent meditation after the first reading.) After the Psalm, when the cantor moves away from the ambo, the second lector approaches the ambo in the same manner that the first lector did, and begins the second reading. After the reading, again hold still, and count to 10. Walk down the steps near the ambo and return to your place by the shortest way. (The Lector never proclaims the Alleluia verse before the gospel.) When you get to the ambo, look up at the people on the statement A reading from the and for the first line. Make frequent eye contact- before, during and after the reading. Project to the folks at the back of the church. Pause at the end and make eye contact for The Word of the Lord. The second Lector also reads the General Intercession after Creed. The Lector comes to the ambo when the assembly begins We believe in the Holy Spirit Open the General Intercessions binder and find your place. After you have read the intercessions, remain at the ambo while the priest prays a final prayer, then return to the pew. If you are proclaiming both readings, be seated in the assembly during the psalm response. After Mass, the Lectionary remains in place- you need not recess. * Clothing guidelines: Torsos completely and adequately covered no midriffs, cleavage or backs showing. Shoulder straps at least 3 across spaghetti strap tops have another blouse over. Shorts, if worn, are neat and clean. Skirts and shorts are no more than 3 above knee. Generally avoid logos, slogans, graphics. Why do we pay reverence to the altar at Mass? (and not to the cross or other objects in the sanctuary?) When we gather as a community on Sunday for liturgy, we come together for public, common prayer. We are there to celebrate the triumph of the resurrection, the rising moment within our lives. The Eucharist is the high point of our liturgy, our week, our life. The altar is the place of the meal, and so we pay reverence to it as we come forward. There are many presences of Christ within our liturgy, including the Word, the Assembly, the Presider and the bread and wine. (There are some who think we should reverence all the presences of Christ we could be bowing all over the place!) The cross, a most powerful symbol, is very important in our daily lives, when we go about the business of the dying to ourselves for others, and so should be present for our personal, private prayer. However, when we gather for the Eucharistic celebration, we emphasize the rising from the dead and so we focus on the table.