Lay Eucharistic Minister (LEM) Instructions (10:30AM Sanctuary Service) Before arriving at the church, check the day s liturgical color for lanyard and the communion station you are assigned. This information is on the reminder e-mail you will receive and the monthly schedule. After the monthly assignments are sent by e-mail, the schedule for both teams are posted in the Commons on the poster board, in both vesting rooms, and on St. Matthew s website http://www.stmattsaustin.org/events-a-resources/schedules/134-lemlector-a-evening-prayer-schedules.html. Select the appropriate month. When you arrive at the church: 1) Check in with the Altar Coordinator (AC) if he/she is in the Commons. Otherwise, check in with the AC after you vest. 2) Be vested, in the Commons, and ready to serve no less than 10 minutes prior to the start of the service. 3) All LEMs, seminarians, and clergy that are serving gather for prayer 5 minutes prior to the start of the service around the baptismal font in the Commons. 4) Procession LEMs will process into the church following the Crucifer, Acolytes, and Choir. LEMs will process in the following order: a. Primary: If LEMs are sitting in the section immediately to the right of the Altar (as facing Altar), the order of procession is i. LEM1, LEM2, LEM3, LEM4, BB, BLEM, AC (in pairs except for AC) ii. If one or more LEMs will be serving Bread, they immediately precede the AC. b. Alternate: If LEMs are sitting in the right-most section of the congregational seating area, the order of procession is i. BB, BLEM, LEM4, LEM3, LEM2, LEM1, AC (in pairs except for AC) ii. If one or more LEMs are serving Bread, they immediately precede the AC. 5) The AC will signal when to begin processing. Process at a pace that leaves a comfortable space between you and the people processing immediately in front of you. 6) After processing to the front of the church and just before the first step, bow reverently with your processional partner together slowly at the waist. Then turn right and follow or lead to the appropriate seating area. a. Primary: If LEMs are sitting in the section immediately to the right of the Altar (as facing Altar) (see figure 1) i. LEMs should enter the 2 nd row of seating walking toward the outside wall. ii. Leave a minimum of one seat open at end toward outside wall for AC. iii. If one or more LEMs are serving Bread, leave enough seats to accommodate these LEMs along with the AC. iv. BB & BLEM should be sitting in the two left-most seats as facing the altar. b. Alternate: If LEMs are sitting in the right-most section of the congregational seating (see figure 2) LEM Instructions Page 1 Rev 09/2013
i. LEMs should enter the first row from the side closest to the windows, taking the open seat(s) closest to the inside aisle. ii. BB & BLEM should be sitting in the two seats adjacent to the inside aisle while the remainder of the LEMs follow and sit in order of procession. LEM Seating Figure 1 LEM Seating Figure 2 Immediately following the announcements: 1) The Balcony LEM (BLEM) and Bread (BB) will stand together in place and walk to the front of the altar on the first step (carpet) and bow reverently together towards the altar. Then, turn to face the ushers. 2) Receive the elements, generally a basket of wafers and pitcher of wine, from the ushers, bow to the ushers acknowledging receipt of the elements, then turn together towards the altar and walk the elements to the left back corner of the altar. (see figures 3 & 4) 3) Place the elements on the corporal, or hand to the celebrant, deacon, or seminarian, one after the other. 4) Return to the center front of the altar, bow together towards the altar and return to your seat. 5) If there are no Balcony LEMs, the two LEMs seated where the BLEMs would normally sit are responsible for receiving the elements and placing them on the altar. Check with AC if you have questions. The AC should review this requirement with you in advance of the service. 6) On occasion, the elements will already be present on the credence table and not brought forward by the ushers. If this is the case, LEMs will not be required to receive the elements and place on the altar. The AC will provide further instructions if necessary. LEM Instructions Page 2 Rev 09/2013
Receive Elements Figure 3 Receive Elements Figure 4 At Communion: 1) The AC will lead the LEMs to the Altar after the priest says, The gifts of God for the People of God to receive communion. 2) The AC will step to the Altar to receive communion, followed by any LEM who is serving the Bread. 3) Each LEM bearing the chalice will stop to take a purificator from the table. Open the purificator completely so to be able to rotate after wiping the chalice. 4) Step in line with the other LEMS to the first step inside the communion rail on the right hand side of the altar to receive Communion, leaving room for acolytes at the far right end. LEM 1 should be at the left end closest to the congregation, so that she/he can be served communion first, receive the chalice and move to serve the choir. (see figures 5 & 6) Prepare for Communion Figure 5 Prepare for Communion Figure 6 LEM Instructions Page 3 Rev 09/2013
5) After receiving communion, the acolyte or AC will hand you a chalice. Then move to your station and bear the chalice to each communicant following the distribution of the bread. If you find that someone else is serving at your assigned station, simply look around at each station and serve the station that needs a LEM. Consult the AC if you have questions. The normal order for serving communion is: Position 1: Start at the corner of Position 1 & 2 and serve to your right as facing the communicants. Position 2: Start at the left end of Position 2 where Position 2 & 3 meet and serve to your right as facing the communicants. Position 3: Start at the right end of Position 3 where Position 2 & 3 meet and serve to your left as facing the communicants. Position 4: Start at the right end of Position 4 where Position 3 & 4 meet and serve to your left as facing the communicants. Note: If you are serving bread, follow the instructions above. If you re serving the chalice, follow the bread server at your station. Occasionally a bread server may begin at the wrong place. No problem the chalice bearer should just follow him or her. 6) When bearing the chalice to a communicant, hold onto the chalice at the joint knob allowing the communicant to guide the cup to their lips. At the same time, say the following words, The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you in everlasting life, or The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation. These phrases are found on page 365 of the Book of Common Prayer. If the communicant is intincting (dipping the wafer into the chalice), lower the chalice to each communicant s hands and tip toward the communicant, so the communicant can easily reach inside the chalice to intinct the Eucharistic host in the wine. When serving children, and if you are able, kneel to their level to help facilitate the cup to their lips. 7) If you are serving the bread, place the wafer into the open palms of the communicant saying, The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you in everlasting life, or The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven. These phrases are also found on page 365 of the Book of Common Prayer. Repeat this with the next communicant. Note that if you re serving an infant or someone wishing only a blessing, step away and contact a priest either in an adjacent communion position or contact the AC for assistance. Blessings should be bestowed only by ordained clergy. 8) After serving the chalice to each communicant, wipe the lip of the chalice with the purificator in front of the next communicant to view. Rotate the chalice and the purificator after each wipe before serving the next communicant. Wipe and turn the chalice even if the communicant intincts. 9) Acolytes are available at each corner of the altar to refill chalices if you run low of wine. If serving the bread and you run low on wafers, contact the AC as there are usually extra wafers being held in the basket on the altar. 10) If you are the LEM serving bread or wine at Position 4 you may be required to serve gluten free bread or the special chalice (chalice that s not been used with the standard LEM Instructions Page 4 Rev 09/2013
wafer) to those parishioners wishing gluten free hosts. Return to the AC and he/she will pour water over your fingers above the lavabo bowl. The AC will have the lavabo linen across their arm to dry your fingers. Then take the porridge bowl or paten with the gluten free wafers or the special chalice, whichever you are assigned, and serve the remaining communicants along Communion Station 4. A clean dry purificator will be available to use with the special chalice. The parishioners wishing to receive gluten free wafers are generally served at the end of communion and will be brought to the communion rail (position 4) by an usher. 11) When you have finished serving communicants at your station, check to be sure you are not needed in an adjoining station before delivering your chalice or porridge bowl to the AC (or Deacon) at the credence table. 12) Proceed to the credence table behind the altar. Hand your chalice and purificator or porridge bowl to the AC (or Deacon). Do not put the item on the table; wait for it to be taken from you. Note: If the AC is serving and you are finished, you may set your chalice or porridge bowl on the credence table, draping the chalice with your folded purificator. Do not reach over other servers or another LEM to place your chalice or porridge bowl on the table. 13) Once you ve returned your chalice or porridge bowl to the credence table, walk in front of the priests pew and exit the altar area where you entered to receive communion. When you step down onto the tile, turn toward the credence table and bow reverently toward the consecrated elements. If necessary, step aside in front of the altar rail to prevent a collision with another LEM before bowing. Then turn and return to your original seat. 14) The Balcony LEM and Bread bearer should receive communion last. Once they receive communion and receive the chalice and porridge bowl: a. Leave the altar area on the Mesa Street (east) side and walk to the back to meet an usher near the Sound Board. The usher will direct you to serve bread and wine to communicants who cannot walk to the Communion Rail on the main level. Include anyone managing the sound board. b. Move to the balcony and serve from the base of the middle aisle. c. Serve communion to those in the Cry Room. If you are serving the bread, and the communicant wishes only a blessing (infants to adults), you may modify the exchange of the peace by saying a simple prayer such as Peace be with this this child or Peace be with you. Remember to avoid intentionally blessing the individual this is the role of ordained clergy. d. After everyone is served in the balcony, proceed to the Nursery in the basement of the main building then the Nursery in Huffman Hall. If there are workers in Huffman Hall preparing for a luncheon, stop and offer to serve communion to those parishioners. e. Return the chalice and the porridge bowl to the Altar Guild sacristy. Drape the purificator over the chalice and place the porridge bowl next to the chalice. The Altar Guild will clean up the rest. LEM Instructions Page 5 Rev 09/2013
At the Recessional: f. If time allows, return to your seat around the back of the sanctuary to recess with the rest of the LEMs. If time does not allow, you may stand in the commons until the other LEMs recess. 1) Follow the AC to the corner between communion positions 3 & 4 to wait until the Choir and Eucharistic Visitors (EVs) recess down the center aisle. The AC will signal you when to recess towards the main aisle in pairs. (See figures 7 & 8) a. If the LEMs are seated to the right of the altar, the LEMs seated farthest from the wall recess first then in the order seated. b. If the LEMs are seated in the right-most section of the congregational seating area, the LEMs recess out toward the windows in the order seated. 2) When you reach the center aisle, turn toward the altar and bow reverently. Then turn towards the back of the church and recess side by side. In the event that the choir lines the main aisle, you can recess in single file. 3) Move to the back of the right center pews until the priest dismisses the congregation. Recessional Figure 7 Recessional Figure 8 Notes: 1) When administering communion, do not call out a communicant s name. While you may know the person you are serving, it can be exclusive to the adjoining people who you may not know or who may be visiting. 2) As a reminder, LEM Comm/Bread 1 is the choir side, Comm/Bread 2 is from the corner next to Comm 1 to the center front, Comm/Bread 3 center front to the corner on the Mesa side of the church and Comm/Bread 4 is the east or Mesa side of the altar rail. Or, facing the altar, count 1-4 starting on the left side and moving to the right. 3) On occasion you may experience a misstep, such as an extra priest to serve bread or wine. If this occurs, quietly check with the AC for further instructions. If the AC has begun to serve in your assigned station, move to the end of that section so the AC can hand you the chalice to continue at a natural break. LEM Instructions Page 6 Rev 09/2013
4) Cassocks and surplices hanging in the vesting room closets, and not in hanging travel bags, are available for use. CM Almy carries cassocks and surplices. Or, contact the seminary bookstore or the Catholic bookstore on Burnet Rd to purchase a cassock and surplice if you prefer your own. Almy s website is www.almy.com. Anglican or Roman cassocks are acceptable. LEM Instructions Page 7 Rev 09/2013
Lay Eucharistic Minister (LEM) Instructions (Family Service) 1) Family service LEMs do not vest. 2) Check-in with the Celebrant, Deacon, or Seminarian at the Family Service. 3) The elements will already be present on the credence table in Huffman Hall so no prep of the Elements will be required by the LEMs. 4) At the appropriate time after the Elements have been consecrated, step to the Altar to receive Communion from the Celebrant. 5) Assist the Celebrant by administering the wine to communicants one LEM in the two front corners. Note that the Bread will be administered ONLY by the Celebrant. Both LEMs will administer the Chalice. 6) The Celebrant will provide last minute instructions, if any. Please be flexible. 7) The LEM s service is complete at the end of communion. However, a designated LEM will be required to assist the Vestry Person of the Month (VOM) assigned to the Family Service to take care of placing the monetary collection into a plastic deposit bag, appropriately label the bag, and place the bag into the safe in the parish office. This activity should take place in the parish office. LEM Instructions Page 8 Rev 09/2013