Lay Servers Training St. Mark s Episcopal Church

Lay Servers Training St. Mark s Episcopal Church

INTRODUCTION Thank you for volunteering for the ministry of Layserving at St Mark s. As a layserver, your primary responsibility is to follow your assigned clergy and serve parishioners wine or grape juice after they have been served the bread. You serve parishioners by either assisting them with intincting (dipping) their bread into, or drinking from the chalices pictured below. This brief training guide is intended to establish procedures for this important lay ministry. BEFORE THE SERVICE Reporting for Duty One of the most important requirements is that you arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of service, and check in with the verger on duty to let them know you have arrived. At that time, the verger will assign your layserving role for the service. Processing at the beginning of the service You may elect to process in with the acolytes / clergy and sit in the seating reserved for service participants or you may sit in the congregation and come up to the altar at the time of communion. If processing, ensure that you have a hymnal and a bulletin. In the Procession: Layservers follow the Crucier/ Acolytes/ Choir and precede clergy. 2

AT THE TIME OF COMMUNION Layservers remain in their seats as the priests go to the Altar to begin the Great Thanksgiving. AFTER the clergy have served each other the bread and wine, step up on the Altar platform to take communion. When all layservers have been served, take the chalice and purificator from the verger and begin your layserver role. LAYSERVING POSITIONS L1-3 rd St L3 If nec L2 - Courtyard L1 follows the clergy with the chalice on the 3 rd Street side. L2 follows the clergy with the chalice on the courtyard side. L3 (if available) follows the clergy that starts at the corner by the pulpit and continues to the edge of the altar. I1 follows L1 with intinction chalices on the 3 rd Street side. I2 follows L2 with the intinction chalices on the courtyard side. 3

CHALICES The chalices that parishioners drink from are pictured above. Also pictured is the purificator used to wipe the rim of the chalice after each use. Use enough pressure that lipstick and anything else remaining on the chalice is removed. Take the chalice and purificator and proceed to your assigned location. While waiting to administer the chalice, hold it slightly to your right (so you are not breathing into it). Please ensure that you control the chalice to avoid accidents. Say the following when administering the chalice: "The blood of Christ, the cup of salvation." Most communicants will assist you by taking the chalice, then passing it on to the next communicant. Others will give it back to you; either take the cup or gesture for them to pass it on. NOTE: When your chalice needs refilling go to the acolyte /verger and place the chalice on the altar or hold the cup low enough they can see where they are pouring. INTINCTION The Chalices pictured above are for intinction. The wide chalices contain wine and the taller goblets contain grape juice. Hold one chalice in each hand. Participants taking the wine by intinction will dip the bread into the chalice themselves. Be sure to hold the chalice down, so they can see what they are doing. 4

Say the following as the parishioner dips their bread into the chalice: "The blood of Christ, the cup of salvation." If you finish your side of the altar and others are waiting to intinct, please assist with the waiting parishioners to ensure that communion flows steadily. NOTE: The chalice should be offered to each person, and the words should be spoken reverently and with emphasis to each person individually. You should not use anyone's name so as not to make those whose names you do not know feel left out. Each communicant should be made to feel special and blessed. GRAPE JUICE CUP (ALSO CALLED CHILDREN S CUP) This cup is used for children and adults who want to drink grape Juice from a cup as opposed to intincting. If you are unsure if small children are going to take the cup, ask the adult they are with. To minimize accidents, please try to bend down if possible to the child s level and repeat the same words as you do or adults: the blood of Christ, the cup of salvation. NOTE: When your chalice needs refilling go to the acolyte / verger and place the chalice on the altar or hold the cup low enough that they can see where they are pouring. AFTER COMMUNION Return your chalice and purificator to the Altar. Once the last Communicants have been dismissed, return to your chairs and be seated until the post-communion prayer. RECESSION If you processed in, recess in reverse order, following the acolyte or crucifer and preceding the clergy. 5