Acolytes assist both clergy and the worship assembly during the worship celebration. They are worship leaders serving God while learning about following Jesus.
The Church Building:
Narthex – entryway into worship space, lobby, vestibule.
Chancel – area in the worship space where worship is led.
Sanctuary – means “holy place”, space where the altar is located.
Sacristy – place where all the vestments, paraments, sacramental vessels, acolyte gowns, candle lighters/extinguishers and linens are kept.
Altar – place where we celebrate Holy Communion.
Please be ready 15-20 minutes before the service to perform your acolyte duties!
Gowns:
Please try to pick a gown that is not too big or too short!
Acolyte Responsibilities
Lighting the Candles:
Altar candles are lit for each service and extinguished following each service. The candles remind us that Jesus is the Light of the world.
Acolytes: light the taper/wick on the igniter (lighter/extinguisher) with a lighter. Keep the wick out about an inch.
Go to front of the altar and bow; light the candles simultaneously (WATCH EACH OTHER!)
Offering:
After “SHARING THE PEACE”, one acolyte gets the offering plates (behind the choir, under the flowers), don’t forget to take the largest plate too (the alms plate) to carry the smaller offering plates. Start with the usher at your far right and pass out the plates.
After the choir anthem is sung, the ushers return to the altar with the offering. Carrying the alms plate, start with the usher that doesn’t have the “collection bag” and collect the plates ending with the usher with the collection bag. Put the plates and offering back on the shelf.
Communion:
When Pastor has said the offering prayer, move quietly down to the altar rail, pick up a communion cup from the tray and take communion with the ushers and the communion assistants. One acolyte, after communing, will station themselves at the cabinet with the communion trays. Remove the lid, put it in the drawer and as the tray empties, put the tray underneath. When communion is over, put the cover (in the drawer) on the trays.
Extinguishing the Candles:
If there is a “sending song”, the acolytes can extinguish the candles during the song. If there is no song, then extinguish the candles after the dismissal, simultaneously! WATCH EACH OTHER!
Go to the front of the altar together before extinguishing the candles and bow!
*NOTE: When extinguishing the candles, don’t crush the wick with the snuffer! Hold the snuffer over the flame so it goes out from lack of oxygen!
Candelabras:
Light the candelabras starting with the top candle and moving down. When extinguishing, start at the bottom and move up. Do so simultaneously – WATCH EACH OTHER! These candles are extinguished before the altar candles.
Cross Bearer – Crucifer; during festivals when the choir processes
Processional:
15-20 minutes before the service lift the cross from the stand in the chancel area and return to the fellowship area.
Stand at the center doors of the fellowship area, in front of the choir. When the processional hymn begins, walk steadily to the front of the sanctuary. Once you reach the front bow in front of the altar. Then stand and face the congregation until the choir is finished processing. Bow again and place the cross in its stand, facing the congregation. Move to a seat behind the ambo.
Recessional:
When the choir recesses and the hymn is about to begin, go to the altar, bow, and pick up the cross. Stand in the center aisle in front of the altar railing, waiting for the choir. When the choir reaches you, lead the choir out with the cross. When the service has ended you can return the cross to its stand.
Thank you for your ministry!
Maundy Thursday responsibilities are much like Sunday mornings except that the candles need to be extinguished before the altar area is stripped. The acolytes also help withclearing the chancel area if there aren’t enough Altar Guild members present.
On Good Friday, the crossbearer has no responsibilities until the end of the service; there are no acolytes. When the Lord’s Prayer ends, he should be in the fellowship area standing at the doorway to the sanctuary. After “Behold the life-giving cross, on which was hung the Savior of | the whole world. Oh, come, let us | worship him.” is sung or spoken the first time, he should walk halfway down the aisle and stop. After it’s sung/spoken a second time, he walks to the altar and rests the cross against the altar. (The cross for Good Friday is wooden and will not fit in a stand so it should rest at an angle.) The congregation sings a third time.
The candlebearer for Easter Vigil should be at the church about a half hour before the service begins. We begin outside at sundown. Candlebearer will hold the paschal candle. Pastor will trace the inscription on the candle as the candlebearer holds it. The candle will be lit outside. After the words “the light of Christ…” are repeated, Candlebearer processes to door at the entrance to sanctuary (congregation follows) where the handheld candles will be lit (distributed from small basket). After all the candles are lit, the cantor will chant “the light of Christ”, the candle is then processed to the middle of the aisle where the candlebearer will stop until the cantor chants again. He then processes the candle to its stand centered in front of altar and the cantor and the congregation chant again. The rest of the candles are lit after the Old Testament readings are completed—candelabras first starting at the bottom and working up, then the torches, then the candles on the altar (can stand on platform to reach altar candles). Acolytes should work in unison. As candles are lit, the stain glass window should be turned on. When candles are extinguished, everything is in reverse—altar candles, then torches, then candelabras from top to bottom. If there is a baptism, the candleholder will be at the font so the candle will be processed back to the font and placed in the stand.
If there are enough people signed up for the vigil, so there is a constant presence in the sanctuary overnight, the paschal candle should not be extinguished.
Please arrive an hour before the service begins.
In addition to the typical responsibilities for Sunday services, on Christmas Eve, your first responsibility after gowning, is to light the pew candles. Working with a parent or other adult, remove the globe (adult), light the candle using an igniter and replace the globe (adult). Each acolyte is responsible for one side of the sanctuary.
Near the end of the service, when the organist begins to play Silent Night, two acolytes assist in lighting the handheld candles beginning with the first person in each pew.
After the service ends, extinguish the pew candles with the help of an adult.
