Before Liturgy:

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to Liturgy.

Please no flip-flops for serving.

Put on Alb that fits properly and be sure to button all buttons.

Candle Server lights the candles.

Make sure there is a small water towel and bowl on the credence table for the washing of hands.

Make sure there is water in the cruet.

Participate in the prayer before liturgy with the priest, deacon, Eucharistic ministers and lector.

Cross bearer gets the cross.

Candle bearers get their candles.

All servers proceed in silence to the door of the office side door of the church (Newfane site). At Wilson site all severs proceed out the sacristy nearest the outside doors and ready for procession. At the Olcott site, all servers proceed out the sacristy door for procession down the side aisle of the Church and then up the middle aisle (or outside if weather permits).

Entrance Procession:

When the opening song begins and the lector is in position, the cross bearer leads the procession, holding the cross, walking slowly and reverently, down the exterior wall and down the center aisle.

The candle servers follow with candles held upright.

The cross bearer stops at the third pew and turns sideways. Candle bearers stop at second pew. Let the lector, Eucharistic ministers, deacon and priest pass to their positions to their positions at the foot of the sanctuary. Cross bearer is in center aisle with candle servers behind the cross.

When the priest reaches the steps of the sanctuary he will genuflect.

The cross bearer does not genuflect but simply bows one’s head. Keep the cross straight and upright.

The candle servers also simply bow their head in reverence. Keep candles upright.

As the priest proceeds to the altar, the cross bearer places the cross in its stand. Cross bearer bows in center and goes to pew. Candle servers place their candles on the floor near the ambo. Two candle servers come to center and bow together and then go to the pew.

Opening Prayer:

When the priest says, “Let us pray”, the server on left side of pew holds the sacramentary, opens it to the proper red ribbon so that the priest can read the opening prayer. When the priest is finished, place sacramentary next to priest.

Presentation of the Gifts:

During the collection, the cross bearer places the sacramentary on the altar.

The candles servers set the altar assisted by the deacon or when deacon is absent by the cross bearer with the chalice, cups and purificators. Carry two items each and bring to the altar at the same time.

After table is set, the cross bearer retrieves the cross and the candle servers retrieve the candles. The cross bearer leads procession with candle servers behind cross to the back of the church to lead the gift bearers to the altar. The cross bearer followed by the candle bearers lead the procession to the priest.

The cross bearer returns cross to stand. Candle bearers place candles by the altar.

Cross bearer stands next to priest and two candle servers stand next to priest on other side.

Candle servers receive gifts of bread and wine from the priest and take them to the altar. Once gifts are placed on altar, the candle servers go to credence table.

Cross bearer receive the collection basket from the priest and places the basket near the candles. Cross bearer comes to the center in front of altar, bows and goes to pew.

Candle bearers go in a pair to present the water for pouring into the wine. Do not place water on altar. Wait for water and empty pitcher of wine to be returned. Bow together and return to credence table. One candle bearer holds water and one candle bearer holds the dish and towel for priest to wash hands. Once priest turns and comes to side of altar, candle servers together come up to priest to wash hands. Once hands are dried, bow to priest and then return water, towel and bowl to credence table. Together walk to center in front of altar, bow together and go to pew.

Ringing Bells:

The candle bearer on the inside who did not take sacramentary to priest rings the bells with one short ring at the appropriate time. First time is when priest consecrates bread and wine by placing his hands over the bread and wine. The second time is when priest raises the Body of Christ. The third time is when priest raises the Blood of Christ.

Communion:

When Eucharistic Ministers approach the altar for receiving and distributing communion the cross bearer and candle servers come to middle of aisle, bow before altar and stand on first level of sanctuary by ambo for reception of communion.

The Eucharistic Ministers will give communion to the servers immediately after the ministers receive both species.

Cross bearer approaches altar, closes the sacramentary and places it by the priest’s chair and returns to seat.

After communion, the candle servers assist priest or deacon with final clean up of altar after vessels are purified.

After clean up is completed, candle servers go to center in front of altar, bow and return to pew.

Closing Prayer:

When priest says, “Let us pray”, the candle server who did not ring bells opens the sacramentary to the proper page for the final prayer. When the priest is finished, the server closes the book and returns to the pew.

End of Liturgy:

When the priest leaves the chair to reverence the altar, the cross bearer gets the cross and candle servers retrieve the candles. The cross bearer and candle servers return to middle of aisle by third pew. The Eucharistic ministers and lector move to their positions.

When the priest genuflects, the servers bow their heads, holding the cross and candles in an upright position. When the priest turns to leave, the cross bearer and candle servers turn to lead the procession. Cross goes first followed by candle bearers.

After Liturgy:

The candles are extinguished and returned to appropriate place. Cross is hung in appropriate place.

Hang your alb neatly in the closet.

Notes:

Arrive 15 minutes before the Liturgy.

If you can not make Liturgy, it is your responsibility to get a substitute.

Altar servers should participate fully in the Liturgy, reciting responses, saying prayers and singing songs.

When preparing for Liturgy, always genuflect if passing in front of the tabernacle. When crossing the sanctuary, a reverent bow is done in front of altar.

Always be reverent and respectful. This will add to the prayerful experience of our assembly. If any altar server is not carrying anything, then their hands should be folded in a prayerful manner. 

 A Extraordinary Minister of Communion is an ordinary Christian accepting the invitation of the community to witness in a special way to the Lord’s Presence in our midst. They should recall that they are serving in an important ministry, not just simply functioning for the sake of efficiency.

1.] Ten minutes before Mass, ministers in proper attire should gather in the sacristy to sign in for a position and pause for prayer. This moment helps a person to center oneself and initiates the process of withdrawing from daily concerns and heightens one’s awareness of the mystery about to be celebrated. Once the prayer is offered, silence is maintained until the entrance procession begins. 

2.] Ministers will be included in the procession behind the Lector. After the Presider and Eucharistic Ministers genuflect at the sanctuary you will return to your seat in the assembly.

3.] Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion approach the altar as the presider receives from the cup. After the priest has concluded his own Communion, he distributes Holy Communion under both species to the Extraordinary Ministers, assisted by the deacon and then hands the sacred vessels to them for distribution of Holy Communion to the people. 

4.] The ministers with the Precious Blood offer the cup to the other minister next to them in the sanctuary. 

5.] After the ciboriums are given to the ministers, all go to their assigned positions. Communion is offered to those who are handicapped within the congregation first. 

6.] The minister of Communion needs to be person-centered individual. They offer the Bread of Life or the Cup of Salvation to a sister or a brother in Christ in a personal way and not in a routine, monotonous manner. The words spoken are addressed to the individual, not to the floor or ceiling. The eye contact between the minister and the communicant personally speaks of Christ’s care and concern for the members of his Body. Looking down the aisle, checking out the congregation or other ministers, anything but lovingly focusing one’s attention on the communicant, detracts from the fullness of this moment of the Eucharistic celebration.

 7.] Since the Eucharist is a sacrament of unity, it is essential that the minister of Communion be a person who finds it easy to be with people, making no distinctions because of class, race, sex, or age. All those who assemble for Eucharist are one in Christ and they must be welcomed by all ministers.

8.] The special minister of Communion must have a sense of the power of symbolic and ritual communication. They must realize the significance of gesture. Simply put, ministers should realize that actions speak louder than words. The way that one handles the Eucharistic bread and wine, the vessels, and the like should communicate reverence and appreciation for the Sacrament, as one would handle anything that one cherishes and treasures. A question that constantly confronts a minister is how she/he can better communicate through gesture and word; a sense that all that is done in the action of Communion is done in remembrance of the Lord Jesus.

9.] Grace and sureness of movement are essential for the faithful performance of this ministry. These qualities imply an awareness of one’s position in the sanctuary and for distribution; an ease in holding the plate, ciborium or chalice and in offering the Eucharistic Bread and Blood to the communicants; and an ability and calm in dealing with mishaps, such as the dropping/spilling of the Body/Blood.

10.] The minister’s attentiveness, personal presence, eye contact, way of speaking the words, “The Body of Christ” or ‘The Blood of Christ,” and reverence to the elements all serve as vehicles of the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. To be able to do this in a few moments means that the minister has pondered and shared the Eucharist often.

11.] An important principle for ministers of Communion is: do not hurry your actions.

12.] All music ministers receive communion with the congregation except for the instrumentalist.

13.] After the Communion Rite is completed, the ciboriums are brought to the altar. The Presider or deacon gathers the remaining Eucharistic Bread into one ciborium. The minister on the tabernacle side transfers the Blessed Sacrament to the tabernacle. The minister places the ciborium in the tabernacle, and genuflects before the door is closed. This minister then returns to their seat in the assembly. At the same time the cups are brought to the altar by the ministers and the Precious Blood is consumed. All ministers return to their seats in the assembly. The cups are purified by the deacon or presider at the altar and then the altar servers returns them to the credence table. 

14.] After the final blessing as the altar servers approach the step of the sanctuary with their candles, the Eucharistic Ministers should assume their opening positions. All will genuflect and the altar servers will lead the procession back to the sacristy. 

15.] Once in the sacristy, one minister goes out to the sanctuary to get the tray of cups and ciboriums. All ministers should help wash the vessels with soap and water and rinse well. Then set up the tray for the next liturgy and leave it near the sink.

The Ministry of Ushers 

Along with all other lay ministries in the Church today, the role of ushers at the Eucharist assembly is being cast in new light. They are not mere stagehands or money-collectors but exercise a true liturgical ministry of hospitality that helps to build community. Ushers can effectively serve the worshiping assembly with joy, dependability, kindness, and reverence, and thus prepare their brothers and sisters for joyous participation in the sacrament of unity.

Collection 

During liturgy, there will be only one collection taken up at the time of offertory. 

This is a new procedure. On the first of the month or whenever there is any special second collection all the envelopes will be placed in the regular single offertory collection. These special envelopes will be separated from the regular collection by the counters and the donation will be credited for that intention. If a special collection is called for without envelopes, only then will a second collection be announced. This single collection will reduce the time required to accomplish the task so as not to interfere with our Eucharist celebration.

After the collection has been gathered, one of the ushers should coordinate the gathering of the collection into the temper proof bag and place it in the basket. Meanwhile another one of the ushers should prepare the gift-bearers handing them the wine and host so they are ready for the procession. One usher should walk behind the offertory procession with the collection basket, walking with simple dignity and not too quickly. Once the offertory gifts of bread and wine are presented by the faithful, the usher offers the collection to the presider. 

Communion

Actual need should be the criterion for the ushers’ involvement in the communion procession. After the priest receives communion and the music for communion begins the communion procession should form immediately. This means the usher should be forming the communion line while the presider is distributing communion to the Eucharistic ministers. This movement should be done with warmth and gentleness as ministers of hospitality. Once the Eucharistic

Ministers arrive at their positions the faithful should be ready to receive. 

After communion the ushers should pickup bulletins on the windowsill in the sacristy or the bottom drawer of the bookrack in the vestibule and return to their seats.

Dismissal

Remain in your place during your prayer time after communion and any announcements. With the beginning of the final hymn, go to the doors. In good weather, see that they are propped open to provide easy exit for the assembly. Be available at each door to place bulletins in the hands of those departing; to provide needed assistance for anyone disabled; and to wish all a pleasant good-bye. Remember this is your final opportunity to bring pleasure to their Sunday experience.

Make sure all windows are closed and secure, also check the church for articles left behind and for litter in the seats or on the floor. In general, see that all in is good order for the next service.

Emergency Procedures

Procedures in case of physical sickness or even sudden death, fire, power failure, and other emergencies should be known and planned in advance. 

 Striving for Excellence

Acutely aware of past shortcomings, the Church today is striving earnestly to improve the quality of Sunday worship. This is a matter of responding to the mind of Christ and flowing where his spirit is leading. The Spirit functions through concrete factors such as acoustics, seating arrangements and temperature. But because the Church is people, the Spirit works through them with their attitudes and feelings and postures. Most especially the Spirit works through those who minister to the congregation in the role of preacher, lector, musician, Eucharistic minister, or usher. No one is exempt! In the power of the Spirit, all ministers should strive constantly for higher standards of excellence in their ministry; none should strive more assiduously than those engaged in the ministry of hospitality, the ushers. At stake here is the greater glory of God and the greater holiness of his people. 

An Usher’s Prayer

Lord, you make all kinds of people, even people like me. In your love you gather them all into your Church. As you gather your people this day, help me to serve them in a Christ-like manner, even as your Son served those who gathered about him. Make me prayerful and patient, helpful and understanding, and may I radiate the joy that faith brings as strength to support my fellow ministers. May all who assemble to celebrate our common faith in the risen Savior be glad of heart for being here and for having encountered your Son in one another, in our priest, at the tables of the word and Eucharist, and through the ministry of ushers like me. I ask this through Jesus’ name. Amen.