Acolytes

• The Church office sends out the monthly schedules with the Parish Newsletter each month
• If you are not available for your scheduled service – Contact Gail George, Parish Administrator, as soon as possible, so she can contact another Acolyte to replace you. You can reach Mrs. George at 518-374-8391 or at: standrewsscotia@netzero.net.

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• 20 minutes prior to the scheduled service time – Acolytes should be at Church and vested. (Vestments not required during the summer months.)
• 10 minutes prior –
• Candles on the Altar are to be lit – with decorum.
• Senior Acolyte (Crucifer) is responsible to make sure other Acolytes are vested, cross and torches are in the back of the Church, and everyone is ready.
• 5 minutes prior –
• Torches are lit by the Senior Acolyte.
• Everyone is lined up and ready to start.

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• At the end of the second reading, the Acolytes go to stand below the Altar rail opening with the Crucifer in the center and face the Altar.  After bowing together, they go into the Columbarium, retrieve the Cross and lit torches.
• After the Deacon has moved to the Altar and picked up the Gospel Book, the Acolytes return to the center of the Altar rail and face the Altar.  As the Deacon turns to face the people, they turn with the Deacon and walk slowly to the Last Supper Window.  Stopping there, the Crucifer turns to then face the Altar and the Torch Bearers will face the Crucifer for the reading of the Gospel.
• At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon and the Lay Eucharistic Minister (LEM) step to the side, the Crucifer starts toward the Altar with the Torch Bearers following.  They go right before the Altar rail, turn left in unison, and then into the Columbarium.  The Torches are now extinguished and placed in their holders.
• Acolytes take their places at the Altar, as they did following the processional.

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• As the gifts (bread, wine, and water) are brought to the Altar, the Senior Acolyte and assistant proceed to the front of the Altar, facing the people, to receive the gifts and place them on the Altar:  bread first, followed by the water and wine.
• When finished, acolytes bow toward the Altar and return to the side of the Altar, standing between the Credence Table and the Altar step, facing the Deacon.
• The Deacon may hand the Acolyte the Bread container and the Wine and Water Cruets to be placed on the Credence Table.
• After Communion elements are set (Deacon is finished) –
• The Acolyte closest to the Ambry takes the brass plate, goes to the front of the Altar, facing the people to receive the offerings. Upon receiving the offerings, turn toward the Altar and hand the plate to the Priest.  Note: if the Acolyte is too small they may walk around the Altar to hand the offering plate to the Priest.
• The Acolyte closest to the Credence Table prepares for the washing of the Priest’s hands.  Purificator on the left arm, Bowl in the left hand, and water in the right hand.  Slowly pour a small amount of water on the Priest’s fingers and then place items back on the Credence Table.

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• During the Eucharistic Prayer, the Acolytes stay in place.
• Acolytes will stand and remain respectful.

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• Acolytes will take Communion standing and then sit down

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• The Acolyte closest to the Credence Table stands with the Water Cruet to assist the Deacon.  He/She replaces the Water Cruet on the Credence Table after it is used.
• The Acolyte remains standing, facing the Deacon, to remove any silver from the Altar, to be placed on the Credence Table.
• When finished, the Acolytes sit down.

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• When the Priest completes the final blessing, one Acolyte from each side takes the candle snuffer off the wall next to the bench.  The two proceed to extinguish the candles.
• Candles are extinguished – with decorum.
• The third Acolyte, preferably the Senior Acolyte, leave the Altar and enters the Columbarium to light the torches for the recessional, while the other two Acolytes extinguish the candles.

• After extinguishing the candles, Acolytes proceed to the front of the Altar, bow, and join the Senior Acolyte in the Columbarium.

• With Cross and Torches, the Acolytes proceed to the front of the Altar and face the Altar, for a few seconds.  Then they turn, face the back of the Church, and process slowly out.  Note: Pause for 5 seconds at the bottom of the stairs for the rest of the procession to join.

• After leaving the Nave and entering the Narthex, they stop in front of the large window, turn, face the front of the Church and remain in place until the Dismissal by the Deacon.

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• Torches are then extinguished.
• Cross and Torches are returned to the Columbarium.
• Vestments are hung neatly on hangers in the store room.
• The Senior Acolyte will make sure the younger Acolytes have put the torches in their holders and hung up their vestments.

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Interested in becoming an acolyte?  Contact Fr. Mike via e-mail or by telephone: 518-374-8391.

Back to The Servant Community

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Overview

Scheduling

Preparation

Procession

Gospel Procession

Offertory

Eucharistic Prayer

Communion

After Communion

Recessional

After the Service is Over

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