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Notes for Worship Leaders & Eucharistic Ministers at St. John's

Notes for Worship Leaders, Eucharistic Ministers, Readers, Prayer Leaders,

and Choir at St. John's

By the Rev. Teresa K. M. Danieley, Rector

These notes are for your instruction when you are serving as a Worship Leader, Eucharistic Minister, or Choir Member with me, Pastor Teresa. Each priest has her or his own preferences and theological views when serving as Presider. If you are working with another priest, I would suggest asking her or him if there are any preferences that you should know about ahead of time.

As a Presider, I tend to minimize manual acts – crossing myself, bowing, etc. This is Bishop Smith's preference and my preference, so that my actions as Presider are as clear and simple as possible and so that the congregation may practice their own piety more freely. When I am participating as a member of the congregation, I tend to maximize manual acts as part of my own piety. There is a difference between leading worship and participating as a member of the congregation.

When you are serving as a Worship Leader, Eucharistic Minister, or Choir Member, you are helping the Presider to lead corporate worship. You are not simply a member of the congregation.

As leaders in worship, I expect you to

move quietly and reverently
refrain from extraneous and/or loud conversations before the service – especially if you are located in the Main Church
turn off all cell phones, smart phones, and other electronic devices
be ready and in place to begin worship by 10:25 a.m.
pay attention to what is going on (Reading, Sermon, Choir Anthem, Eucharistic Prayer)
follow my lead (or the lead of another Presider) in liturgical action, rather than practicing your own piety. For example, please do not face the High Altar during the Nicene Creed unless the Presider is doing so. If the Presider is standing, you stand. If the Presider is kneeling, you kneel.
When you are singing, reading, or leading prayers, turn to face the congregation. Otherwise, the Worship Leader & Choir tend to face in toward the low altar.

For the Worship Leader - Before the 10:30 a.m. Service:

Note: Although being licensed as a Worship Leader is different than being licensed as a Eucharistic Minister, most people at St. John’s serve in both lay ministries at the same time.

At 10:20 a.m., make sure that the candles are lit, either doing it yourself or watching as a young person does it. The candles should be lit on the high altar first, then the low altar, from Right to Left.

You may pause reverently before entering the sanctuary – the area where the high altar is – or when you stand in front of the low altar, but please DO NOT bow if you are holding a candle lighter or a Processional Cross. Bowing is not appropriate when holding something and you might set something on fire.

Worship Leader - Procession:

During the program year (September – June), the Worship Leader leads the Procession of the Choir and Clergy in from the West Hallway. The procession may change by season, so please check with me (or another priest serving as Presider) about the procession's route.

First Reader and Worship Leader – Readings:

The First Reader reads the first reading, generally from the Hebrew Scriptures. The Worship Leader reads the Second Reading, usually a lesson from the Epistle. I prefer that the First Reader or Worship Leader announce the reading this way: “A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles” or “A Reading from the Letter to the Colossians.” Please do not announce the chapter and verse. At the end of the reading, please say, “The Word of the Lord, ““Hear what the Spirit is saying the Churches,” or “Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.” These are the appropriate Eucharistic responses. Please do not say “Here endeth the reading” or “Here ends the reading.” These are appropriate for the Daily Offices.

I would prefer that all Readings and the Prayers of the People be done from the front - typically, the Eagle lectern on the Epistle side of the chancel. It is difficult to hear Readers and Prayer Leaders from the midst of the congregation.

I expect the First Reader and Worship Leader

to have read and practiced their readings ahead of time
to read the readings from the large, red Lectionary Readings Book (not a leaflet or pew Bible)
and to read the correct reading you have been assigned. Every reader should take the time before the service (preferably during the week before the service) to make sure that you know which reading you are assigned for the day.
If you do not know how to pronounce a word, name, or place name, take your best guess (ahead of time) and pronounce it with confidence.

If the First Reader and/or the Prayer Leader is absent, the Worship Leader is responsible for reading the first reading and/or leading the Prayers of the People.

Worship Leader & Choir – Peace: Please return to your seat in the chancel when I am trying to start the Announcements. The passing of the Peace is a part of our worship; it is not social time.

Worship Leader as a Eucharistic Minister:

As soon as the Offertory music begins, the Worship Leader moves to the credence table to assist me in preparing the low altar for communion.

Worship Leader – Preparing the Table

First, give the “Stack” to me – the “Stack” is (from bottom up) the chalice, purificator, paten, large host, and pall. I will give a slight bow to you, acknowledging that I have “safely” received the stack. Please give a slight bow back. We will repeat this slight bowing motion every time we exchange sacred vessels. It is a useful way to communicate without speaking. Do not hesitate to ask me a question out loud, if you need to. It is better to say it out loud than to play charades.

Second, uncork the two cruets. If we are using the red set, the wine should be in the bottle with a larger “flame” on the lip and the cork with the “V” on it for “vino” (Latin for wine). The water should be in the other cruet with the cork marked “A” for “aqua” (Latin for water). Pass the uncorked cruets to me. I will bow to you; please bow back.

Third, After I pour the wine and water into the chalice, I will hand the wine cruet back to you. Please put it down on the credence table and immediately place the lavabo towel on your right wrist and place the lavabo bowl in your right hand.

Fourth, I will then hand you the water cruet. Take the water cruet into your left hand, and pour the water over my hands – which will be placed above the lavabo bowl. I will then take the towel from your right wrist, dry my hands, and bow indicating that I am done and that you are dismissed for the moment.

Worship Leader - Offertory

Once we are done preparing the altar for communion, the Director of Music will begin the Doxology and the ushers will approach the altar with the monetary offering. Please get the large golden basin and receive the smaller offering plates into the golden basin. Face the high altar and lift up the basin as the doxology is sung. Then, place the golden basin at the high altar rail, or some other convenient location.

Worship Leader – During the Eucharistic Prayer

Note: All Ministers – Worship Leader & Choir Members – should follow the Presider's lead. If I bow, you bow. If I do NOT, you do NOT. Etc.

Worship Leader – Sanctus Bells

The Worship Leader may ring the Sanctus Bells at these specific times: First, the Sanctus Bells may be rung THREE times at the beginning of the Sanctus (“Holy, Holy, Holy”). Second, the Sanctus Bells may be run THREE times when the bread and paten are elevated. Third, the Sanctus Bells may be rung THREE times when the chalice with water and wine is elevated. Fourth, the Sanctus Bells may be rung THREE times when the chalice and paten are elevated at the end of the “Great Amen.”

Worship Leader – Distributing Communion:

When I say “The Gifts of God for the People of God,” approach the altar again. I will give you the bread, then the wine. If we are using the High Altar, please assist in closing the gates. When you have received communion, please take the chalice and the purificator from me. Serve the Director of Music and Choir first.

Be flexible when serving the chalice. Some people prefer to dip, or intinct, the wafer into the chalice. Some prefer the Worship Leader to dip the wafer into the wine and then place it in their mouths. Some prefer to drink directly from the chalice. Preferably, the person will take the base of the chalice and help guide the chalice. Please wipe the chalice and turn it 180 degrees after someone drinks directly from the chalice. When you serve the chalice, please say, “The Blood of Christ, the Cup of Salvation” to each person.

Worship Leader – After Communion:

If the Worship Leader is not participating in the healing prayer, I would appreciate it if the Worship Leader would collect the various vessels and re-stack the chalice, purificator, paten, and pall on the credence table. Please do not consume the remaining consecrated bread and wine at the credence table.

The Worship Leader leads the Procession to the back of the Church after the Post-Communion Prayer and Blessing.

At the end of the service, after the Dismissal, please extinguish the candles, in reverse order. Extinguish candles LEFT to RIGHT.

If you have questions, please ask me - preferably during the week before you are assigned to serve. It is difficult for me to do anything extra right before the Worship Service. My e-mail is teresa@towergrovechurch.org.

Thank you for your ministries! In Christ, Teresa+