You are an Acolyte
 
A Manual for Acolytes
 
You are joining the ranks of those who have helped with the worship service since the year 250 A.D. The word acolyte means a "companion" or "one who helps." In accepting this position you will be serving as a companion or helper to your pastor: performing a number of important functions before, during, and at the close of the worship service. Read the following pages carefully so that you will know exactly what you are to do, when you are to do it, and how you are to do it properly!

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ACOLYTE VOCABULARY
 
ACOLYTE means "companion" or "one who helps." An acolyte helps the pastor perform various tasks in the worship service.
 
ADVENT means "coming." It is the first season of the church year. It's the time before Christmas when we prepare for the coming of Jesus. There are four Sundays in Advent.
 
ADVENT WREATH has five candles which are lit during the Advent season. One candle is lit on the 1st Sunday in Advent, two on the 2nd, and so on. The first candle stands for the prophecy of Jesus' coming; it's lit in anticipation. The second candle stands for Bethlehem where Jesus was born; it's lit in longing for Christmas. The third candle is the Shepherd's candle; lit in judgment. The fourth is the angel's candle; it's lit in fulfillment of the Scriptures. The fifth candle is the Christ candle, which is lit on Christmas Eve.

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ALTAR is the table at the front of the church. It is a reminder of the family table. God's family gathers around the symbolic table. It also recalls the sacrifice of God's Son. When facing the altar, the left side is called the Gospel side. The right side is called the Epistle side. In the early church, the lector (reader) read the Gospel from the left side of the altar and the Epistle from the right side.
 
CANDLELIGHTER is used by an acolyte to light candles. It consists of a taper or wick from which the candles are lighted, and a bell for snuffing out the flame.
 
CASSOCK is a red robe reaching the ankles, worn by an acolyte underneath his/her cotta.
 
CHANCEL is the area in the church building where the pastor leads the worship service. The altar is in the chancel, as is the railing where people commune.

 

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CHRIST CANDLE is the fifth candle of the Advent wreath, lit on Christmas Eve. It stands in the middle of the other four candles, reminding us that Christ is the center of Christmas and of our lives.
 
CHURCH YEAR is a 12-month cycle of Christian celebration. The first season is Advent which prepares for Christmas when Jesus was born. Epiphany is the next season, beginning when the three Wisemen see the Christ Child, including Jesus' baptism and the beginning of his ministry. Lent follows Epiphany and recalls Jesus' suffering for us. It is a time to think about baptism and rebirth in preparation for Easter, a seven-week festival which starts when Jesus rises from the dead. The Day of Pentecost and The Season after Pentecost are celebrations of the Holy Spirit active in the life of the Church.
 
EUCHARIST is a Greek word meaning "thanksgiving." It is another word for Holy Communion, the Lord's Supper.

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EWER is the pitcher of water a pastor uses to fill the Baptismal font.
 
FONT is the bowl or basin from which water is taken during the sacrament of Baptism.
 
NAVE is the section in the church building where the congregation sits.
 
OFFERING is taken at a time in the service when the members of a church offer gifts to God in the form of money. Ushers usually pass offering plates through the pews in which members place their money.
 
REVERENCE THE CROSS means to say a short prayer or pause momentarily in respect for the cross, and the sacrifice our Lord made on the cross.
 
SACRAMENTS are the church rites (ceremonies) which use earthly elements and God's Word to bring his blessing. The two Lutheran sacraments are Baptism and Holy Communion. The earthly element in Baptism is water and in Holy Communion it is bread and wine.

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SACRISTY is the room where the participants in the service &endash; the pastor, lector, acolyte, and others &endash; prepare for the service.
 
TAPER is the long wax stem in a candlelighter, used to light the candles. It's also called a wick.
 
TURN INWARD is a direction given which reminds acolytes to always turn toward the cross when turning around in the chancel area.
 
VESTMENTS is a general name for clothing worn by those who participate in worship services (cassocks, cottas, etc.).

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BEFORE THE SERVICE
Arrive at least ten minutes before the service begins. Have your hair combed, hands and fingernails clean. Dress neatly &endash; preferably no tennis shoes or blue jeans.
No running around after you are robed! And no gum chewing!!
Check the candlelighter to determine whether its wick is long enough. Hold it with your right hand near the bottom and your left hand near the knob which regulates the wick. Hold the candlelighter in front of you, tipped slightly forward, with the bell pointing toward you.
Use matching candlelighters when there are two acolytes.
Walk in a dignified, unhurried manner.

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LIGHTING THE CANDLES
 
At the opening of the chancel railing, pause to reverence the cross by bowing the head.
Starting with the left foot first, walk up the steps to the altar. When there are two acolytes, ascend the steps together.
The acolyte on the left lights the candlelighter from the Everlasting flame by extending the wick.
Light the candles from the cross out. When there are two acolytes, light them at the same time.
 
LIGHTING ORDER

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LIGHTING ORDER
If there are candelabras on the floor, light the candelabra next in the same order as shown for the branch candlesticks.
The acolyte on the left side of the altar lights the Christ Candle (or Advent Wreath).
After lighting the candles, pull the wick into the stem, snuffing out the flame. Then push the wick out again. Exit on the Epistle side of the altar. Lean the candlesticks by the post by the step.
 
Actively participate in the entire worship service: standing and sitting when the congregation does.
 
No whispering, giggling or talking!!
 
INDIVIDUAL CUP COMMUNION
Follow the pastor's instructions.

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EXTINGUISHING THE CANDLES
 
After the clergy have given the Benediction and left the chancel, pick up the candlelighter, face bell away from you, go to the altar, reverence cross, and ascend the steps.
 
When there are two acolytes, move directly to front of candles 1 and 2, and extinguish them at the same time.
 
If there is only one acolyte, extinguish candles from Gospel side of the altar starting with candles #1-7, then go to the Epistle side and extinguish candles
#1-7.
EXTINGUISHING ORDER

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EXTINGUISHING ORDER
If there are candelabra on the floor, they are extinguished before any candles on the altar have been extinguished.
The Christ Candle or Advent wreath is put out last.
Upon completion of this task, go to the Altar Guild Room (single file, when there are two acolytes).
Put candlelighter in designated place.
Remove robe, and carefully hang vestments away.
If vestments need cleaning, notify a member of the Altar Guild or leave on the cupboard.

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