Welcome toAcolyte Training

September 21, 2014

Why do we have acolytes?

• To bring the flame, signifying the light of Christ, into the service to remind us that God is with us as we worship.

• To assist with children’s moment, offering, and communion.

• To carry the flame out at the end of service, reminding us that we are to carry the light of Christ to those outside the walls of the church.

Why do we have acolytes?

• To give the youth of Central United Methodist an opportunity to serve God and our church family.

• To instill a sense that this is “our” church and we all have a responsibility to serve in whatever capacity we are able.

Responsibilities ofacolytes (and parents)

• Be present and ready to serve when scheduled. We ask that students arrive in the choir room NO LESS than 15 minutes before service. This gives us time to give them any last-minute instruction and for them to get their robe and cotta on, if needed.

Responsibilities ofacolytes (and parents)

• If your child cannot serve when scheduled, please make every effort to find a replacement well in advance. This is especially important for holiday weekends and summer.

• Due to fewer acolytes this year, some services will only have one acolyte. It will be CRITICAL for replacements to be found early if your child is serving alone.

Responsibilities ofacolytes (and parents)

• If your child becomes sick at the last minute, please contact Marci Milus at 409-8069 as soon as possible, even if it’s 5:30 in the morning! I would rather get a call or text early in the morning than discover at 8:10 that we do not have an acolyte.

• Again, especially critical when only one acolyte is scheduled.

What do I wear when acolyting?• Girls – church-appropriate attire.– Shoes should not be slick, hard to

walk in, or noisy.– In the summer when we are not

wearing robes, skirts or dresses need to be at least knee length or have leggings worn under them.

• Boys – long pants, nice shoes (no white sneakers).

How do I know when I am scheduled?

• The schedule for the coming year (Oct. 5, 2014 thru Sept. 27, 2015) will be mailed out before Oct. 1, 2014. This schedule will also be posted on the church website.

How do I know when I am scheduled?

• Your parents will receive an email from Ms. Marci early in the week prior to each Sunday you are scheduled.

• Parents, please send me a quick “got it” note that you have received my email and that your child will be there.

What does an acolyte do?• Arrive in choir room 15 minutes

before service starts to have plenty of time to put on your robe and cotta.

• For the 8:15 service, and the 9:15 and 10:30 services in the summer, you just need your pin or cross – no robe or cotta.

• Check-in with Ms. Marci for any last minute instructions. If Ms. Marci is not available, check with Ms. Fenner or Miss Cat.

Go to narthex

Get candlelighter from ushers’ closet on west side of narthex

Wait near main door of sanctuary for

prelude to start, being

careful not to block

doorway into sanctuary.

8:15 service

There is no prelude at the 8:15 service, so Ms. Marci or an usher will light your candlelighters at approximately 8:12, at which time you will proceed to the front.

9:15 and 10:30 services

Once the Pastoral Greeting is over and the prelude has begun, an usher will light your candlelighters and you will proceed to the front. If an usher tries to light your candlelighter during the greeting, please ask them to wait for the music to start.

Walk together down center aisle to front of church

SMILE!

Candlelighter should be carried on the inside of the aisle (away from people in the pew), and held straight forward with the bell facing down. Hold the candle-lighter in a fairly upright position.

Be sure to stay together.

If you notice that your partner is not with you, please stop and wait for him/her.

Light candles on altarIf you have trouble getting the candle lit, one of the choir members can help you. If someone doesn’t notice and offer help, just turn and ask them.

If you are serving alone, light both candles.

Step down and

blow out your candlelighter, then proceed to your seat.

Place candlelighter in its

holder, then be seated. The pastors will

already be in place, so you do not need to wait for them to be

seated.

Children’s Message – 10:30 service ONLY

The children will not be invited down for the Children’s Message on most Sundays. The acolytes need to move into place during the singing of the Gloria Patri. If the Gloria Patri is not sung, Ms. Fenner or Ms. Marci will tell you when to move.

OfferingDuring the choral prayer response following The Lord’s Prayer, acolytes will proceed to the front of the altar to get the offering plates. If there is no choral response, Ms. Marci will tell you before the service when you should move.

The offering plates are USUALLY on either side of the altar but will sometimes be in another location. Ms. Marci will let you know when you check in where they are if they are not in their usual place.

Pick up the trays and walk together to the bottom step. be sure to stay with your partner.

If you are serving alone, only pick up trays from one side – there will be enough there for that service.

Stand quietly on the bottom wooden step and allow the ushers to take as many plates as needed.

Turn toward each other and return to your seat with any unused trays.

On most Sundays, hold the trays in your lap while the offering is being collected.

Once in a while the offering will not be returned to the front. When that is the case, place the trays underneath your seat. They will remain there during the rest of the service. Ms. Marci will tell you if you need to do this.

When the Doxology begins, return to the bottom wooden step and allow the ushers to place the plates on top of the ones you are holding.

As soon as you have all of the trays, turn toward each other and return the trays to their tables.

When the congregation starts singing the closing hymn, get your candle- lighters and walk together to the altar. If you are unsure about when to move, look at Ms. Fenner or Ms. Marci and they will tell you.

Light your candlelightersfrom the candles on altar

Extinguish the candle on altar by placing the

bell of the candlelighter over it and

holding for a few seconds.

If you are serving alone, extinguish both candles.

As soon as you have extinguished the candles, turn and walk together out of the sanctuary.

Just as when you are entering, be sure to stay with your partner.

If pastors or others are in the way, carefully go around them and continue walking.

When you reach the

narthex, gently blow your

candlelighter out and

replace it in the usher’s

closet.

Please remain in the narthex until the postlude begins.

CommunionCommunion will be served by intinction at all services, except Christmas Eve. • 8:15 service – you will hold a

chalice into which people will dip their bread.

• 9:15 and 10:30 services – you will have a tray filled with cups for people to take.

Communion

When pastors move to the communion table in the chancel, acolytes will remain in their seats.

The pastors will present the bread and the cup to the congregation and read the liturgy blessing the elements.

Communion

Once the liturgy is complete, you will rise and move with the pastors to your place in front of the communion rail with the pastors in the center and the acolytes on the outside. An adult will be standing behind the communion rail to assist you.

Communion

The adult will hand the bread to you and you will pass it on to the pastor after he/she has finished inviting the congregation to come forward. You may need to hold it for a few minutes.

Communion

Once the pastor has finished speaking, hand them the bread and turn to receive the chalice or tray.

Communion

The adult will then hand you the chalice or a tray of cups. Once you have this, turn and face the congregation.

Communion

Communion

As members of the congregation come forward, the pastor will hand them a piece of bread. When they dip it into the chalice or take a cup from your tray say, clearly but not loudly, “the blood of Christ, poured out for you.”

Communion

Keep an eye on the cups in your tray and as one side gets empty, turn it so that an area with cups remaining is facing out.

Once your tray is empty, the adult assisting will take the empty tray and hand you a full one. They will also hand the pastors more bread as it is needed.

Once everyone has received communion, hand the tray you are holding to the adult assisting and go to the communion table in the chancel area where you will be served communion.After everyone at the table has been served, return to your seat.

Communion

Points to remember

• Arrive in choir room 15 minutes before the service so that you are not rushed to get your robe and cotta on and get into place. This also gives you time to receive any special instructions for that particular service.

Points to remember

• Pay attention during the service. Hymnals are located under your seat so you can participate in singing of the hymns and other elements of service.

Points to remember

• Parents, please do your part and make sure your student gets plenty of sleep the night before he/she serves. Sleeping while acolyting is very bad form!

Points to remember

• Check your bulletin for any notes Ms. Marci has made for you. It’s sometimes hard to remember what you are supposed to do, so I always try to give you a road map in your bulletin.

We appreciate your willingness to serve this year. Please do not ever

hesitate to ask Ms. Fenner, Ms. Marci, or Miss Cat if you are unsure about what you are supposed to do. We are more than happy to help, and there are no stupid

questions!

Thank you also to the parents who support their children by making sure

they are here when scheduled, even if it

means dragging them out of bed by their toenails!

A copy of this presentation, the Acolyte Training Booklet, the 2014-2015 Acolyte Schedule,

and a list of acolytes with contact information will be

available at www.centraltolife.com

Ministries TabChildren’s Ministries Tab

Acolytes Tab

To protect our students, the list of acolytes and their contact information is

password protected. The password is on the front of

the Acolyte Training Booklet you will receive but will not be on the website

copy.If you forget the password, please contact Ms. Marci

and she will give it to you.

Thank you to Lauren and Elizabeth Durrett, Preston McAllister, Counts

Elizabeth Shanks, Carter Sone, and Anna Ziegler, Amber

McAllister, Cat Milus, and “Pastor” Fenner Russell for posing for the pictures in this presentation and

the booklet!