Acolyting Procedure

On your scheduled day to acolyte, please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the service. This is important so you have enough time to prepare for the worship service. Please let an usher know you are there before you get ready, to help them plan their preparation as well.

Preparation

When entering the worship center, enter in the far left door from the altar. You will be in the storage area. Turn right and proceed to the hallway.

Walk to the closet on the right with sliding doors. There you will see the acolyte robes. Select one that looks close to your size along with a cincture (robe belt). Note the size of the robe for your future reference.

• To find if the robe is your correct size, the length should cover you to just above the top of your shoes and fit comfortably around you.
  

• Fasten the robe using the internal snap on the left shoulder, the internal string at the waist, and the external snaps on the right shoulder.  Place the cincture (rope belt) around your waist and tie it off in a loop to the side.

  

 The Sacristy

When you have found a properly fitted robe, and put it on, close the closet and walk across the hallway to the Sacristy room. Take a wooden cross with a gold chain from the counter in front of you and put it on over your robe. Feel free to us the mirror on the wall to make sure you have everything on correctly.

Next to the counter where you found the wooden cross, you will also find the candlelighters. They are a y-shaped device with a gold top and a wooden handle. The side with a wick sticking out is for lighting candles. The bell-shaped side is for putting them out.

Select one of the lighters and make sure it is working properly using the following steps.

1. 1. Find the little sliding lever on the wick side. Make sure it slides and moves the wick in and out.

2. Check to see if there is enough wick in the lighter. Look in the groove on the side of the lighter just above the adjusting lever and you can see the remaining wick.  You should always be able to see about 6 inches of wick to be on the safe side.  If the wick is too low, you may change the wick yourself or ask an usher or pastor to help you.

The pastors will help you light the wick prior to the service.

Click here for information on how to change a wick.

When you have gotten your robe on and your lighter checked, please wait patiently in the Sacristy for the pastor. Do a quick double-check to make sure that you have everything. There is a restroom just down the hall if you need it.  The pastor(s), Ushers, readers, lay assistants, and yourself will gather in the Sacristy for any special instructions, and a word of prayer just before the service starts.

Entering the Worship Center

At the direction of the pastor(s), go through the door directly across from the Sacristy and enter the worship center. Be sure to cup your hand in front of the flame to protect the flame from drafts or breezes that may blow it out.

Proceed at an easy pace along the outer edge of the altar area. Be sure to watch the flame so it does not blow out. Continue around to the front of the altar area. At this point the acolyte should bow slowly at the waist, straighten and then walk up to the altar to light the candles.

  Lighting the Candles

As you approach the altar be sure your wick is adjusted to give you enough flame. The wick burns rapidly so you need to adjust it frequently. Reach up with the lighter and touch the flame to the candle. The candles are oil candles which light very easily. Once the candles are lit, pull the wick into the lighter to extinguish the flame using the adjusting lever. Immediately after the flame is out, slide the wick back out a little bit. Failure to do this hardens the melted wax and the wick will jam in the tube.

After lighting the candles, you should turn and follow your same path back down to the front of the alter area. Bow once again and take a seat for the start of the worship service. The lighter can be placed under the pew until needed at the close of the service.

Holy Communion

Acolytes also assist with Holy Communion when it is celebrated. When the pastors and lay assistants come forward at the start of Holy Communion, the acolyte should also step foward with them on the right side at the front edge of the altar area. If you are prepared to receive Holy Communion yourself, you may do so at this time. If not, remain standing with hands folded or crossed in front of you.

At the cue of the pastor(s), the acolyte should step up to the right side of the altar, turn and face the congregation. Your role is to return empty trays to the Altar Guild room.

As wine trays become empty from communion distribution, the Lay minister will bring them to you. As this happens, your responsibility is to take the empty trays back to the counter in the Altar Guild room. This is located through the door behind you next to the organ.

Depending on the size of the communion attendance, you may have to make several trips back and forth. Return to your post each time and wait to be excused by the pastor(s) to go back to your seat.

Close of Service

During the last verse of the closing hymn, the acolyte extinguishes the candles. As the pastor(s) turn to leave the church, proceed with the lighter to the front edge of the altar area; bow, then walk up to the altar. Using the bell-shaped side, the snuffer, gently come down squarely over the top of each candle. Hold the snuffer in place for several seconds until the flame goes out. Repeat this step for the second candle. When the candles are out, proceed to the front of the altar area, turn and face the altar, and bow.

Proceed back along the outer edge of the altar area and through the door on the left closest to the altar (where you entered at the beginning of service). Return the lighter and the wooden cross to their proper place in the Sacristy. Put your robe back on a hanger with the snaps buttoned and place it neatly in the closet along with the cincture (rope belt). You are then free to leave.