Before the Service
Check the schedule in the newsletter or weekly worship bulletin to find out when you are signed up. If you are unable to do it at that time, find a replacement and call or email the church office at 608-837-6093 or [email protected] to inform them of the change. Also, if you would like to receive the monthly newsletter (which includes the acolyte schedule) in your inbox, contact the church office and ask them to add you to the newsletter mailing list.
Church begins between 8:55 - 9:00 AM on Sundays. You can always check the church website (www.bristollutheran.org) if you are unsure when the service begins (especially for holidays). Please arrive in the sacristy (the room behind the sanctuary on the right) 10-15 minutes before the worship service and find a robe in the closet that fits. Have the pastor or assisting minister light the candle lighter, that is hanging in the back of the sacristy, right before you enter.
Church begins between 8:55 - 9:00 AM on Sundays. You can always check the church website (www.bristollutheran.org) if you are unsure when the service begins (especially for holidays). Please arrive in the sacristy (the room behind the sanctuary on the right) 10-15 minutes before the worship service and find a robe in the closet that fits. Have the pastor or assisting minister light the candle lighter, that is hanging in the back of the sacristy, right before you enter.
Entering/Candles
Formal order of entering:
1) assisting minister
2) acolyte
3) pastor
2) acolyte
3) pastor
Lighting candles:
1) Front table candles (right to left)
2) Back altar candles (candelabras):
- Right side candles, bottom to top
- Left side candles, bottom to top
2) Back altar candles (candelabras):
- Right side candles, bottom to top
- Left side candles, bottom to top
3) Christ (Paschal) candle to be lit only for the following:
- The Baptism of Our Lord Sunday
- All Saints Sunday
- The Season of Easter
- Easter Sunday
- A baptism
- A funeral
(You can ask the pastor or assisting minister)
Extinguish the lighter by pulling the wick in, then pushing it back out (keeps it from adhering to the inside of the lighter) and place under your seat, which is next to the assisting minister (when there’s no assisting minister, sit next to the Pastor).
- The Baptism of Our Lord Sunday
- All Saints Sunday
- The Season of Easter
- Easter Sunday
- A baptism
- A funeral
(You can ask the pastor or assisting minister)
Extinguish the lighter by pulling the wick in, then pushing it back out (keeps it from adhering to the inside of the lighter) and place under your seat, which is next to the assisting minister (when there’s no assisting minister, sit next to the Pastor).
Offering
When the ushers come forward, take the offering plates from them and place them on the left side of the altar, itself, behind the altar (Credence) table.
Communion
Continuous communion (normal):
Take wood tray from underneath the chair, to the right of the altar, and follow behind the assisting minister to collect used communion cups. When the tray is full (or when the assisting minister switches his/her tray), place it under the chair and retrieve the other one to be filled. The assisting minister will move to the other side of Pastor about halfway through communion, just follow his/her lead. Pastor will give you and the assisting minister communion after the congregation. When they are finished, you can sit back down.
Kneeling communion:
Take wood tray from underneath the chair, to the right of the altar, and follow behind the assisting minister to collect used communion cups. When the tray is full (or when the assisting minister switches his/her tray), place it under the chair and retrieve the other one to be filled. You will move back and forth between the two sides, just follow his/her lead. Pastor will give you and the assisting minister communion after the congregation. When they are finished, you can sit back down.
Service End
After the pastor and the assisting minister walk out, you need to extinguish all of the candles with the candle snuffer, being careful not to push too far down on the candle (this pushes the wick into the wax). Once you finish extinguishing the candles, go to the sacristy and hang up the robe (neatly) and candle lighter where you found them. You are done. Good job!