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The Eucharistic Ministry includes Eucharistic Ministers and Visitors, Chalice Bearers, Lectors, Acolytes, Ushers, and Oblationers.
One of the core values of this congregation reflects an attitude of excellence in worship. To that end, we all owe a word of gratitude to the members of the Worship Committee for their valuable input, advice, and support when it comes to the planning and implementation of the various services of worship throughout the year. A host of people, members of the Altar Guild and its related ministries, Vergers, Eucharistic Ministers and Visitors, Choristers, Acolytes, Lectors, and Ushers all lend a hand making our experience of breaking the bread and saying our prayers as meaningful as possible each week.
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Ministry chairperson: Trevor From
Eucharistic Ministers are licensed by the bishop to administer the consecrated elements of the eucharist. They may be licensed to administer the consecrated bread and wine at any celebration of the eucharist in the absence of a sufficient number of priests and deacons to assist the celebrant. They may also be licensed to go from a Sunday eucharist or other principal celebrations of the eucharist to share the sacrament with members of the congregation who were unable to be present at the celebration because of illness or infirmity.
This ministry is understood to be an extraordinary ministry, and is not to take the place of the ministry of priests and deacons concerning the administration of the eucharist.
A minister who reads scriptures or writings in a religious service, is sometimes referred to as a lector. The lector proclaims the Scripture readings used in the Liturgy of the Word from the official, liturgical book, the lectionary.
In Anglican churches, altar servers are called acolytes and can be of any gender or age (usually 10 and up). An acolyte can assist in worship by carrying a processional cross, lighting candles, holding the Gospel book, holding candles or "torches", assisting a deacon or priest set up and clean up at the altar, swing incense or carry the incense boat, hand the offering plates to ushers, and many other tasks as seen fit by the priest or acolyte warden.
Ushers hand out the service bulletin and help seat the parishioners and guests. They are the presenters of the offertory to the altar.
Oblationers are members of the congregation who bring the eucharistic elements (the wine and the bread) to the altar for the Holy Communion. The priest blesses the elements and then distributes them to the congregation.
The Altar Guild works behind the scenes to have everything in place for each service. They wash and polish the silver, serving vessels; wash and iron the altar linens; fill the candles with oil, and attend to all the details to make sure that the Eucharist is conducted with honor and respect to the Lord. St. James' Altar Guild also arranges the altar flowers.
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