Church of the Incarnation

The procedure on Sunday mornings is as follows:

1. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the service.
2. Vest in alb and cincture.
3. Light the appropriate candles:
1. altar candles if we're having communion
2. candles behind the altar if they're there
3. the Paschal candle during the Easter season, at Baptisms, and at funerals
4. the Advent wreath during Advent and Christmas.
4. Check that everything you'll need is on the credence table:
1. cruet of water
2. ciborium of wafers
3. lavabo bowl
4. lavabo towel
5. Check that bread and wine are on the font in the back of the church.
6. Get the cross.
7. You lead the procession in. You'll start in on the second verse of the hymn - look to Bobbi Albert for your cue. When you reach the sanctuary step, stop. The choir will process on to the choir loft. When the Eucharistic Minister reaches you, they'll tap you on the shoulder. Take the cross and turn to your left, placing it in its stand.
8. Enter the sanctuary, reverencing as you enter, and sit on the pulpit side of the altar.
9. You'll lead the Gospel procession. On the next to last verse of the Gradual (the hymn before the Gospel), go get the cross. Pause at the sanctuary steps, then process out the center aisle to the fifth pew. Stop and turn to face the altar. Remain there for the Gospel reading. When the reading is over and the sermon hymn begins, process back to the sanctuary steps, pause, and turn to your left to place the cross back in its stand. Return to your seat for the sermon.
10. At the Offering, get the offering plates and come forward with the Eucharistic Minister to meet the Greeters. After the Eucharistic Minister has taken the bread and wine from them, hand them the offering plates and take the Attendance Count from them. Bring the count to the priest.
11. Take the empty ciborium from the priest and place it on the credence table.
12. Remove the stopper from the water cruet; hand the cruet to the priest with the handle facing the priest. When the priest is finished with the water, return the cruet to the credence table.
13. Place the lavabo towel over an arm and hold the lavabo bowl in your non-dominant hand. Hold the water cruet in your dominant hand. When the priest comes over, pour a few trickles of water over her fingers and into the bowl. She'll dry her fingers on the towel and return it to your arm. Afterwards, return the used towel and bowl to the credence table. Place the water cruet there as well and replace its stopper.
14. Receive the offering plates from the greeters and hand them to the priest. The Eucharistic Minister will then help you put the center section of the altar rail in place. Return to your place for the Eucharistic Prayer.
15. Ring the Sanctus Bell after each "Do this in remembrance of me." (once for bread, once for wine) and at the Great AMEN (three rings) at the end of the Eucharistic prayer.
16. After the priest says, "The gifts of God for the people of God…," come to the pulpit side of the altar to receive with the Eucharistic Minister.
17. After Communion, bring the water cruet to the priest at the altar. Return it and anything else the priest hands you to the credence table. Note that the priest may ask you to help consume extra bread or to place consecrated bread or wine in the aumbry.
18. Return to your seat for the post-communion prayer.
19. When the final hymn begins, extinguish all candles that have been lit.
20. Go get the cross, reverencing as you leave the sanctuary. Stand at the sanctuary steps with the cross. On Bobbi Albert's cue, raise the cross and lead the procession out.
21. Remain at the back of the church for the dismissal.
22. Return the cross to its place and go home knowing you've played a vital role in making worship at Incarnation special for so many people.