MINISTERS WHO SERVE QUIETLY

Good liturgical prayer does not just happen. It requires a variety of people who dedicate time and talent so that the entire Assembly can pray well. Three groups quietly minister and help us pray well.

The first group is the parish liturgy committee. This group volunteers to help in preparing for liturgies such as Sunday Eucharist, funerals, weddings, the liturgies of the hours (morning and evening prayer), and penitential reconciliation. This group generously assists in preparing the liturgical seasons of Advent-Christmas-Epiphany, Lent-Paschal Triduum-Easter, and the Sundays of ordinary time. Sometimes this group prepares the prayer of the faithful texts. Sometimes it connects with those who coordinate readers, servers, hospitality ushers, communion ministers, and other. Sometimes it makes suggestions to the art and environment people.

The parish liturgy committee does not start from scratch. Our church has a rich library of worship texts and ritual books. This includes a three year Sunday Lectionary of Bible readings and a presider's prayer book called the Sacramentary. It also has red lettered stage directions called rubrics for every liturgy. This group is eager to continue its formation and its information in liturgical history and practice so that the Assembly can pray well.

Second, the sacristan often goes unnoticed. She or he is someone who quietly acts behind the scenes. This includes checking our supplies such as the baked altar bread and wine, overseeing the candles and the holy oils, attending to table and communion cup cloths, and managing the care of vestments. This person works with others such as servers in setting up the Sacramentary and readers in setting up the Lectionary. She or he also works with sextons, pastors, secretaries, and artists. This person is eager to continue her or his formation and information in the rites of the church, in art and environment, as well as the quality and beauty of ritual books, procession crosses, vestments, and furnishings.

Third, altar servers are females and males of various ages (eldresses/elders, young adults, teenagers, and grade school children) who assist the Assembly's worship in practical ways. They set the tempo for precessions and fulfill practical tasks such as carrying the cross and the candles, the incense and the banners. These ministers quietly facilitate a community in the practical aspects of worship such as carrying the baptismal water during the sprinkling rite, holding the book, offering lovely baptismal towels, lighting baptismal candles, clothing and setting up the table with bread and wine, preparing and using incense, and much more. Altar servers do their task unobtrusively, yet publicly. They need to be well trained in the reverent and dignified movement of their bodies. This group is eager to continue their formation and information in their appreciation of the liturgy, especially the Eucharist.

Some in the church thought that those who began as altar servers might want to dedicate their lives to Christ in public ministry. I would hope that female servers would reflect on their role as pioneers. They are the first generation in this ministry. I try to encourage servers because I am proud of them and I hope that they consider dedicating their lives to Christ in public ministry.

For all these ministers we are grateful.