A Working Manual for Altar Guilds. Dorothy C. Diggs
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is the celebrant, the chalice should be put upon the altar before the service and the corporal spread. When the vested chalice is in the sacristy in readiness for a service, it should be placed front in with the veil folded over it so that the priest may more readily grasp it.
If a second chalice is needed, it may be put on the credence and brought by the server to the celebrant before bringing the elements. In this case the veiled chalice should be put on the altar beforehand and the corporal spread. A pall and purificator must be provided for the second chalice.
On occasions when especially large congregations are being prepared for and third and fourth chalices needed, there may not be room for them on the credence. They may then be placed on the altar in a row behind the veiled chalice and covered with palls or their own patens, or some with the one, some with the other. Lace veils are sometimes used for the supplementary chalices, but experience has proved palls more satisfactory, since there is always danger of the soft veil getting into the sacrament. For services where three or more chalices are used it is well to have a corporal large enough to accommodate all, perhaps thirty inches square. Whatever size, it must be made square. If none so large is immediately available, two smaller ones may be used in order that all chalices may rest upon them. Extra purificators must be provided for the chalices, and rather than having so many in the burse, it seems more convenient to put them to the right of the chalices on the fair linen, not on the corporal.
The burse, if used, stands to the side of the chalice and near one of the candlesticks.
It should be remembered, however, that “during the Great Thanksgiving it is appropriate that there be only one chalice on the Altar, and, if need be, a flagon of wine from which additional chalices may be filled after the Breaking of the Bread” (Prayer Book, p. 407).
The celebrant may wear a surplice and a stole in the color of the Church season, or eucharistic vestments if it is the custom. Eucharistic vestments are laid out in the sacristy. A white linen cloth should be put first on the table or vestment chest where the vestments are to be placed. If there are frequent daily services, the vestments may properly be laid out in a drawer of the vestment chest if preferred. Eucharistic vestments are laid out in the following order:
1. Chasuble, front down.
2. Maniple, when used, laid in the center on the orphrey of the chasuble. This forms the “I” of the sacred monogram “IHS.”
3. Stole, laid with the neckband across the maniple and the ends raised on each side to form the “H.”
4. White rope girdle, folded evenly together and curled around to form the “S” of the monogram.
5. Alb, front down, unbuttoned, with the skirt folded up and then back so that the hem will be at the edge of the table.
6. Amice, if used, front down with strings crossed.
A linen cloth, matching the bottom cloth, should be laid over the vestments if they are not to be worn immediately. It should have a plain colored cross upon it, preferably blue, about three inches square. This cloth is removed by the Altar Guild worker before the priest arrives to vest for the service.
After the service is over and the congregation dispersed, the vessels and linens are removed from the altar to the sacristy. The chalice and paten should be rinsed with cold water and the water poured into a piscina or the ground. The vessels should then be thoroughly scalded, wiped dry with a soft cloth used for no other purpose, and put away in their cases. The used linens should be rinsed, wrapped together and taken home to be carefully laundered. The eucharistic candles are removed from the altar (unless they are the only candles) and the altar book and its stand put in the sacristy or placed on the credence. The altar is then covered with the dust protector, carefully spread.
If for any reason the flowers are to be left until the next day they should have fresh water. Flowers should not be left upon an altar after they start to wither, and empty vases should be removed, not left as ornaments.
The alms should be put in a bank bag or suitable container for the church treasurer to pick up.
Used vestments should be put away to be pressed or laundered and both sanctuary and sacristy left in perfect order.
In churches with traditional altars against the wall there will be little change as far as the Altar Guild is concerned. The priest will decide how best to make any adjustments. For churches with the altar standing free so that the celebrant may face the people from behind it, here is a suggested form of procedure.
The priest may begin the Holy Communion at a prayer desk or a side table or in choir instead of at the altar. If so, the chalice may be put on the credence with the elements. Some churches have the elements brought by laypersons from the back of the church to the sanctuary along with the alms basins. The eucharistic candles are put on the altar and the altar book on its stand on the epistle side. If eucharistic vestments are worn, the chasuble may be laid on the end of the altar, or over the communion rail. In that case, the rest of the eucharistic vesture is laid out in the sacristy in this order: stole, girdle, alb and amice. The celebrant will wear these into the sanctuary, and after the Ministry of the Word will put on the chasuble. The chalice will be brought to the altar from the credence. Other arrangements may be worked out by the priest or as directed by the bishop.
HOLY BAPTISM
Baptism takes place at the font, which is usually near the door of the church. The font must be cleaned and dusted before a baptism is to take place.
As Holy Baptism is a corporate service in which the whole Body of Christ participates and the congregation act as witnesses, it is much preferred that baptism take place at regular church services. Each candidate is to be sponsored by one or more baptized persons.
When there is a baptistry altar with cross and candlesticks, and the baptism takes place at a regular church service, the acolyte may light the candles at the time of the baptism. At a private service prepared for by the Altar Guild, the member on duty should light the candles before the family assembles, if no acolyte is to be present.
Vessels and linen necessary for a baptism:
1. Ewer, containing warm water
2. Baptismal bowl, if used
3. Baptismal shell
4. Baptismal towel
5. Pascal Candle, if used
6. Baptismal Candle, if used
7. The certificate near at hand
8. Prayer Book for priest, marked at Holy Baptism
9. Prayer Books for parents, sponsors and witnesses, also properly marked; or the Holy Baptism booklets, if used.
The ewer may be placed on the baptistry altar, or on a suitable table, or on steps by the font.
Often the font has an outlet with stopper and the water is poured by the officiant into the font itself. Generally the stopper is removed at the end of the service just before leaving the font.
When a baptismal bowl is used, it is put in the font with the shell either in it or beside it, and the towel is laid on the altar or over the edge of the font, whichever seems more convenient.
If the font has no outlet, after the service the water should be carefully taken up and poured upon the ground and the font thoroughly dried. The interior bowl of the font should be kept clean at all times. The font should never be used to hold floral decorations
White is the normal liturgical