Lector and LEM Instructions
Revised September 2005
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In order to be a LEM (Lay Eucharistic Minister), you must be a confirmed, adult communicant of St. George’s in good standing, regular in your stewardship, faithful in worship, of good repute in the congregation, mature in faith, and licensed by the Bishop. Lectors and those who lead the Prayers of the People may be appointed without license by the Rector. In the Episcopal Church, there are two classifications of Lay Eucharistic Ministers; those licensed to serve communion in the Eucharist, and those licensed to take communion to homes, hospital, etc. At St. George’s, we will use “LEMs” for those serving in the Eucharist and “LEVs” (i.e. for “visitation”) for those taking communion to homes, etc. Expect to receive a schedule of Lector and LEM assignments in the monthly newsletter. This schedule will usually be on our Web Page well in advance of the newsletter. You will be expected to serve as scheduled for 7:45, 9:00, or 11:00 liturgies. Please check this schedule immediately and make a note of your “time to serve.” If you cannot serve when scheduled, it is your responsibility to (1) Contact a substitute and (2) Notify the church office by 9:00 a.m. on the Wednesday prior to the service of the change. You should also notify the Webmaster as soon as possible to update the website schedule. Reminder cards are sent out on Monday mornings, so a call prior to the Monday before you are scheduled to serve is helpful. Please refrain from using fragrance on your hands on the morning you scheduled as a LEM. The church office will send all readers a reminder of their assignments during the week prior to the assignment. Reminder will include assignments & any special instructions. Please study the readings for clarity, meaning and pronunciation. This is an opportunity for you to assist people in understanding the meaning of the lessons. Your initial practice should be an attempt to understand what the readings mean to you. Your second practice should be for context. Mispronounced words may change the context of the reading. If you are uncertain about pronunciation (or to verify what you think is correct), please call the clergy or consult a pronunciation guide, “The Vocabulary, The Church,” which is available for your use in the church library. You may also choose to use an online pronunciation guide such as may be found on our website Server Schedule Menu page: http://www.stgeorgesepiscopal.net/ServerSched.asp. Practicing aloud with a listener helps you improve your cadence and your diction. The Rev. Bob Dean is available at 548-8673 to schedule an individual training session. At 11:00, please check to see if a Youth Lector is scheduled. If so, the Youth Lector reads the second lesson. Both of you should come to the lectern after the Collect of the Day. Please plan to be at the church at least 15 minutes prior to the service. A check-in sheet, as well as the Prayers of the People, is located on a table in the Narthex. Please initial the sheet that you are present. If you have not initialed the sheet 10 minutes prior to the service, a substitute will be obtained. After a substitute has been assigned, the substitute will serve; you will not be permitted to serve if you arrive late. Check the lectern to ascertain whether a book mark is at the appropriate place in the Lectionary Bible. If you will be reading from a marked or enlarged photocopy, please put it on the lectern BEFORE the service. Please do NOT carry it with you to or from the lectern. If you need the wooden platform, place it in front of the lectern. ALWAYS use a microphone and double check to make sure it is on. Prayers of the People at 7:45 and 11:00 will be led from the lectern. Lesson and Prayers of the People at 9:00 will be read/led from the Chancel steps. A microphone will be in place there. For 9am only, the bulletin can be used for lesson and prayers.
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Lector and LEM Instructions
Revised September 2005
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Introduction to the Lessons: “A reading from...” Because the chapter and verses are listed in the bulletin and/or the Scripture insert, the introduction should include only the book/author reference, NOT the chapter and verse. At the conclusion of the reading, say “The Word of the Lord”, or “Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.” Check the bulletin to see which conclusion is scheduled. Please avoid other greetings or comments. Please refer to the bulletin for Psalm instruction. Psalms are sometimes sung, sometimes read in unison (less than ten verses) or read responsively (more than ten verses). When the psalm is to be sung, the organist will begin immediately. When the Psalm is to be read, you should instruct the congregation by saying, “Let us read Psalm ___, found on the bulletin insert (or in the Prayer Book on page ___) in unison (or responsively).” Instructions for reading the Epistle are identical to instructions for the reading the Old Testament. Prayers of the People (see also instruction #6) – a copy of the Prayers for the Leaders for 7:45 and 11:00 will be found in the Narthex prior to the service. Please come forward during the Creed or Affirmation of Trust; at the Chancel steps, announce the prayers, and, if needed, refer to the Prayer Page # or to the bulletin and the corresponding versicle and response. Please refrain from adding personal comments to the prayers unless prior approval has been received from the Rector and except for prayers offered during the time when the congregation has been invited to add their own thanksgivings and intercessions. Check with the Clergy if you have pronunciation questions. At 7:45, the person scheduled reads the lessons, leads the psalm and the prayers, and serves as LEM. Please also assist by lighting and extinguishing candles and joining the clergy at the altar preparation, taking elements to and from the Credence table as directed. On Sundays when there is only one clergy at 7:45, be sure that a second chalice has been recruited. At 9 and 11, LEMs are to come forward during the Fraction Anthem. At 9, come up the steps and stand on the side of the altar table on the pulpit side to receive communion. The two chalice stations at 9 are at the front of the side aisles. An acolyte will stand by you with a cruet. At 11, after you have received, step inside the rail to receive your chalice if you are serving at the altar. If you have a paten or a station chalice, remain outside the rail with paten person(s) in the middle. After you receive your paten or chalice, proceed to your station. On most Sundays, those scheduled as Lector and Leader of the Prayers of the People will serve a chalice behind the rail at the altar. The three (or four) other scheduled LEMs will be at one of the lower stations. One of the clergy (or a LEM with paten) and a chalice will be in the area where the P.A. system is located and the other two LEMs (paten and chalice) will be in front of the piano.
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Lector and LEM Instructions
Revised September 2005
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When administering the cup, the customary words used are, “The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.” For those persons who choose intinction (dipping the wafer), place the purificator between the chalice and the person, in order to catch spills. For those who drink from the chalice, always wipe the chalice carefully with the purificator, turning it as you do so in preparation for the next communicant. There are at least four additional purificators on the altar, so please use a clean one if the original becomes stained. When pouring additional wine from the cruet, be sure to wipe the lip of the cruet with the purificator. When administering bread, place the wafer in the palm of a hand or, if indicated, on the tongue. The customary words of distribution are, “The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven.” When you are scheduled as Paten and a person indicates that they wish to receive a blessing (arms crossed over chest), the substitute for a clergy blessing is, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.” If a wafer is accidentally dropped, please consume it. If uncertain whether a child is to receive, please quietly ask the parent. Our church teaches that the benefit of the sacrament is complete when receiving in one kind only. Some persons, who do not choose to receive the wine, prefer to touch the wafer to the rim of the chalice, or simply to touch the chalice. Be attentive to the following: big hats that obstruct your view, mustaches, small children, crossed arms (an indication they don’t want wine). If at the rail, lean down and very quietly tell the communicant what they need to do to assist you, e.g., ask children to stand, ask a person wearing a hat to raise her head, etc. Also note, when a person remains at the rail after others have left, the person may have been missed or may be confused. At 11, when you are behind the rail, refill the chalice from the consecrated wine on the altar. Do not add water. Let the clergy know if more wine is needed. At 11, when you are at one of the additional stations, an acolyte with additional consecrated bread and wine will be by the pulpit. When needed, signal that acolyte or another. At 11, when it appears that all have received, those serving at the station by the P. A. System should attempt to ascertain whether they need to carry the elements to persons sitting in the pews, as some in our congregation are unable to come forward. The ushers are responsible for notifying you of this, but you may wish to double check with them when they come forward to receive. At the conclusion of Communion, please return the chalice and purificator or paten to the altar. You may then return to your pew. LEMs are licensed for three years. You may ask to have your license renewed. Some may choose to take a Sabbatical from time to time.
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Filed as Sharedwpd/Jim Dannals/LectorLEMInstructions
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