Lector and LEM Instructions
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, matures 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. Some folks are licensed for both ministries. 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 and you will receive e-mail notification of same. You will be expected to serve as scheduled for 7:45, 9:00, or 11:00 liturgies (10 in the summer). 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 e-mails are sent out on Mondays, 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 are scheduled as a LEM. 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/ServerSched2009.asp. Practicing aloud with a listener helps you improve your cadence and your diction. George Haliday is available at 891-4357 to schedule an individual training session. Readers should come to the Chancel during the Song of Praise (Gloria). Those leading Prayers of the People should come to the Chancel during the Affirmation of Faith or Nicene Creed. Please plan to be at the church at least 20 minutes prior to the service. A check-in sheet 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. 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. Instructions for reading the Epistle are identical to instructions for the reading the Old Testament. Prayers of the People a copy of the Prayers for the Leaders will be found under the Lectionary Bible at the Lectern. Please come forward during the Creed or Affirmation of Faith. 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. Remain in the Chancel until the Peace.
Page 1 of 2 Revised May 2009
Lector and LEM Instructions
At 7:45, the principal person scheduled reads the lessons, leads the psalm and the prayers, serves as a LEM, assists by lighting and extinguishing candles and joining the clergy at the altar preparation, taking elements to and from the Credence table as directed. Both LEMs should be in the Chancel at the end of the exchange of the Peace. At 9 and 11 (and 10), LEMs (including paten) are to come forward as part of the Oblations Procession. Please go to the rear of Nave at the end of the exchange of the Peace. After the announcements and the Offertory Sentence, follow the Crucifer. When the Crucifer turns left, proceed into the Chancel, LEMs 1 and 4 go to the pulpit side and LEMs 2 and 3 go to the lectern side. When the music for the Presentation Hymn begins, take your place in the semi-circle around the altar. At 7:45 and 11 (and 10), communion will be received at the rail. At 9 and 5:30, communion will be received standing, with two lines coming down the center aisle to receive from paten, and then one line going in each direction with chalices at the side walls. If there is a second chalice on one side at 9 (it would be LEM 4), that person should be “inside” by 10 feet from other chalice. LEM 1 serves chalice on the pulpit side. LEM 2 serves on the lectern side. LEM 3 serves at the upstairs gallery station. LEM 4 is the floater. LEM 4 is to check with the Celebrant as to whether to stay downstairs or be a second chalice upstairs. If downstairs, at 9, ask the celebrant on which side aisle you should be second chalice; at 11, fill in as needed on both sides of the communion rail to keep things moving. Paten 1 serves on the Pulpit side. Paten 3 serves upstairs. If you are downstairs: at 9, an acolyte will stand by you with a cruet; at 11, replenish your chalice from flagon or cruet on the altar. Upstairs, an acolyte will have Blessed Sacrament in both kinds. Those going upstairs, please use the stairs off the Chancel. 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. For those communicants who clearly want to take the chalice, feel free to relinquish it. There are at least four additional purificators in the burse 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 into the palm of the person’s hand or, on their tongue if indicated. 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 yourself. 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 the conclusion of Communion, please return the chalice and purificator or paten and place on the Credence Table. 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.
Page 2 of 2 Revised May 2009