Altar Server Notes Good Friday-­‐2015 Introduction These notes are provided to assist servers with preparing for the service of Good Friday. (This is not a mass but resembles one. There is a liturgy of the word, and there is NOT a liturgy of the Eucharist. The Blessed Sacrament consecrated on Holy Thursday is distributed at the Good Friday service and is called Holy Communion.) Good Friday service will be at 7pm in the Church Preparation 1.
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Servers Arrival Vestments Altar Candles Holy Water Incense Server Table Credence Table Binder 10. Cross 11. Processional Candles 12. Seats Two (2) – AS#1 & AS#2 30 minutes before the start of the service. White Alb and Red Cincture Not Applicable – will be removed from the sanctuary Not Applicable – Not used Not Applicable – Not used Not Applicable – Not used Not Applicable – Not Used Yes – on AS#1 chair opening prayer, the intercessions and the closing prayer. Not Applicable -­‐ will be removed from the sanctuary Globe Candles staged in Altar Server’s room, with lighter, in preparation for veneration of the cross. Standard Seats General There will be 2 servers for this service. East aisle is the side aisle by the altar server seats. West aisle is the aisle by the Lectors seats. Processions (Type) 1.
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Entrance Veneration of the Cross Lead Deacon to working sacristy to get ciboria and humeral Lead Deacon to altar to place ciboria and candles on the altar Lead Deacon from altar to working sacristy to return ciboria Recessional 1 (Aisle) (Center) (Center) (East) (Center) (East) (West) Altar Server Notes Good Friday-­‐2015 Arrival • Prepare, yourselves and the church setup, as noted in the preparation
section, and review the processions as noted in the procession section.
Order of the Service Below is the Altar Server activities and responsibilities during this service. Introductory Rites 1. Entrance Procession with NO cross and NO candles and servers process in front of
the Presider and Deacon to the sanctuary steps.
2. Altar servers kneel on steps, flanking the Presider and Deacon (one server on either
side). (Stand when the Presider stands and kneel when the Presider kneels.)
3. When Presider and Deacon stand to go to their chairs, altar servers will then go to
their standard chairs.
4. AS#2 – Clears the cushions and places them under the servers chairs.
5. AS#1 – Go to the Presider’s chair, with the binder, as soon as he gets to the chair.
Return to seat, as standard, after the Collect (Opening Prayer).
Liturgy of the Word 6. Standard liturgy readings and gospel, and a very long gospel by the Presider,
Deacon and Lector. Altar Servers do nothing different from a standard mass.
7. AS#1 holds binder for Presider, at Presider’s chair, during Universal Prayer
(General Intercessions). Note these prayers are different from a standard mass.
VENERATION OF THE CROSS 8. After the General Intercessions, the Presider, Deacon, and both Altar Servers leave
for the narthex using the center aisle.
9. The servers get the lit globe processional candles (in altar server/usher room) and
then return to the nave and stand facing each other at the 1st Black Tile cross in the
floor of the center aisle (closest to the baptismal font).
10. The Presider and Deacon pick up the cross and carry it to the front of the baptismal
font. (Ushers assist as needed.)
a. The cross is raised and the Presider chants “Behold the wood of the cross”.
The cantor leads the peoples’ response “Come, let us adore”.
11. The servers lead the procession up the aisle very slowly, and stop at the 3rd Black
Tile cross, facing each other.
a. The Presider chants a second time, with the people’s response.
12. The servers move slowly to the steps of the sanctuary and stand on the red carpet,
facing each other.
a. The Presider, facing the Assembly, chants a 3rd time and the people respond.
13. (After the people respond, “Come let us adore,”) the Altar Servers together walk to
the east window and place their candles on the slate platform to the right of the
banister.
2 Altar Server Notes Good Friday-­‐2015 14. Both altar servers go to their chairs and stand. Prepare and be ready to venerate the
cross.
15. (Veneration of the Cross) Altar Servers will be the first to do this, after the Presider
and Deacon. You will approach the cross two by two and deep bow to the cross,
then return to your chairs.
16. (After the Ushers put the cross in the stand, and at the Deacon’s signal) both Altar
Servers retrieve the candles and then process with candles (SLOWLY), leading the
Deacon down the side east aisle and to the work sacristy.
17. Presider places the corporal and missal on the altar.
18. The Deacon will put on the humeral veil, take the four ciboria and altar servers will
lead in procession the Deacon to the glass doors at the back of the nave, and wait for
the Presider to be at the altar.
19. (At the Deacon’s signal) The altar servers will lead the Deacon in procession
(SLOWLY) directly up to the altar. Servers stop at the steps, on red carpet facing
each other, as the Deacon goes to the altar.
20. After the Deacon places the ciborium on the altar, the altar servers place the candles
on the Altar, one candle at each of the front corners of the altar. (The front of the
altar is the side closest to the steps leading to the center aisle.)
21. The Deacon will remove the humeral and place the humeral on the Deacon’s chair.
22. Altar servers, retrace steps to the aisle and then, return standard seats.
Holy Communion
23. No Offertory, No Preparing Altar, No washing hands.
24. Presider leads the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer.
25. Receive communion together and standing side by side in front of the Eucharistic
Minister, wait until all servers have received before moving to the next station. Then
when done, go to seats.
26. Servers do not clear the altar. (Presider will clear the altar)
27. After communion is finished and at the Deacon’s signal
a. Both Altar Servers retrieve the candles from the altar and wait at the base of
the steps in front of the presider and Deacon’s chair, and wait for the Deacon
to be ready.
b. Presider will assist Deacon with the Humeral Veil, and then Deacon will
retrieve the ciboria.
c. When Deacon has both humeral and ciboria, and is ready, then altar servers
will process with candles (SLOWLY), leading the Deacon down the side east
aisle and to the work sacristy.
28. Leave globe candles in the working sacristy.
29. Altar servers and Deacon return to the church by the side east aisle.
30. Go to your standard seats.
31. AS #1 immediately gets the binder and with a nod from the Presider (“Let us Pray”),
goes to the Presider’s chair for the final prayers.
3 Altar Server Notes Good Friday-­‐2015 Concluding Rites 32. Presider says closing prayer, final blessing, NO dismissal and NO closing hymn.
33. AS#1 returns to their chair and puts binder on chair.
34. AS#1 & AS#2 stand and go to red carpet in front of the ambo. NO cross. NO
candles.
35. All face altar and bow together.
36. Altar servers will lead Presider and Deacon out of the nave, to the sacristy, in a single
file, using the west aisle by the lectors chairs.
Departure 37. Once the service is complete and the people have left the nave, then go and extinguish
the altar candles.
38. Return to sacristy and get globe candles and return them to the server/usher’s room
and extinguish them.
39. Remove your alb and hang it up, and place cinctures into their container.
40. Check with the Presider and Deacon and see if there is anything else they need for
you to do.
41. You’re done!!
Thank you
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