What you need to know to serve…

Thank You for choosing  to be an acolyte.  This is an important job because you will be helping all the members of the congregation to worship God.  Churches have had acolytes since ancient times.  The earliest record we have tells us that in AD 251 there were 42 acolytes helping in the churches in the city of Rome. The word acolyte is taken from an ancient Greek word that meant attendant or helper. 

 Your job is to light & extinguish the candles on or near the altar table.  Since ancient times, light and fire have reminded people that God is here with us.  When you bring the light into the sanctuary where people gather for worship, you are reminding people of God’s presence with us.  When you light your candlelighter again before extinguishing the candles and then walk reverently out with your lighted candlelighter, you remind people that when we scatter out into the world, God will be there with us.  As you participate in all parts of worship (singing hymns, reading prayers, listening to the sermon) you are an example and a reminder to other people that worship takes participation.

 Your duties:

1. Wear appropriate clothing.  Until we have robes for the acolytes – we are asking everyone to wear clean, non-ripped or torn PANTS with close-toed shoes and an appropriate shirt that covers your waist & belly (no mid-drifs).  Remember you will be raising your arms, so you may want to lift your arms at home to see if your waist becomes bare.  If so, please find a longer shirt.  This dress code is chosen to not distract from worship.  Everyone will be watching as you come forward.  Close-toed shoes are a safety precaution.
2. Plan to arrive 20 – 15 minutes before worship begins
3. An acolyte helper will be on hand to make sure you have a candlelighter that works and matches/lighter to light your candlelighters.
4. At 1 or 2 minutes before Worship (during the prelude), the pastors and liturgists will gather at the back of the church.  YOU will lead them in.  The pastor or acolyte helper will tell you when to begin processing.  The pastor & liturgists will follow you down the aisle.
5. Walk slowly, calmly to the black marble level, before the 3 steps of the altar.  Be sure to stay even with your partner.
6. When you arrive at the bottom of those steps – bow your head and whisper to your partner this verse: “Walk as children of the light.”  Ephesians 5:8.
7. Then both of you will continue up the remaining 3 steps, and begin to light the candles from the INSIDE – to the OUTSIDE.  You will need to turn your candlelighter around to light the candles. 
8. Wait for all candles to be lit before turning around again.  (Remember, you can extend the candlelighter by holding it lower on the handle; you can also move to the sides if you can’t quite reach one of the candles.) 
   
   *  IF the candle does not light – try again.  There is no rush – take your time.
   *  IF your flame goes out, re-light your candlelighter from your partners flame.
   *  IF both of your flames go out before any other candle is lit – the acolyte helper OR one of the pastors will come over to you with another match or lighter to relight your candlelighters.  Please wait at the top of the altar stairs for them to come to you.
   
9. After all the candles have been lit – turn around with your partner to face the congregation.
10. Walk together to the front pew on the PULPIT side and put your candlelighters under the    pew, out of the way for worship.
11. There will be bulletins in the front pew along with hymnals and anything else you might need to participate in worship.
12. During the LAST HYMN – you will be told ahead of time to come up on a certain verse.  Come straight to the altar with your candlelighters and LIGHT your candlelighter. 
13. Extinguish all the candles from the INSIDE – OUT.  Do not smash the wicks down into the candle, just place your candlelighter over the candle (covering the flame) until you see a small puff of smoke.  This indicates the candle is out.  This will take some time, so move slowly.
14. When you & your partner have finished extinguishing candles, turn together to the congregation and walk down to the “run-way” lights (the bottom step before the floor of the Sanctuary).
15. Wait for the hymn to finish and the pastor to give the benediction, then lead the pastor out of worship – carrying the light of Christ with you.  Remember to walk slowly out of worship so the whole congregation can see the light.

* IF by chance your flame goes out from your candlelighter at the end of worship
 i. DURING THE HYMN – turn toward your partner & relight your candlelighter.
ii. DURING the benediction – Just walk out without a light.

 YOUR JOB is not quite finished when you leave worship.  Please put your candlelighters back in the closet!  Then your job is done for the morning. 

 Thank you for being an acolyte.  In time, all these steps will become very familiar and easy, and you will find members of the congregation thanking you for your participation in worship – helping others to see the light of God and knowing that light goes with each one of us wherever we go.

Blessings!
Melissa Emerson & Brooke Hubbs

TO SIGN UP TO BE AN ACOLYTE:     Contact Brooke Hubbs at 614-882-2167, ext. 14, or  bhubbs@messiahumc.net  , or sign up below. Remember we will need your full name, the date & TIME (9:30 or 11:00) you can acolyte and if you have a partner or need a partner to acolyte with you.

 Acolytes are needed at all times of the year – please serve when you can.