Serving at God's Altar
I would like to share with you what it is like to be an acolyte! St. Martin's has a great training program for both Junior (grades 2 through 5) and Senior (grades 6 through 12) Acolytes. They serve as an integral part of the church service. They carry the cross and torches in leading the Sunday worship processions for the Choir and Clergy, as well as flags and banners on special days such as Easter, Christmas, Independence Day and others.
They lead the Gospel procession for the reading of the Gospel. They serve the Altar by carrying in the chalice and paten, handing them to the Deacon, as well as the ciborium for bread and the cruets with wine and water. They also present the collection plates for the offering and then for its blessing.
In the Family Table service, they lead the procession of the Clergy, a procession for the reading of the Gospel, a reading from the Bible and the Prayers of the People. They also help set the Altar for the communion service.
When acolytes serve, it affords them the opportunity to be in front of the congregation, which is good practice for being out in front of people. They get to observe different types of services, as well hearing prayers, readings from scripture, sermons and music. Many of our Episcopal clergy served as acolytes growing up.
I served at St. Paul's in Orange, Texas. The first time I served, the priest said, "Nick, don't spill the wine." I carefully took the cruets of wine and water, then took three steps up to the altar, which “jumped up” and hit the bottom of the wine cruet, allowing me to spill the wine on the altar! No one yelled, no one was angry; the altar guild just got more wine and the service continued. (Guess what? Years later, the church ordained me a priest anyway.) As I continued to serve as an acolyte, they asked me to deliver the sermon on youth Sunday when I was 16. A year later, I became the student chaplain for the youth group at St. Luke's in San Antonio. Those were wonderful experiences, and I highly recommend serving on the St. Martin's Acolyte team because our Acolytes learn things that will always stay with them.
I want to recognize Beth Ollenburger for her work with the Junior Acolytes and Barbra Piana, who works with the Senior Acolytes. And I offer a special thanks to all the family members who get the Acolytes to church when it is their time to serve!
When I think of all of us who have the honor of serving at the Altar in Martin's, a very special hymn comes to mind — Number 707.
"Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee; Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of thy love; Take my heart, it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne.”
Let us pray; Heavenly Father, thank you that your Holy Spirit is in the midst of us when we have the privilege of leading your people in our worship services. Bless, guide and direct us as we seek to know and do your will. Amen.
