Altar Serving

ALTAR SERVER TRAINING OUTLINE
Agenda: October 12, 2013

TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR ALTAR SERVERS

First: Thou shalt arrive 20 minutes early.
Second: Wear dress shoes, preferably black.
Third: Thou shalt light candles before Mass begins and extinguish them after.
Fourth: Thou shalt not chew gum, talk, eat, or fidget while altar serving.
Fifth: Hands should be in steeple position unless you are carrying something.
Sixth: Work together as one, as if you were attached.
Seventh: If you forget what to do, stop, put your hands together and wait.
Eighth: Great altar servers are un-noticed.  Don’t draw unnecessary attention!
Ninth: Thou shalt always hang up albs after Mass.
Tenth: Have fun.  Remember you can’t really mess up when doing God’s work!

AGENDA FOR TRAINING

Fill out Cards
Run Race Around Church
All Ring Bell
Walk through Mass with two experienced servers
Break into four groups: Divide up parts of Mass
1. Ten Commandments
2. Liturgical Posture (Bows, Genuflect) and Identity of Vessels
3. Altar: Readings, Prep of Altar, Mixing Water, Clearing Altar
4. Entrance and Exit
Close with Prayer.

BELL RINGING

Ringing the Bell Twice.  After Vatican II, bells are no longer used.  Some pastor's continue to use them.  I like to use them because it helps focus the servers and adds an element of tradition to our Mass.  Some parishes ring the bell three times.  Some ring the bell twice.

There is really no rule on when to use them because they actually are not needed in the post-Vatican II Church.  Here is why I choose to ring the bell twice instead of three times.

Rubrics for Vatican I suggested that a little before the consecration, if appropriate, a minster rings a small bell as a signal to the faithful.  The minister also rings the small bell at each elevation by the Priest, according to local custom.  After Vatican II it is not appropriate to ring the bell as "a signal to the faithful" because everyone is already paying attention to the mass, unlike Vatican I when people were focused on personal prayers and devotions while the priest was speaking Latin.  So, the first of the three bell rings used before Vatican II to "signal the faithful" is not needed now, and really, neither is the other two ringing during the consecration.

WATER AND THE GIFTS

During the very early Masses over 2000 years ago, the water was brought forward with the gifts.  We have not been doing this at Sacred Heart.  However, after this training, we will begin bringing up the water with the gifts.

SETTING UP THE ALTAR

Sacred Heart will begin allowing those altar servers with at least five years of altar server experience to set up the altar during the preparation of the gifts.

ALTAR SERVER DUTIES
Altar Servers 1, 2, 3

ALTAR SERVER DUTIES
Altar Server 3: Candle Bearer, Hand towel, Bread
Altar Server 2: Candle Bearer, Book, Bowl, Bottle (water), Bell, Basket
Altar Server 1 (Lead Altar Server): Everything Else (EE)

ALTAR SERVER REQUIREMENTS
Always approach and leave the altar together, move together as if one.
Dress shoes required.
While on the altar and not carrying anything, put hands together

BEFORE MASS
All Servers: Arrive 20 minutes before Mass
All Servers: Vest, Alb and Cincher
Altar Server 1: Light three candles: ambo and altar
Altar Server 1: Retrieve processional cross.
All Servers: Join with other ministers in prayer before Mass.

ENTRANCE
Altar Server 1: Lead with Cross down center aisle.
Altar Server 2 & 3: Walk side by side behind the Cross.
Altar Server 1: Directly places the cross on stand, does not stop
Altar Server 2 & 3: Split one each side of the priest.
All Ministers: Bow together and take their places (Candle Bearers do not bow).
Altar Server 2: End of song, bring book to the priest, return to chair
Altar Server 2: Prayer, bring book to the priest, return to chair

LITURGY OF THE WORD
All Altar Servers: Gospel, light candles, process beside ambo

PREPARATION OF THE ALTAR (during collection)
Altar Server 2: Take book to the altar, hand to priest, bow
Alter Server 1: Take chalices to the altar, hand to priest, bow
All Servers: Take your seats until collection is over

PREPARATION OF GIFTS
Altar Server 1: Get cross, go to back of church, escort the gift bearers
All Servers: When the priest stands, go with him to receive the gifts.
Altar Server 2: Place the baskets on the floor in front of the altar.
All Servers: Wait until all the gifts are received before moving.
All Servers: Together, go around right side of altar, give gifts to priest, bow.
All Servers: Return and stand in front of your chairs
All Servers: While water is poured into wine, all servers go to altar.
All Servers: Take Cruet and Pitcher back to credence table.
All Servers: Immediately take towel, water pitcher, and water bowl to Priest.
All Servers: Bow and return to credence table.
Altar Sever 2: Stand, kneel, by bell.

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Altar Server 2: Ring bell during the consecration, once for the Body, once for the Blood.

COMMUNION
All Servers: Line up with ministers to receive communion
Altar Server 2: After Communion retrieve book from priest, bow
All Serves: Stand near altar, hands together, ready to help priest
All Servers: Return to chairs when altar is clear
Altar Server 2: Take book to priest when he says, "Let Us Pray." Return.

RECESSIONAL
Altar Server 1: When priest leaves, get cross, take to front of altar, wait
Altar Server 2: When priest leaves, take your place in front of altar
Altar Server 3: Pick up baskets of money
All Ministers: Bow together and then process out, cross, servers, priest
Altar Server 3: Give baskets to usher

AFTER MASS
Altar Server 1: Return the processional cross to the chapel
All Servers: Hang up Albs and Cinctures
All Servers: Extinguish Candle

ALTAR SERVER TRAINING LINKS

To learn how to tie your cincture CLICK HERE.
For the Altar Server Ten Commandment Power Point Presentation CLICK HERE.

ALTAR SERVER TRAINING
FOR VIDEO CLICK HERE.
October 2014

 Tim, Jake, and Natalie alter serve during the Easter Vigil 2012

 Cassey prepares to Altar Serve, April, 2012

Setting up the credence table