When you look up towards the altar in a 10:30 service, you’ll see quite a few people. The clergy, of course, and the choir, but if you look a little closer, you’ll see there are several others in various vestments. These are the altar servers, who perform a variety of essential functions to ensure that services proceed in good order. Their support helps create a cohesive liturgical experience for all.
The acolytes are the core. Dressed in simple white robes called albs, they carry the cross, torches, streamers, and light the candles on the altar table and against the east wall. They help carry vessels to the altar and assist with other tasks as needed. Some of them will hold a chalice during Communion. For me, that was a revelation: I see Jesus in all the expectant, hopeful, beautiful faces receiving, “the Blood of Christ; the Cup of Salvation,” and it gives me great fulfillment—yet humility—as bearer of the Sacrament.
At our 10:30 service and at Evensong, we have a thurifer, who carries the thurible and provides incense in a series of choreographed movements at specific parts of each service.
Overseeing everything are our vergers, in purple Cathedral cassocks and white anthems, carrying their ceremonial staff of office, the virge. The vergers have risen through the ranks from acolyte and thurifer, and you may see them perform these other roles as well. They help arrange the details of the service and its choreography in advance, and make sure all runs smoothly.
What does it take to be an acolyte? Simply, a heart for service. The tasks are not difficult, there’s always gentle guidance from the vergers, and people are easily trained “on the job”. It’s not nearly as complicated as you might think, and there are no “tests.” The commitment is often once a month, although more frequent participation is welcome. And it’s not scary; people really aren’t looking at you individually—the alb is an anonymizer!
Everyone starts as an acolyte, but you have the opportunity to progress in duties as far as you’re comfortable. Some of our acolytes prefer to serve at the simple 8am service, others enjoy the larger 10:30 choral Eucharist. Thurifers and vergers have a greater commitment of time and training, and they serve at Evensong as well, along with a crucifer (cross-bearing acolyte).
In addition, altar service is a unique and immersive experience of worship. Servers generally find themselves moved in unexpected ways by proximity to the Liturgy. It can be very rewarding to make a direct contribution to the service, and to work as part of a greater team. And you won’t find a better seat to hear the beautiful music of our choir and organ!
If you’d like to give it a try, please contact me; I’d love to hear from you to arrange your participation as a “shadow” some Sunday: vested in an alb, sitting with the service team, absorbing the experience first-hand. It’s an opportunity open to all—no commitment required.
-Canon Lisa Churchill
That was a lovely tribute to the altar servers, but I believe that ushers are also members of the greater team. Perhaps, there should be an article on the importance of ushers in relation to any service and ultimately to the altar. They are a very important segment of any service and special event. Very often, ushers work directly with the altar servers. They also have direct contact to the congregation and welcome newcomers as well as seasoned parishioners with a smile and a kind word. That is my humble opinion, and, speaking for myself as an usher at the 8:30 a.m. service, I feel very much like an altar server.
Respectfully submitted.