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WORSHIP SCHEDULE AT ST. FRANCIS Weekly ~ Annual ~ Liturgy ~ Service Opportunities SUNDAYS
WEDNESDAYS
The Liturgy at St. Francis St. Francis is eucharistically centered and uses Rite II services, meaning the Holy Communion is the principal service on the Lord's Days and major feast days, and we use rites composed in contemporary language. On the fourth Sunday of each month, the office of Morning Prayer is used as the ante-communion or Liturgy of the Word portion for the Eucharist. Liturgy means "the work of the people," and the laity are encouraged to serve in various capacities in every service. (See below: Opportunities to Serve in Worship.) The liturgies of the Church are found in the Book of Common Prayer, the Book of Occasional Services, and the Book of Lesser Feasts and Fasts. These rites allow the people of God to re-live the drama of God's salvation history, especially the events in the life of our Lord within the cycle of the church year. Therefore, these special services are offered during sacred seasons of the church year:
The Holy Eucharist is celebrated on the remaining Principal Feast Days: The Ascension, The Day of Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, and All Saints Day. In addition, Major Feasts are transferred to Wednesdays when the Eucharist and Unction (the Rite of Healing) are routinely offered, or to the "First Saturday" service. OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE IN WORSHIP Lector ~ Subdeacon ~ Lay Eucharistic Visitor ~ Usher LECTOR - Any baptized Christian, who has received proper instruction, may read from the Scriptures and lead the prayers of the people during the liturgies of the church. Interested persons should contact the rector. SUBDEACON - The rector has designated a few communicants to serve as subdeacons. The subdeacon is licensed by the Bishop as a Lay Chalice Bearer. All orders of ministers - laity, deacon, and priest - are represented at the altar during the Eucharist. The subdeacon reads the Epistle, leads the prayers of the people, and assists in the administration of the Sacrament. The rector, assisted by the verger, offers training sessions periodically. LAY EUCHARISTIC VISITOR - In recent years, bishops have been empowering members of the laity to share in a unique ministry, which in the past was performed only by the clergy. Now, through a special license, Lay Eucharistic Visitors carry the Reserved Sacrament of the Holy Communion to the sick and homebound. Training for this special ministry is offered throughout the year. If you would like more information about the Lay Eucharistic Visitors at St. Francis, please contact Dave Meador, the coordinator for the LEVs. USHER - Any parishioner, male or female, teenager or adult, may serve as an usher. An usher greets congregants as they gather for worship, collects and presents the alms of the people, and directs communicants during the distribution of Holy Communion. If interested, contact Mitch Baker. Training opportunities are offered occasionally. ACOLYTE - There is a fine opportunity for our younger parishioners to serve God in the worship service. In our parish, an acolyte serves as the crucifer, the Gospel bookbearer, the torchbearer and the tintinnabulum bearer. While most of our acolytes are from the ten-year-old through teenager age group, adults serve on occasion. Four acolytes serve at the 10:30 a.m. service, and a crucifer assists the priest at the 8:30 a.m. service. Requirements to become an acolyte are self-discipline, dedication and dependability; a willingness to serve to the glory of God is paramount. Before serving, the candidate will be trained and, thereafter, supervised by the acolyte coordinator. ALTAR GUILD - Along with the baptismal font, the altar is the essential and most sacred object in the church. The laity and clergy gather around the altar to offer the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to God. Over 100 years ago a need was recognized in many parish churches in America for a society or guild to be created which would faithfully undertake the care of the altar, thus relieving the rector of such a responsibility. It is in that same spirit that the altar guild of St. Francis serves today. New members of the guild are always welcome, and training sessions are offered periodically by Jill Brogneaux and Jodi Baker, altar guild chairs. ALTAR FLOWER GUILD - Members of this group are responsible for arranging or overseeing the placement of flowers on the altar and in the narthex, or vestibule, of the church. They also organize floral offerings given in thanksgiving or as memorials. If you are interested in joining this group or in making a contribution, please contact Jean Siler. CHOIR - Open to all people eighteen years and older.
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