Acolytes
Leadership
Acolyte leadership consists of three acolyte masters Currently, they are: Rex Mingie, Scott Dorrycott and Tim Wheeler.
Rotation of Leadership
There is no rotation of leadership in the acolyte program as there is for Sunday School teachers and Vestry. The current acolyte master will be stepping down on Pentecost of 2007.
Acolyte Responsibilities
The St. James acolyte is a helper to the clergy and congregation. There are eight different positions in the acolyte program at St. James:
» The Boater, the acolyte who carries the boat (a vessel in which incense is stored) when incense is used.
» The Thurifer, who carries the thurible which is filled with incense during procession, Gospel procession for the censing of the Gospel book, at the offertory for the censing of the altar and congregants, and recession. Sometimes the Thurifer is used when dedicating various items given to the church (e.g. a new plaque given in honor of someone, vestments, etc.)
» The Crucifer, the carrier of the cross during main procession, children's chapel procession, Gospel procession, recession, and other various events such as dedications, etc.
» The Gospel side acolyte who carries a torch during procession, Gospel procession, and recession, takes and retrieves offering plates, and helps church members during communion.
» The Epistle side acolyte who also carries a torch during procession, Gospel procession, and recession, retrieves communion elements from ushers, assists clergy in communion setup and breakdown, and assists congregants during communion.
» The Kite bearers who process kites during procession and recession on certain Sundays such as Pentecost, St. James Day, and Rally Day.
» The Acolyte Master Assistants who manage acolytes on various Sundays.
» The Acolyte Master who trains and schedules acolytes, and manages the acolyte program on Sundays.
Summary of Requirements/Rules
Acolytes are required to be at least nine years of age, mature enough to handle such responsibility, and physically able to carry (at a minimum) a flag. There is no maximum age limit. Acolytes are required to be in the vesting room by 10:15 a.m. (actually, fifteen minutes before any service regardless of the service time), take part in the service with an attentive and interested attitude (though this is certainly not the case with some of the younger acolytes), notify me as far as schedule requests go, and to find their own replacement should they not be able to serve their scheduled time.
―Contacts: Rex Mingie, Tim Wheeler & Scott Dorrycott