MINISTERS' CONVOCATION
MINISTERS' CONVOCATION
- Yours is a share in the Lord's Spirit who opens our Hearts to God's holy
word. Yours is the task of telling our family story, the story of our
people's walk with God. Yours is to proclaim the true and saving word of
God. Yours is the ministry of the table of God's word which feeds our
hunger for truth offered out of love for us. Yours is to offer the story
of the great things that God has done for us, that we might gather at the table
of the Eucharist with good cause to give thanks and praise God.
- We are in need of those whose ministry is --bringing God's word-- the stories
of our families journey-- 'to life.' We encourage those who read to prepare, so
that they read God's word and tell his stories with enthusiasm and conviction.
Reading slowly, articulating clearly, distinguishing by phrase or
clause-distinguishing: letters, from personal stories, from historical
descriptions. They are all, different and demand a different approach to
their proclamation.
* Check web site – http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/today.htm -- to read
scriptures for the Sunday to yourself, before you are going to read them to
others.
* Study the content well before hand as this is the only way to tell whether or
not an tongue-twister is coming up. Ask yourself –‘What type of literature is
this reading?’ For example, the second reading will usually be a letter – read
it like a letter.
*Does the Old Testament [first reading] tell a story? – read it like a story.
*Read slowly, pronouncing each word clearly and articulating each phrase or
clause.
* Remember, a person listening in the congregation can only ‘take in’ or
‘process’ a phrase or clause at a time.
Most of all know and understand what you are reading before you attempt to read it to others [If it doesn’t make sense to you – it won’t make sense to others!]
If you find that you cannot make your assigned
day/time, please contact a replacement.
If you are replacing someone else sign in with your name in the line of the
person you are covering for.
Try to arrive at the Chapel 15min before mass and sign in @the schedule book
outside the Sacristy.
Make sure the microphone is on [there are two switches] and aimed at your mouth.
After the Collecting Prayer – all will sit. This is the
time for the lector to move from their seat using the outside circle when
coming to the Ambo [pulpit].
Count to ten after all have seated and before you announce: ‘A reading from….’
Pause, again, before you begin the reading and pronounce each word or phrase
clearly and slowly.
At the end of the reading – pause again, before you announce: ‘The Word of the
Lord!’
If you are doing the second reading from the New Testament letters, then take a
seat just off the Ambo until the psalm is completed.
IF there is a second reader for the New Testament letter; then, the first will
return to his/her seat using the outside circle as the second comes to
the Ambo during the singing of the psalm.
Again with the second reading – pause after you enter
the Ambo and before you announce the reading.
Announce the letter: ‘A reading from the letter of …’ and pause before you begin
the reading.
When you have concluded the reading – pause before you announce: ‘The Word of
the Lord!’
If you are reading the Intercessions of the Prayer of
the Faithful:
Come to the Ambo during the Creed ….’You alone are the Holy One, You aloe are
the Lord High…’
Wait for the priest to read the introduction before you begin.
Announce each intercession: ex- ‘For the Church’ – and pause!
Then, read the intercession --- and pause!
Finally, announce – ‘Let us pray to the Lord.’
Singing at liturgy is a very important vehicle for individuals to participate and come together as a community. It affords away of participating that not only conveys ideas, but also stirs the heart and offers a melodic sound to the ear. Through word an tune, we give praise to God, lift up the spirits of humankind and raise up all of creation on whose behalf we sing.
There s a simple reason why it is desirable that there be singing at all liturgies. That reason is the beneficial effects of singing for all people. The rehearsal or teaching time for the congregation comes before the liturgy begins as the Chapel Choir prepares to motivate, instruct and elicit the response of the congregation. There are basic rules of conduct through which, by an economy of presentation, a courteous and respectful approach and a thoroughly prepared exercise, so that those who are present can learn the necessary material in the briefest amount of time and enjoy it.
The assembly is told what the
choir will do and why.
The choir sings the piece
The choir then asks the assembly to sing or to hum.
The assembly is thanked.
Such a limited time cannot be used for the presentation of too many ideas. It is better to aim for a limited accomplishment, to plot out well which is the wisest and to do it in a few minutes time. This will require planning of music for months in advance and a determination of when which pieces will be introduced. Finally, this is not something to be endured weekly, but when needed to introduce new material. A quarterly or semester ‘sing-a-long’ for a half hour before the liturgy can be a popular occasion for people to get together as well as learn while they sing.
Two basic musical forms come to mind: metric song – hymn or anthem which is more music and rhythm-centered and responsorial which is more word-centered. These two approaches to communal singing must be distinguished for the congregation as they require different degrees of participation. A distinction might also be made between – hymn and anthem, as hymns would be without any harmony but with all participating with the same notation. An anthem would be more conducive to the choir singing on its own with the congregation simply listening, as it will usually entail harmony which is not conducive to congregational singing. Finally, there is the use of the solo or multiple voice singing which again would be meditative in nature for the congregation.
The common liturgical responses can be led by the choir as a whole or preferably by a ‘leader of song’ so that it is spontaneous and palpable in it’s effect. It is the time when the individuals in the pews make reply to the prayer of the congregation and word of God. This vocal participation more than any other form of participation welds the individuals into the body of Christ in praise and worship.
The Penitential rite and Liturgy of the Word bring together the Ministers of the Word ,the Ministers of Music and the congregation, their participation and cooperation binds them together as one at the very outset of the celebration of the Eucharist.
The sounds of voice and instrument, words and movements of the liturgy are to combine to create a seamless and smooth flowing expression of our faith and the Spirit’s action in our gathering…. lifting the mind and the heart to God.
Yours is a share in the work of the Lord’s Spirit who makes us one bread and one body. Yours is the work of ministering Christ’s body to the – body of Christ—who come together as Church. Yours is the service at the Lord’s reconciling table where no matter our differences all are accepted. Yours is the ministry of Jesus who was broken and poured out for our sakes.
Special ministers of the Eucharist are needed for all Eucharistic celebrations. We share the reconciling love of Christ through the sign of His body which we receive. While no one is worthy of this gift or to minister it, God’s generosity calls us both to minister and be ministered to.
If you find that you cannot make your assigned
day/time, please contact a replacement.
If you are replacing someone else sign in with your name in the line of the
person you are covering for.
Arrive at the Chapel 15min before mass and sign in @the schedule book outside
the Sacristy and check in with the sacristan [student assistant].
If you notice that there are less than two ministers at the Noon mass or five at the 7PM, then – come up EVEN if you are not assigned!
When coming from your seat use the
outside circle and come to the altar step from directly behind the altar.
The minister closest to the ‘side table’ should bring the patens [plates] to the
altar.
After all receives, the ministers will be given patens with the hosts and go to
the three positions for distribution of the Eucharist.
Standing behind the altar - At Noon mass the minister on the left - goes
to left side and the minister on the right - to the right; whereas at 7PM: the
two on the left go to the position on the left and the two on the right go to
the right while the one in the center goes to the choir and then, joins the
priest.
The positions for distribution are
: 3[left], 6[center] and 9[right] o’clock;
if you picture the tabernacle as 12 o’clock.
After all have received return to
the altar and place the patens on the altar. The minister(s) from the right
should remain to return the patens to the table and the hosts to the tabernacle.
Two ministers should remain: one to take the remaining hosts back to the
tabernacle and the other to return the patens to the table.
What do you do if you run out of
hosts? Go to the ciborium
[gold cup brought from the tabernacle] for more.
What do you do if you notice all are running out of hosts? Start to break
them in half
What do you do if a host falls to the floor? Pick it up and consume it.
The congregation is called to order by the
entrance of the Crucifix which remains in place before us throughout our
gathering and leads us back into our world. In bringing the Crucifix into
the midst of the congregation it should be 'held high' so that is is seen from
all points and by all people.
Once placed in the strand at the side of the lectern (pulpit), the crucifix in
our midst is the visible sign f the central act of our redemption in Jesus and
the self sacrifice all must make for the good of the people of God. Yours
is the honor of presenting this sign to those who gather in His name.
When the renewed congregation is called to take His Word and His Body into the
world as they reenter the world from which each of us is drawn and in which we
work out our salvation and help that of others.
The Minister may also take the
responsibility for preparing the altar for our gathering around it. It
is important that the Minister of the Cross be present to the sacristan at least
10 minutes before mass and at the entrance - prepared to lead us all into and
out of this 'time apart' with the Lord.
Hospitality help people feel 'at home' and welcomed when they come to the chapel for mass. It is the first step in the gathering or the assembly of believers which we call the Church. It encourages a sense of community as different people coming from different backgrounds and activities come together for communal prayer. From the desert hospitality of Semitic tribes to the door- keepers of the Temple at Jerusalem through the Christian tradition of having a member of the community present to greet those gathering, hospitality has had its designated ministers.
The minister of hospitality would be present at the door of the Chapel 15 minutes before the mass begins. In greeting each student as they arrive, one may also encourage them to take a Bible for the reading if they wish or other materials that are to be distributed.
The minister of hospitality represents the community that is becoming to each person that is entering the building for that community. In a very real sense this action fosters a sense of 'group' even before the congregation sings, prays, or listens--participate in the mass.
The person would also be in a position to ask students if they would be willing to bring the offerings to the altar on the part of the whole community.
The attitude of welcome-openness will rub off on the students who, in crossing over the threshold of the Chapel and signing themselves with holy water, are beginning to enter into the myster of 'entering into' from the secular to the spiritual for this brief time.
New comers and even strangers will feel more welcomed by the community because they have been welcomed by one of these ministers.