The Gift of Acolytes in Worship

One of my favorite things to do in churches is to train new acolytes. Whether it’s with youth or adults, going through the steps of serving at the altar is always a reminder to me that prayer and worship are embodied things: we set a tone of holiness and awe not only with our songs and our spoken prayers, but the way that we move our bodies as we carry out every small action.

Actions are different in worship. Notice, for example, how we move a simple object like a vessel of water: we could move it quickly and efficiently from side-table to altar, or even plan ahead and prepare the bread and wine before the service. Instead, it is a carefully choreographed dance, almost like an ancient tea ceremony in the Japanese tradition, where time is slowed down and celebrated as a gift. Those who tell that story most powerfully are the acolytes, the servers in worship who in many ways are the connective tissue of the liturgy.

Over the next few weeks we will offer training for new and continuing acolytes, for the Fall 11:15 service (after the 10am service this Sunday August 11^th) and for the 9am Abundant Table service (next Sunday August 18^th at the same time). If you are new to this and considering serving, I hope you will. It’s a perfect role for a middle or high school students, and is a great role for adults to play as well.

Acolytes help to make the service happen, but perhaps most importantly they are essential to telling the story that unfolds with the liturgy: one of reverence, holiness, and awe.

Faithfully,

The Very Rev. Bernard J. Owens