Liturgical Customary of the Church of the Advent, Boston

© Julianne E. Turé and William J. Theisen 1999

The Liturgical Customary of the Church of the Advent, Boston
Torchbearer

ETIQUETTE NOTES:
TT may elect to carry in hymnals or to walk empty-handed. Either way, TT must be uniform; servers in pairs always mirror each other.

When empty-handed, the hands should be folded at waist height in front of you.

TT chairs are on either side of Bishop’s Throne. The Throne is not a bookstand; hymnals, programs and other printed matter are to be placed on TT chairs or on the floor when not in use.

TT face across chancel at all times except when facing the Gospel Book during the reading of the Gospel.

When counting during Communion, TT should not look at the people. Instead, follow the clergy’s hands as they distribute the Sacrament.

How to genuflect: Put the right knee down and keep your back vertical! We are not football players.

How to carry a candle: The outside arm is always down and out.

How to walk and carry a candle at the same time: ALL step off on left foot first. Pairs should hold their candles at a level. If there is a height disparity between partners, the taller partner should accommodate the shorter by carrying his/her candle lower. Hold the candle far enough in front of you so that your knees do not knock into it as you walk.

Entrance:
TT enter without candles and follow choir clergy/choir ministers in procession, preceding the MC.

ALL enter in procession, and without reverencing (no bows), take their places at altar steps in the following formation. TT should stand between the two innermost medallions:

| ALTAR |
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
A TH SD CEL D MC A
========(rail)====== ======(rail)=======
T              T

After D ascends altar steps, places Gospel Book and returns to his place, MC cues ALL to genuflect. While SMs ascend altar steps to footpace, TT without any further reverencing proceed below rail to Bishop's throne. T who has been standing on left side of altar rail goes to far chair. T who has been standing on right side of altar rail goes to nearer chair.

The Liturgy of the Word
TT follow MC and AA opposite in standing for opening salutation, Collect for Purity, Summary of the Law, Kyrie and Gloria, in sitting for OT and NT lessons, and standing for the Gospel Procession. TT turn to face Gospel Book as it is carried out to the congregation.

When MC, AA, and D return from Gospel procession and sit, TT do likewise.

For the Nicene Creed, Intercessions, and Confession TT stand and move forward to bottom step, mirroring MC and AA opposite.

Offertory
After the Peace, TT exit directly to smoke sacristy without genuflecting. Light (if TH has not done so) and pick up torches. At MC’s cue, TH leads TT from sacristy to centre of rail. TH moves above rail; TT remain below rail. MC cues genuflection and TH goes to CEL. TT remain in their places.

TH has incense laid on and blessed and returns to centre, leads genuflection, then turns and leads procession through chancel, left on nave floor and up epistle-side (south) aisle. TH and TT proceed to west door of the church where the Offertory Procession forms.

TT follow TH in procession. Note guidelines above for matching candle heights.

When TT reach rail, they go to same places as at opening line-up. After the SMs have received the gifts from the Processors and turn to go up to the Altar, MC cues TT and Processors to genuflect.

Canon of the Mass
TT remain standing in their places, resting candles in front of them, until cued to kneel by MC. Usually this will be after the Sanctus and Benedictus; however, if the musical setting is very long, the MC may direct TT to kneel when the music begins. This should be arranged and communicated to TT before the Mass begins.

After Sanctus and Benedictus, MC cues ALL to kneel. TT remain kneeling until after the Prayer of Humble Access. As the Agnus Dei begins, MC cues ALL to rise. TT wait in their places below rail for TH, who proceeds to centre. MC cues genuflection and TH leads TT out to smoke sacristy. TT extinguish candles and place them in racks, then come out without reverencing and return to places at Bishop’s Throne.

Communion
ALL stand for the Invitation to Communion and to receive the Sacrament. During Communion, TT count people receiving at the High Altar. *Do not count those who receive a blessing only, such as small children.*

Postcommunion Prayer
TT kneel together on bottom step in front of Bishop's Throne (same position as for Confession of Sin) for Postcommunion Prayer, Blessing, and Dismissal.

After the Dismissal, MC cues ALL to rise. TT take their places at Altar steps, to left of SD and right of MC:

T SD CEL D MC T

Recessional Hymn
As hymn playthrough concludes, MC cues ALL to geuflect, then ALL turn inward to face the people.

As the CMs are leaving their stalls in choir, MC cues TT to meet at centre(chancel gate) and proceed in a pair, following Choir Clergy/Choir Ministers inprocession. ALL proceed to Baptistry for final prayer.

As directed by MC, TT assist with the return of vestments to the sacristy, removal of vessels and books from the sanctuary, and the extinguishing of candles after the Mass.

TT give their Communion counts to MC following the Mass.