27/1/06

Our Servers Guild is now attempting to draft a guideline for all servers within our diocese. This would include clothing, hygiene, guidelines for services (eg. duties of MC versus Bishop's Chaplain ). Can anyone give me any ideas regarding how we should go about drafting the article? I would be grateful for any ideas.

REPLIES

Ann Tacchi - 30/1/06

I cannot say I will be any help but I think it an excellent idea. In our parish we have Servers procedural notes and How to deal with the unusual in the usual way - you know how a festival takes place and procedures need tweeking; I make a note and bring it forward before the next festival for the Priest to review.

The drafting should be quite simple, with perhaps a page for each subject, indexed.

I have the Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite - ISBN 0 08987 05266 - which is very helpful and several Servers Handbooks, viz:

Altar Servers - St Stephen's Handbook ISBN 085244 277 7
The New Complete Server - ISBN 0 8192 1649 6
The Servers Handbook - ISBN 1 85175 063 0
A Manual for Acolytes - ISBN 0 8192 1272 5
Altar Servers Missal - ISBN 085597 102 9

All of which have useful bits to pick out.

As I say, I am not sure this is helpful.

With regard to hygiene I am always concerned when the Priest has a streaming cold or cough and then has to administer the host, having used his hand for coughing or blowing his nose. I am not sure how one can get around this - other than having some wet wipes nearby, but somehow that detracts from the ritual. Maybe we just have to trust in the Lord!

Good luck,

Ann Tacchi (Mrs)

Quintin Butcher - 30/1/06

I suggest you purchase BEING A SERVER TODAY by Brendan Clover and Chris Verity. This book contains everything required.
Canterbury press £8.99. from A&M Edwards booksellers,
10 Meteor Avenue, WHITSTABLE, Kent CT5 4DH.
Telephone 01227 262276 fax 01227261158
e-mail a.m.book

Quintin Butcher PG10. Holy Grail.

 30/1/06

One of the best web sites re training for altar servers may be found, would you believe, on a web site of St. Peter's Eastern Hill, Melbourne Aust.
For many, many years I was Head Server at S. James, King St.. formerly Sarum Use ,but now moderately Anglo-Catholic!!!!!
Would you believe that in this day and age no Rector in the Diocese of Sydney may legally wear the chasuble? YET, some priests of the Diocese take services in ordinary garb. Web address is.....
www.geocities.com/petrusprimus/index.html

PeeCee