Lead Worship | St. Paul's Southington

PREPARE

Bread Bakers

Bread bakers are responsible for making the altar bread that is used in our Eucharist services. Rounds of altar bread are utilized to represent the body of Christ throughout the year, except for during the Lenten season.

Altar Guild

The altar guild prepares and cares for the most sacred items used during all worship services at St. Paul’s. This dedicated group of parishioners prepares the altar for worship at both Sunday services in addition to special services such as baptisms, weddings and funerals.

Flower Committee

The flower committee procures and arranges flowers using their artistic talents to prepare arrangements for the altar each Sunday & during special occasions.

Tech Team

The technology team is responsible for setting up live stream cameras for those individuals who are unable to attend in person or are interested in learning about St. Paul's and the Episcopal liturgy.

Worship Committee

The worship committee is composed of representatives from all worship ministries. Using the liturgical calendar as a guide, the committee, together with our clergy, plans the liturgy and events for the program year.

PARTICIPATE

Lectors / Readers

Read the Daily Bible Readings From The Pulpit.

Before the service begins, lectors will read through the week's assigned texts several times so that they can make sense of them when reading them aloud. To read the texts ahead of time, find them at the Lectionary Page.

8:00 AM Service | One lector reads the Psalm, Old Testament reading, and New Testament reading, and if Morning Prayer, will also read the gospel.

9:00 AM and 10:00 AM Service | The first reader reads the Psalm and Old Testament reading. A second reader reads the New Testament reading, and if Morning Prayer, will also read the gospel.

Intercessors / Eucharistic Ministers

Lead the Prayers of the People from the Pulpit

Read the Prayers of the People from the pulpit. The notebook containing the prayers should be obtained from the sacristy before the service begins for review and practice.

The Eucharistic Minister assists during the Eucharist by administering wine to parishioners at the altar rail.

Acolytes

Crucifers, Servers, and Torches are the Hands and Feet of the Liturgy.

Crucifer: Carry the cross to lead worship leaders into the church, to the middle of church for the gospel (Eucharist only), and out of the church at the end of the service. They also receive the offertory from the ushers and present it to the celebrant.

Two Torches (10:15 AM Only): Carry lit candle and follow crucifer into the church, to the middle of the church for the gospel (Eucharist only), and out of the church at the end of the service.

Server (Eucharist Only): Carry the gold gospel book into the church and to the middle of the church for the celebrant to read the gospel. After announcements, meet the celebrant at the altar to help them set the altar for the Eucharist. At the 10:15 service, they also receive the bread and wine from the ushers and hand it to the celebrant over the altar.

Ushers

Greet People and Help the Service Run Smoothly

Hand out bulletins, greet people as they arrive, and count the number of attendees during the service in order to fill out the attendance form.

During Eucharist services, ushers bring bread and wine to the altar, pass the offertory plates through the pews, and bring them forward. They then put the altar railing and cushions into place and guide each pew to the altar during the celebration of the Eucharist.