Thurifer Manual

The following instructions outline the procedures for a "usual" eucharist (either I or II). All instructions are subject to change by the priest or the worship task force responsible for the service!

Before the Service

1. Come to the church at least 30 minutes before the service to vest, prepare the thurible, and assist in instructions.
   
   
2. Since the thurible is so seldom used, assist the verger in instructing the acolytes on what you will be doing and what they need to do.

General Notes

• When turning completely around, always turn around to your right. Be predictable, especially when carrying fire!
  
  
• Otherwise, when you are in the nave and not carrying the thurible, follow the procedures outlined in the manual for readers and lay servers or the manual for acolytes.

Preparing the Thurible and Boat

1. Make sure the boat contains incense and the spoon is in place.
   
   
2. Lighting the Thurible: About 20 minutes before the service, place the thurible on the sink counter and open it. Take up a piece of charcoal in the tongs and light it. Place the charcoal into the copper basin in the thurible. Blow and poke as necessary to get the charcoal glowing. Close the thurible, take it outside, and swing it around vertically to set the charcoal and to assist in its glowing. Once the thurible is lit, you must hold it and keep it slightly in motion in order to keep the charcoal burning. (Do NOT wander around the nave, however.)

Carrying the Thurible and Boat

• Carry the thurible in your right hand, holding the top of the chain (which is fully extended). You may slip your thumb through the top ring, but try not let the chain simply dangle from the ring. Your hand should be about a foot in front of you and about six inches to the right of your shoulder and slightly above it. Find a point that offers both control and comfort.
  
  
• When standing or walking with the thurible, let it swing gently back and forth. This allows smoke to escape and oxygen to enter.
  
  
• When walking in procession, swing the thurible forward no more than 90 degrees and backward no more than 45. Use a minimum of arm movement -- swing with the wrist and fingers.
  
  
• Carry the boat on the palm of your left hand (holding it securely by the base with your fingers), with your elbow at a 90 degree angle and the boat against your chest.
  
  

Censing the Thurible

• Present the boat to the priest. Then, with your left hand, grasp the lower portion of the chains, and lift the thurible in front of you. With your right hand still holding the top of the chain and your thumb through the ring, swing your hand down and lift the top of the thurible up by pulling up on the middle chain.
  
  
• The priest will spoon incense into the thurible and bless it. Once this has been done, lower the top and return it to its position by your side.
  
  
• Receive the boat from the priest.
  
  

Presenting and Receiving the Thurible

• To present (give) the thurible to the priest, bring it in front of you, lift it up and grasp the lower part of the chains with your left hand. Lower your right hand (making sure your thumb is no longer in the ring) so that the priest does not have to reach up for it. Cross your right hand over to the left of your left hand (and, of course, above it), so that the priest can grasp the chain without crossing her/his arms. Present the thurible with a slight bow.
  
  
• Receive the thurible as it is presented to you, with a slight bow. Gracefully move it to its appropriate place on the stand in the tower vestibule.
  
  

The Procession

• Before the procession, the priest will cense the thurible (as above) in the vestry or in the hallway, at his or her discretion.
  
  
• The thurifer processes directly in front of the crucifer and behind the verger, if the verger is processing. Note that the crucifer is right behind you, so swing the thurible with care.
  
  
• Try to keep the lighted thurible outside as much as possible to avoid offending the sensitivities of those who do not like incense.
  
  
• When directed to do so, proceed slowly and reverently through the nave doors to meet the rest of the procession just in front of the passageway from the sacristy beside the organ. Not going through the passageway will avoid asphyxiating the rest of the people in the procession.
  
  
• Proceed to the high altar side of the altar platform and remain standing.
  
  
• When the priest indicates, present the thurible and remain where you are. You might need to step back to allow room for the priest to go around the altar.
  
  
• Receive the thurible and, taking the most direct route possible, hang it on the stand in the tower vestibule. Leave the boat with it on the floor. Be seated with the acolytes by the rector's chair.
  
  

The Holy Communion

• If incense is to be used before the Communion, at least 10 minutes before that time, fetch the thurible, go around through the courtyard door, and take it into the sacristy. (The verger or someone else with keys will unlock the sacristy door for you.) With the tongs, crush the remains of the charcoal, light a new piece (if necessary), and place it into the basin amongst the old pieces. Take it outside and swing it around a few times.
  
  
• Wait just inside the nave door from the foyer until the priests are at the altar for the Great Thanksgiving. Then approach the altar and present the thurible to the celebrant as before: the celebrant takes the boat and you lift the thurible up, opening the lid as you do. The celebrant spoons incense in, you lower the lid, and present the thurible to the celebrant, while taking back the boat.
  
  
• After the celebrant has finished censing the elements, s/he will return the thurible to you. If s/he so desires, cense her/him three times, reverently bowing before and after censing. (Check on this before the service.)
  
  
• Return the boat and the thurible to their former places and sit down.
  
  

The Recessional

• As at the beginning of the Holy Communion, retrieve the thurible and stoke the coals before the recessional hymn.
  
  
• At the beginning of the recessional hymn, carry the thurible and boat to the celebrant to cense it. Take the boat with you. Walk to your place immediately in front of the crucifer.
  
  
• Once the congregation has begun singing the recessional hymn, proceed slowly and reverently around the altar toward the baptismal font and down the courtyard aisle. Take the thurible outside through the foyer door.
  
  

Disposing of the Ashes

• The incense in the ashes has been blessed and must be disposed of properly. But the coals are also extremely hot and must be disposed of safely.
  
  
• Fill a glass with water and take the water and the thurible outside. If the ground is soft enough, dig a hole in the gravel with the heel of your shoe. Pour water into the hole, pour the incense and ashes into the hole, and pour the rest of the water over them. Gently stir it to make sure the fire is out. Fill the hole in with the ground you took out to make it.
  
  
• Take the thurible home and clean it. The basin should be polished -- this results in a cleaner, more reliable burning the next time. Don't forget to bring it back the next Sunday. Return the boat to the inner sacristy and put it by the sink.