Verger Manual for Eucharistic Rites

The Holy Eucharist

General Instructions

The verger oversees the entire liturgy; so you need to be familiar with the manuals for acolytes, Altar Guild, and lectors/chalice bearers as well as the liturgy manual for eucharistic rites. You should also consult the Customary, which contains copies of all of the manuals. This is located on the top shelf above the hymnals in the vesting area of the sacristy.

Find out where things are! During the service, you may have to find a purificator, chalice, wine, cruet, etc. The best way to prepare is to look through the sacristy and vestry and see where everything is located (being aware that sometimes things move).

These directions assume a "normal" nave set up. If the chair are configured in a different way, alterations will need to be made.

Before the Service

1. Come to the church at least 1/2 hour before the service for which you are verging. The clergy may need to give you some last minute instructions. You also need to be there in case one of the ministers or a visitor has questions or needs assistance.
   
   
2. Prepare the church for the service:
   
   
   1. Nave
      
      
      1. Lights are on, including light on organ pipes.
         
         
      2. Sound system is on and functioning and mikes are in the lectern and pulpit.
         
         
      3. Baskets and offering box are under the altar in the appropriate places.
         
         
      4. Altar is in the correct place and the cross is just above head level of the clergy.
         
         
      5. One credence table is behind pulpit and the other is under the fire extinguisher to the right of the font.
         
         
      6. Torch holders and cross holder are lined up behind credence table behind pulpit.
         
         
      7. Bulletins are out on chairs by each door into the nave.
         
         
      8. Wardens chairs and kneelers are on center aisle of sections nearest high altar, if wardens are processing.
         
         
      9. Gospel book is on the pulpit and Bible is on lectern.
         
         
      10. Bread and 2 flagons of wine are on credence table near font.
          
          
      11. During Easter season, paschal candle is in front of font and lit when altar candles are lit.
          
          
      12. Large and small alms basins are on the credence table behind altar.
      
      
   2. Sacristy
      
      
      1. Four Hymnals on the shelf in the vesting area for layservers to process in with.
      
      
   3. Walk through the nave and check to see that there are no leaflets in the rows and that everything is neat and in order.
   
   
   
3. Put your name tag on early so that, if there are visitors around, you are identified as someone who can welcome them and answer questions.
   
   
4. About 10 minutes before the service, be sure an acolyte lights the altar candles. If there is to be a Baptism, they light the Paschal candle first. In Easter season, they light the Paschal candle first (if it is already lit, they light the candle snuffer from it); and in Advent, unless parishioners are designated to do this, they light the appropriate Advent candles first (starting across from the pink and going around clockwise).
   
   
5. The MC should use the MC checklist to figure out what to do. Most importantly, they should be sure all the layservers and readers are present and accounted for. If any of those people need to be oriented, the MC should do this.

The Procession

• Make sure the procession is in order - crucifer, torchbearers, layservers, deacon and seminarian, and clergy.
  • If the wardens are processing, they lead the procession with their wands, the Junior Warden on the right, the Senior on the left.
    
    
  • If the choirs are processing, they join the procession behind the acolytes and the layservers, etc., follow them.
  
  
  
• When everything is in order and the organist ends the prelude, signal the organist to begin the entrance hymn.
  
  
• When the congregation starts singing, be sure whomever is leading the procession begins.

The Liturgy of the Word

1. The Readings
   
   
   • Station yourself near the door to the foyer so the clergy and others know where to find you and you can see what is going on. Remember, you are there to help out wherever needed - and it is better to anticipate the need than to react to it.
     
     
   • In normal services, one torchbearer goes to stand next the each clergy's chair. When there are Old and/or New Testament readings, they then go stand on either side of the lectern. For the Gospel, they go to stand on either side of the pulpit. Once the gospel is finished, they place their torches in the holders and go to their places.
   
   
2. The Peace and Offertory
   
   
   • Exchange the Peace with those around you. If you see sections have been left out, take care of that.
     
     
   • Then go to the font end of the nave to assist the beadles and the giftbearers as needed.
     
     
   • The beadles go forward first to receive the small alms basins. Once they are finished with the collection, they count their sections and give you the total. They should be sure to count the choir and people in the undercroft as well.
     
     
   • When the clergy are ready, the co-celebrant usually turns and faces the font.
     
     
     • The torchbearers lead the giftbearers to the altar. The torchbearers go to stand in the middle of the sides of the platform. The giftbearers hand over their gifts and go sit down.
       
       
     • Be prepared to recruit someone to take up the bread and wine with you because the giftbearers often forget to do this.
     
     
   • Once the offertory is finished, the organist begins the presentation hymn and the beadles take the collection forward. They remain at the altar platform until the presentation hymn is finished then go sit down.

The Holy Communion

• Station yourself near the pulpit during Communion so you can see what is happening and troubleshoot quickly.
  
  
• The layservers step up to the altar platform during the presentation hymn. They might need to be gently and unobtrusively reminded to do this. Throughout the Holy Communion, pay special attention to the acolytes and layservers to see if they need coaching or rescuing. You also have to keep watching the clergy to see if they need anything.
  
  
• If the layservers seem confused or unsure of what to do, step up on the platform and help them sort things out. Remember, the intinction cups are the shortest one and the taller one with the red "jeweled" handle. You might need to remind them to use the purificators early and often.
  
  
• The MC should pass the 2nd intinction cup and the grape juice on the 3rd St. side of the altar. If they forget, you will need to do that.
  
  
• Once the clergy are ready to distribute communion, the torchbearers should return 'their torches to their stands and come back to the altar platform to receive. Once they have done that they should handle the flagons to refill chalices are needed.

The Retiring Procession (Recessional)

• The crucifer, torchbearers, and server line up in the center aisle on the high altar end of the nave once the final blessing has been pronounced. They begin to process as the congregation starts to sing the recessional hymn. The layservers follow them up, and the clergy follow the layservers. The seminarian, one acolyte, and one layserver leave the procession and remain at the font end of the nave with the celebrant.
  
  
• Meet the procession by the door to the foyer and give any assistance needed to help them form up at the rood screen. After the dismissal, wait a while in the nave to see if anything is needed by anyone.

After the Service

• Be sure all candles are extinguished.
  
  
• Record the attendance (in black ink only) in the register on the table in the vesting area of the sacristy.
  
  
• Still with your name tag on (there will still be many people present), return to the nave; see that everything is put back into place for the next service.