Lay Leadership in Worship

We believe in the ministry of the laity.

Saint Bernard’s Church seeks to encourage the active participation of all its people in gathered worship. This includes children of all ages, persons of all abilities. Many different kinds of tasks are available for those who wish to work “behind the scenes”, as well as roles for those who see themselves as lay leaders in our services.

We encourage you to explore ways in which you can serve in worship. We invite you to reflect on the following ministry areas and consider how you might become involved.

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ALTAR GUILD

We believe in the beauty of holiness.

The Altar Guild, also known as the Sacristans Guild, welcomes as its members any lay persons who are interested in serving the Church by preparing the altar and the sanctuary precincts for sacramental worship. We traditionally use a wide array of altar hangings, linens, banners, veils, burses, silver plate and vestments to do so.

Sacristans are trained and scheduled on a regular basis to assist the priest on Sundays and on other occasions when Holy Eucharist is offered, by setting out the chalices, patens, and other Eucharistic items for use in the service of Communion. They are also responsible for the cleaning and storage of these after the services.

The Sacristans Guild meets periodically to organize, care for, and oversee the purchase of altar linens, clerical vestments, communion appointments, and all the other needs of altar worship. The Sacristans Guild welcomes men to join this ministry.

Our Directress is Sue Smith, whose contact information is available through the Parish Office (Telephone: 908-766-0602, extension 5 or E-mail: saintbernards@verizon.net).

FLOWER GUILD

We believe in the beauty of God’s creation.

The Saint Bernard’s Flower Guild serves our community by arranging the flowers used to adorn the worship of the Church, as well as special events in the life of the parish.

The Guild welcomes all volunteers interested in being trained and scheduled for this ministry. Guild members gather on Saturday mornings in the kitchen of the Parish House to prepare arrangements for the Sunday services and events of the following week.

To join, or for more details, please contact Flower Guild Director Steve Lawrence, whose contact information is available through the Parish Office (Telephone: 908-766-0602, extension 5 or E-mail: saintbernards@verizon.net).

READERS

We believe in the Word of God read, prayed, preached and sung.

For the public communication of that word, Readers, also known traditionally as Lectors, are appointed to read from the Holy Scriptures and to lead The Prayers of the People in our worship.

Two Readers are scheduled for each Sunday in the 10 a.m. service of Holy Eucharist. One is assigned to read the First Lesson, drawn from the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), and the other the Second Lesson, drawn from the New Testament, often a passage from an Epistle of Saint Paul.

A Reader then leads The Prayers of the People immediately following the congregation’s praying of The Nicene Creed.

The English translation of Holy Scripture used in Saint Bernard’s Church is that of the New Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible. Saint Bernard’s provides Scripture Inserts in the Sunday Service Leaflet by which worshippers are able to follow the readings.

The Prayers of the People are those of The Book of Common Prayer (1979), Forms I-VI (pages 383-92). Basic instruction and guidance is provided for new readers by the clergy.

Readers are sometimes asked to participate in services of Evensong, Christmas Eve Eucharist and in other special liturgies of the Church.

In our Family Service on the third Sunday of each month at 10 a.m., children serve as Readers and lead the Psalm. Amy Byrnes, our Church School Director, arranges these assignments.

Readers are scheduled by the Parish Office and are reminded via E-mail of their dates. We currently rely on about a dozen Readers.

To inquire about becoming a Reader, please contact Hilary Thomas Dorer, Executive Assistant to the Rector (Telephone: 908-766-0602, extension 5 or E-mail: saintbernards@verizon.net).

CHALICE BEARERS

We believe the place of all God’s people is at the altar of Christ.

In our services of Holy Eucharist, Chalice Bearers, or Chalicists, administer the Eucharistic cup to those baptized persons who present themselves before the altar to receive the sacrament of the Blood of Christ at the Communions of the people.

Chalicists vest in albs and rope cinctures, and process with the acolytes and the celebrant at the 10 a.m. service of Holy Eucharist. They are seated with the celebrant before the congregation on the Epistle side. At the time of the administration of the sacrament they come forward to receive, then assist at altar by offering the consecrated wine to communicants.

Many communicants of Saint Bernard’s Church prefer to receive the Sacrament of the Cup by intinction (dipping the consecrated bread in the consecrated wine). Some receive by drinking from the common cup after having consumed the consecrated bread.

Chalice Bearers are trained by the clergy and licensed by the diocese to participate in the public worship of the Church. Currently about a dozen lay persons serve as Chalicists.

To inquire about becoming a Chalice Bearer, contact Hilary Thomas Dorer, Executive Assistant to the Rector (Telephone: 908-766-0602, extension 5 or E-mail: saintbernards@verizon.net).

ACOLYTES

We believe in the spiritual formation of our children.

The Acolyte Corps is essential to the realization of this faith commitment. Believing as we do that adolescents make poor spectators but great participants, we actively seek to include them in every aspect of our worship.

Acolytes are children and youth who serve at altar with the priest and chalicists. They work directly with the celebrant in making our worship experience all it is intended to be. In so doing they learn what it means to be at the center of the action in a Eucharistic community of faith.

Started in early 2006, the Acolyte Corps has grown to a membership of about 20. Young people of the parish, ages 10 years old through college age, are invited to serve in all our Rite 2 services of Holy Eucharist. Acolytes are scheduled for each 10 a.m. Sunday service, as well as for special liturgies of the Church Year.

We prompt our Acolytes to learn different roles of service. All vest in albs, rope cinctures and crosses. The Crucifer leads the Acolyte procession bearing the celebrant’s cross. Two Torch Bearers carry the candles. The Gospel Bearer presents the Gospel Book. From Sunday to Sunday, each participant is given the opportunity to serve in each role.

Acolytes follow in procession behind the choir in services of Holy Eucharist and are seated near the celebrant and chalicists. They enact a special procession for the reading of the Gospel in the midst of the people. One Acolyte at each service is designated to serve at altar with the celebrant, to receive the gifts and offerings of the people and to help set and clear the table.

Briefly put, our Acolytes are active in every part of the liturgy. They gain by participation and experience a personal, hands-on sense of corporate worship.

To inquire about your children joining the Acolyte Corps, please speak with Michelle Iossa, whose contact information is available through the Parish Office (Telephone: 908-766-0602, extension 5 or E-mail: saintbernards@verizon.net).

USHERS

We believe in hospitality.

Ushers will greet you as you enter our services of public worship. They distribute Sunday service leaflets and any other hand-outs of the day designed to guide worshippers in prayer. They supervise the seating of the congregation and intervene to assist with needs.

Late arrivers are permitted to be seated during the singing of hymns and anthems, so as not to distract from the readings and the sermon. You will find us a very civil bunch, quite willing to accommodate visitors and newcomers. We welcome you to worship with us!

Ushers also participate in the liturgy of the 10 a.m. service of Holy Eucharist by offering the gifts of the people at altar, collecting the money offerings and processing with them to the altar. They assist at the Communions of the people by guiding worshippers as they rise to receive the sacrament, or a priestly blessing.

To inquire about becoming an Usher, please contact Hilary Thomas Dorer, Executive Assistant to the Rector (Telephone: 908-766-0602, extension 5 or E-mail: saintbernards@verizon.net).

CHOIR

We believe in the wisdom of Saint Augustine

when he said to sing is to pray twice.

Music has long been a central facet in the worship of the Anglican-Episcopal heritage. At Saint Bernard’s Church it is positively a highlight of our common life.

Under the direction of Organist & Choirmaster Mr. Steven R. Lawrence, our ministry of music has flourished for over 20 years.

Simply put, the choirs of Saint Bernard’s are exceptional. We are passionate about and deeply committed to the promotion of excellence in all our music programs.

The Choir of Saint Bernard’s Church sings in Eucharistic services from September to June. Its repertoire is classical, drawn from the works of English, European and American composers. For a listing of selections in the 2006-2007 season, click the prompts to the left Music/Saint Bernard's Choir.

The Saint Bernard’s Choir is a blend of professional vocalists and auditioned volunteers. While the organ is the principal instrument of accompaniment, on special occasions it is not unusual for our Choirmaster to engage string and brass ensembles, as well as other professional artists.

The Choir also sings in the annual series of special worship and performance events we call Music at Saint Bernard’s. This series, marking the milestone of its 20th Season in 2006-2007, is a music outreach program to the wider community of the Somerset Hills.

The Children’s Choir of Saint Bernard’s, under the direction of Ms. Luthien Brackett, is a music education choir that sings once a month in our Family Service. Its repertoire includes classical and children’s pieces that delight choristers and listeners alike.

To inquire about Saint Bernard’s Choir, as well as the Children’s Choir, please speak with Steve Lawrence, whose contact information is available through the Parish Office (Telephone: 908-766-0602, extension 5 or E-mail: saintbernards@verizon.net).

COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS

We believe in fellowship.

We invite you to join us for refreshments in the Great Hall of the Parish House following the 10 a.m. service of Holy Eucharist. Coffee Hour is our opportunity to renew friendships, welcome visitors and newcomers, chat about family and friends, and to be greeted by our clergy and staff.

We enlist the help of volunteers to offer Coffee Hour each week. Families enjoy serving together, as well as teams of parishioners and friends. Vestry and staff pitch in too. A sign-up sheet is posted in the Great Hall.

We hope that you will make Coffee Hour a part of your Sunday routine when you worship with us. We also invite you to sign up to serve from time to time.

For more details about our Coffee Hour ministry, please speak with Pat Bickford of Parish Life, whose contact information is available through the Parish Office (Telephone: 908-766-0602, extension 5 or E-mail: saintbernards@verizon.net).