Читать книгу How to Motivate, Train and Nurture Acolytes - Robert Ormston Eaton - Страница 7

This is also a community-building ministry. When a group of acolytes forms, esprit de corps grows as the team works together, through fellowship activities and through the acolytes’ pride in being part of an elite—although not exclusive—guild.

Developing a sense of community helps keep acolytes committed to the ministry of serving, and encourages their continuing involvement as they move into their later teens.

A way to foster development of the community is to form pairs or teams of acolytes at different skill levels, who work together for several months and then are regrouped with other peers. Not only do they learn from each other, but also friendships are formed and grow. Developing a sense of community helps keep acolytes committed to the ministry of serving, and in the case of adolescent acolytes, encourages their continuing involvement as they move into their later teens.

Be sure to include the measurement of the acolytes’ skill levels as part of the ongoing training program, and to celebrate their accomplishments and commitment to the ministry. You can recognize levels of excellence by using special crosses or medals, various ribbon colors, differing vestments, and other signs as acolytes progress from novice to experienced levels. Or describe different stages of progress symbolically by using words particularly appropriate to your parish, such as the narthex, nave, or chancel teams.