Читать книгу How to Motivate, Train and Nurture Acolytes - Robert Ormston Eaton - Страница 8

It is important to include a worship experience at the beginning of every training session to help participants and leaders become spiritually centered and focused on their work in the Lord's service. Build variety into the training program by using the various liturgies found in The Book of Common Prayer (BCP). This practice also will give acolytes an opportunity to experience the liturgical richness found in the Prayer Book. An additional benefit to varying the services is that different lay and ordained ministers will be involved in the services, which will help develop rapport between the acolytes and the leaders they will assist.

One challenge in working with acolytes is that clergy come and go. Every time there is a change in personnel, the expectations and duties for acolytes tend to change, too. However, the basics don't change: If there are candles, acolytes light them; if there is a processional cross, an acolyte carries it. But it's the way the candles are lit, and where and how the cross is carried that vary. It's easy to visualize seasoned acolytes shaking their heads and saying, “Here comes a new priest (read “new way of doing things”)!”