Parish of St. Monica and St. James : Altar Guild



	Parish of St. Monica and St. James Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.


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Altar Guild

Please direct any inquiries regarding the activities of the Altar Guild to Father Williams:

There have been requests for more information concerning the responsibilities of an Altar Guild. Just what does a member of the Guild do?

Weekly:
1.    Collect the linens from the Sacristy following the High Mass on Sundays; launder and iron.
2.    Make sure that the Sacristy is clean and in proper working order.
3.    Check up on the supplies (candles, charcoals, incense, etc.). Notify the Parish Administrator when the supplies are low.
4.    Replace any tea-light candles or broken votive holders at the shrines if necessary.
5.    Collect any cassocks and albs that the servers have put aside for laundering. From time to time, cassocks and, especially, albs get wax dripped on them, and need to be laundered.

Monthly:
1.    Polish the various brass candlesticks on the altar, chalice, and the incense boat. This sounds like a lot of work, but it can be done in rotation.
2.    Work with the Rector, for any necessary maintenance chores.

Other responsibilities:
1.    Change the “colors” on the altar consistent with the liturgical calendar.
2.    Send selected vestments to the cleaners preceding their heavy during specific liturgical seasons.
3.    Help with “Greening the Church” for Christmastide.
4.    Ready the altar during the Holy Week leading up to Eastertide. This involves getting ready the many different materials required for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the Great Vigil, and of course Easter Sunday.
5.    Help set the altar before a nuptial mass or Requiem service.
6.    Any other tasks the Rector requires.

At one glance, the workings of an Altar Guild might seem overwhelming, hence the benefits of solid support! Many hands thin the burden of work. Obviously, the winter holiday season and Holy Week are the two significant times of the year that require a lot of preparations. But with your support and generosity in time and labor, work can be accomplished very easily.

Please consider in your heart your willingness to serve in this capacity. Interested persons may approach Father Williams.

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