The Choir

**Under the leadership of the Choir Director**

The Choir:

• Attends practices and rehearsals
• Arrives prior to the start of the Divine Services
• Sings the responses during the Divine Services
• Leads the congregation in singing

Church Openers

The Church Opener:

• Arrives early (prior to the reading of the Pre-Communion Prayers)
• Unlocks doors
• Prepares Candle Desk
• Ensures Narthex is clean and tidy
• Checks Vigils in the Nave
• Assists Priest with any preparatory needs prior to the Proskemedia
• Runs Candle Desk

Greeters

The Greeter(s):                             

• Arrive Early (prior to the reading of the Hours)
• Ensure tables in Narthex are organized, neat, and tidy
• Welcome individuals as they enter the Narthex
• Distribute bulletins, prayer books, pledge cards, etc., as needed.
• Assist guests in locating bulletin, candle desk, facilities, etc.
• Make new-comers feel welcome as they enter
• Invite guests down to coffee fellowship after Liturgy

Lay Readers

At the All-Night-Vigil (or Vespers and Matins)

The Reader at Vespers:

• Arrives 15 minutes prior to the service
• Reads Psalm 103 (if not sung)
• Reads the verses at “Lord, I Call”  (if not sung)
• Reads the Old Testament Readings
• Reads “St Symeon’s Prayer” and “Vouchsafe…” (if not sung)
• Reads the verses at the Aposticha (if not sung)
• Reads the Trisagion

The Reader at Matins:

• Arrives 15 minutes prior to the service
• Reads the Trisagion Prayers (if not at Vigil)
• Reads the Six Psalms
• Reads the Troparia of the Canon(s)
• Reads the Praises & Doxology (if not sung)

Lay Readers

At the Divine Liturgy

The Reader of The Prayers in Preparation for Communion:

• Arrive early (about 45 minutes before start of Liturgy)
• Pre-communion prayers should begin 15 minutes prior to the Hours (30 minutes prior to Liturgy)
• Reads the pre-communion prayers in a clear and audible voice. 

The Reader of the 3rd & 6th Hour

• Arrives early (about 30 minutes before the start of Liturgy)
• The hours should begin at 15 minutes prior to Liturgy. 
• Consults Rubrics Book and/or pastor as to any seasonal rubrical changes
• Prepares troparia and kontakia for the Hours as indicated in the Rubrics Book
• Reads the 3rd & 6th Hour in an audible and clear voice

The Reader of The Prayers of Thanksgiving after Communion:

• Arrives on-time (if not early) for Liturgy.
• After Priest intones "Glory to thee, O God" 3x and Choir responds, then:
• Read the post-communion prayers in a clear and audible voice.
• Reads the correct troparion/kontakion (St. John, St. Basil, or St. Gregory)

Bell-Ringers

The Bell-Ringer:

• Is (or becomes) familiar with the different type of "peals" used in the Church
• Arrives early for the service at which he or she will ring bells.
• Rings bells in preparation of the divine services and after (if called for)
• Rings bells during processions and special supplications ("Grant Rest..."/"Many Years")

NB-Altar servers will ring bells during the Consecration of the Gifts

Altar Servers

**When there is not a sufficient number of ordained Subdeacons available**

The Altar Servers (Male youth and adults):

• prepare vestments and prosphora for proskemedia
• ensure Altar and Sacristy is clean and tidy
• light candles in the Sanctuary
• cut the antidoron
• prepare and offer the censer to the priest
• operate the curtain/veil
• carry the Cross, lanterns, fans, and/or candles during entrances, readings, and processions
• ring bells during Consecration of the Gifts
• wash the priest's hands during “Our Father”
• prepare the Zeon (hot water)
• hold the Communion cloth
• clean up and extinguish candles after services
• and, in general, assist the priest in the Altar.

Handmaidens

Handmaidens (Female youth and adults):

• bake prosphora
• ensure Nave is clean and tidy
• light candles in the Nave
• arrange items to be blessed (Palm Sunday, Transfiguration, Dormition, etc.)
• carry icons during processions
• collect the offering
• set up tables and prepare zapifka/antidoron for distribution
• assist children in receiving communion and zapifka/antidoron
• tear down and clean up tables, etc. after Communion
• hold post-Liturgy collection basket
• hold bowl of antidoron
• clean up in high-traffic areas after Liturgy
• and, in general, assist priest, as needed, in the Nave.

Lay Epistle Readers

**When a Deacon or ordained Reader is not available**

The reader of the Epistle:

• Consults the Rubrics Book & confirms with the Priest the following:
  • Prokeimena
  • Readings
  • Alleluia
• Prepares the Prokeimenon, Readings, and Verses
• Confirms with the Choir as to the translation and verse breaks
• Approaches the ambo for blessing during the Trisagion
• Reads the sequence, Prokeimena, Readings, Alleluia with Verses

Fellowship Teams

The Fellowship Team:

• Is on a rotating Schedule and, when "on duty"
• Brings an offering of food (bagels, cakes, fruit & vegetables, etc.)
• Prepares the coffee, tea, etc. for Coffee Hour Fellowship
• Assists in distributing food, drink, utensils, etc.
• Collecting funds during fellowship
• Cleans up after Coffee Hour