Transcript Document

Guide for Lectors
St. James The Apostle
Church
Updated February 24,
2012
Deacon Jim
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Selection Of Candidates
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Those selected to be Readers are to be
fully initiated members of the community,
both male & female, of sufficient age and
maturity, living a good Christian moral
life.
For those who will serve in public
ministry of the Church, faith must be
supported by visible signs.
They must have a positive sense of
Church and reverence for the presence
of Christ in the Eucharist.
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Sunday Mass
At Sunday Mass, the table
both of God's Word and of
Christ’s Body is prepared,
from which the faithful may be
instructed and refreshed.
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At Sunday Mass, Christians gather
because we also honor the Word of
God. As we assemble to celebrate
the Eucharist, we do not approach
the Table of Communion until we
have feasted at the Table of the
Word.
The Mass is made up, as it were, of
two parts: The Liturgy of the Word
and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
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In Scripture, God speaks
to us.
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At Mass, God speaks to the people
gathered.
The Word will affect us in different
ways.
Each person will hear the message
uniquely, as the Holy Spirit
reaches into our hearts to place in
us that message that comes from
God.
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To work this miracle,
God choose instruments
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God uses Lectors.
A Lector integrates many values.
People of faith who have nurtured
a relationship with God.
Who try to form their lives on the
Gospel.
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Lectors Are:
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Members of a community of family
Friends and strangers
Bound together by a desire to live near
and for each other.
To have opportunities of faith and
worship.
Value their local Church and mission.
Sunday is the highlight of their week and
they strive to make the readings of
scripture a highlight of the Mass.
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You are a Lay Minister
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You are entrusted with the Word of
God
A tool sharper than any two-edged
sword.
You need to know your tools in
order to execute well your art.
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The Spirit of the Lord is upon
you.
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God has placed the Spirit within
you.
A Holy Spirit that speaks to you
A Holy Spirit who uses you to
proclaim the word of God.
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Questions
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Why have you agreed to serve as
a lector?
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What do you hope to gain in your
understanding of the theology and
function of the ministry?
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The faithful form one Body
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We put our ears together, so that
God might speak to us.
Most importantly, it is there at the
Eucharist, in the presence of the
community of believers, where we
hear the Word of God.
Listening is one of the ways that
we express our unity.
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When Sacred Scriptures are
read!
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God Himself speaks to His people
through you the lector.
Christ, present in his own word
proclaims the Gospel.
The lector becomes the
mouthpiece of God.
God uses the voice of the lector to
say something modern, new, that
applies in today’s world.
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The words are old but their
proclamation are always new
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Speaking right now to the people
gathered together for worship.
The lector has a daunting
responsibility .
The lector’s voice needs to carry
God’s voice.
The lector communicates a divine
message.
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Duties of the Lector
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Carry the Book of Gospels if there
is no Deacon present.
If there is no one to sing the Psalm
the Lector may read the psalm. It is
preferable the psalm be sung.
Reads the “Prayers of the Faithful”
if no Deacon is present.
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The Lector’s Service
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The Lector’s service takes up only
a few minutes at Mass, but these
are critical minutes.
Remember all eyes are on you.
You are considered a leader in the
parish.
When you proclaim the word, the
people will realize how well the
lector understands the readings.
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Manage Silence
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Before you begin to read, you will want
to have the attention of the entire
assembly.
After each reading you will pause and
pray, modeling the reflection that all will
do.
Even the way you pace the petitions
during the Prayers of the Faithful will
help people think about them one by
one.
That we each hold in the silence of our
own hearts!
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Tools for the Lector
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Lectionary
Workbook
USCCB web site, You can down-load the
daily and Sunday readings to your ipod.
Each Sunday offers readings for Years A
B C, we are in year B.
The Liturgical year begins with Advent
and ends with Christ the King Sunday.
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What is God saying to You
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Before you present these readings
to the entire community, have you
wrestled with them yourself?
What is the message from God to
you?
Have you meditated on the Word
of God?
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Prayers
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The Priest or Deacon before
reading the Gospel.
“Almighty God, cleanse my heart
and my lips that I may worthily
proclaim your Gospel.”
After reading the Gospel.
“May the words of the gospel wipe
away our sins.”
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Questions
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Do you personally feel that the
prepared and practiced readings of
scripture at Mass has led you to a
warm and living love for scripture?
Do you believe that God’s Word
can and will change your life?
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Are you nervous?
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Some nervousness may always be
natural, and a healthy sense of
humility in the face of what you are
doing is exceedingly appropriate.
It falls to you to bring this power of
the word of God and love of
scripture to others.
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Careful Preparation
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Use your work books.
If you have a computer go to the
USCCB web site.
I make a tape and listen to myself.
You must put in the effort and than
let the Holy Spirit take it from there.
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Responsibilities
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Arrive early. I would like to see you arrive
30 minutes prior and let the Captain of
the Mass know that you are there.
This is extremely important because we
need to know that people are in place.
Go to the Ambo and ensure that you
know exactly what are the proper
readings. If not ask someone. Adjust the
microphone. Then pray.
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The Book of Gospels
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If there is no Deacon you should
carry the Book Of Gospels.
Hold the book slightly elevated, not
with straight arms above your
head, but in front of you and
slightly higher than your face.
Omit the bow and place the Book
of Gospels reverently on the altar,
and proceed to your seat.
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Ritual Language
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Take a deep breath!
The ritual language that begins the
reading is very important. “A
reading from the ……….
The Lectionary will have the
introduction at the top of the
reading. A reading from…. Then
pause for a moment. If at all
possible this should be done while
looking at the people.
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Any sort of haste that hinders
recollection must clearly be avoided
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The Liturgy of the Word is to be
celebrated in such a way as to
promote meditation.
Remember this is God’s Word and
you are asked to deliver it to God’s
people.
Take your time! You need volume
in your voice! Make eye contact if
you can!
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Prayers to the Faithful
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If there is no Deacon you should
read the Prayers to the Faithful.
Again take your time
Don’t leave the Ambo until the
priest reads the concluding prayer.
The Book of Gospels is not
processed out of the Church at the
end of Mass. WHY?
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A Spirit of Humility
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A spirit of humility, admiration for
the word of God, and a deep sense
of responsibility to the community
will help us approach this ministry
well.
When we ourselves are awakened
to the mystery of scripture, then we
can bring that mystery to the
assembly and truly serve God’s
people well.
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Practice Techniques
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Again, it helps to make a tape of
yourself.
Read in front of a mirror. These
methods will help you determine
whether your voice is portraying
the reading well and whether your
facial expressions match your
words.
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Practice Techniques
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Practice making your volume,
pacing, emphasis and voice quality
appropriate to the scripture.
Strive to improve your presentation
skills.
If you mumble or speed through
the readings, people will be
distracted by you and miss how
God is speaking to them.
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Practice Techniques
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Your breathing will control the
volume of your presentation.
Controlling the volume is not just
about using the microphone well or
being loud, though both are
important.
It is also about making sure that
your speaking from the air in your
chest, rather than from the air in
your nose.
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Clear Articulation &
Pronunciation
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Enunciating words clearly is extremely
important for the reader.
Reading at a conversational pace is too
fast SLOW DOWN!
You will feel comfortable making eye
contact throughout the readings if you
are familiar enough with it to be able to
look up at the people and back down at
the Lectionary and not lose your place.
Use you finger!
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Gestures
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Any gesture that you make should
be done with care and deliberation.
A deep bow is made to the altar by
all who enter the sanctuary.
In general hand gestures are not
necessary when serving as a
reader or lector.
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Gestures
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When standing at the Ambo be still
and avoid fidgeting.
Try not to shift your weight from
one foot to another or bouncing up
and down. This will distract from
the readings.
Often these are nervous gestures
we are not aware of, get feedback.
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Your choice of attire.
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There is no dress code in St.
James, however, there are some
basic principles.
First, and most importantly, know
that you are a leader in our
community.
Dress in a way that conveys that
you are a leader and are coming to
serve.
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Simplicity, modesty and dignity
are your goal.
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Blue jeans, shorts, or T-shirts are
inappropriate.
Your clothing should never distract from
your ministry.
Most people in the assembly will spend
more energy looking at you than listening
to the readings.
Please do not distract by your clothing.
God’s Word is too important.
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Making a mistake
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If you realize the mistake immediately, it is
generally best to pause slightly, and then
restate the proper word or line and go
forward.
Never apologize for an error. Oh, wait or I’m
sorry.
No matter what happens do not let a mistake
at one point in the reading distract you from
doing your best with the rest. Most people
will not recognize the mistake.
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Let’s go have some fun!
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