Epiphany 4
I had a lucky escape yesterday. There are three churches in our parish and I serve at one of them. Yesterday, the rota threw everything into chaos. I was down to serve at another church at which I have attended two services. I have never served there before; I don’t know where anything is and to cap it all, the service was being conducted by a visiting celebrant.
All these factors had caused some anxiety on my behalf. If one of the main reasons for servers’ existence is to ensure that everything runs smoothly, then knowing what to do and where everything is is essential. Owing to my background, I know how touchy priests can be if the vessels, books and so on are not just so. Added to this is the fact that I don’t much like this other church for various reasons.
Fortunately, I had to collect my cassock from St M’s first. One of the other servers, a primary school teacher by day, who normally serves at St N’s was already there and he very kindly offered to swap. No doubt our head server will be displeased, but better to have someon who knows what is what than leave a visiting celebrant and a baptism to chance.
The service at St M’s yesterday was extended communion. I was operating alongside one of the younger servers who has just turned 18. Extended communion means that the bread and wine have already been consecrated (at 8am communion) and so the service can be conducted by the lay readers – handy when there are three churches and only one full-time priest in the parish. Everything went off smoothly for once, even though the gospel was a long one and my arms were aching by the end of it. I wish we had a gospel book to carry in procession rather than the entire lectionary.
Lent is approaching rapidly – a season of preparation, reflection and repentence – and then Easter when there will be much to do for the servers, sacristans and indeed all God’s people.
