Presiding at Holy Communion

written by Nick (25.07.25)

Before the Service

  • Check that the colour of the hangings is correct.
  • Check that the cross has been put out on the altar.
  • 9:50 am or before: be at St. Thomas' to open the church.
  • Support in putting otu chairs and altar table if required.
  • Check that the Raspberry Pi is on. You may need to use the purple-fobbed "Organ Chamber" key to open the door.
  • Check that the TV is in the right place and is connected to the Raspberry Pi and speaker
  • Microphones are in the vestry. The handheld microphone is in the piano stool. 1 is for those with louder voices. 2 is for those with quieter voices.
  • Speaker check that it is on.
  • Raspberry Pi check that it providing a signal to the TV.
  • The Collect and Readings should be on the table in the vestry. Feel free to take the Collect in, but do make sure the readings are on the Lectern.
  • The president usually sits centrally, facing the congregation, behind the altar table.
  • If you are playing the music, try to start it so that it finishes at 10:30 am.
  • Chasubles are in the cupboard in the Choir Vestry.
  • I generally discretely slip in during the music before the service, and prepare myself for the service while the music is playing.

During the Service (1)

  • Hymns Please announce the hymns (no hymn numbers), and ask people to stand. They will be played on the TV and through the speaker.
  • Stage Directions I generally encourage people to follow the stage directions themselves (e.g. sit / standing) rather than have them wait for me to announce them.
  • Sung Liturgy The congregation will sing the Gloria / Kyries / Exsultet / Agnus Dei, but this is the only liturgy that is sung, everything else is said.
  • Sunday School Please say a short prayer for Sunday School as they leave after the Collect for Purity - generally before the confession.
  • The Psalm We generally sit for the Psalm. We use British Sign Language for the signs.

BSL Dictionary

Christian BSL Dictionary

  • The Gospel is usually proclaimed from the lectern.
  • Sermon: You are welcome to preach from where you like. I generally stand at the front. A legilium is available. The pulpit is not normally used.
  • The Intercessions Please introduce them with one of:
    • "Let us pray for the church and for the world, and let us give thanks for God's goodness"
    • "In peace let us pray"
    • "By the power of the Spirit, and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father" or
    • "We sit or kneel to pray"

During the Service (2)

  • The Peace We usually have a static "sign" of peace, which could be waving to each other, or a BSL sign of peace, or anything appropriate for the day.
  • Collection There is a collection during the offertory hymn.
  • Holy Communion
    • We don't have servers at the moment.
    • Everyone stands in a circle round the altar. I generally start administering to the person standing closest to the High Altar.
    • There should be one Eucharistic Assistant.
    • Everyone should remain standing until all have received Communion, then please say a short sentence of scripture to dismiss everyone.
  • The Notices If Nick is not present, please give the Notices.
  • Please leave after "Go in peace" while the "going out music" is played. People will hopefully remain seated to listen to the music.

After the Service

+ I generally catch the early leavers at the exit, or just outside, then go in for tea and coffee afterwards, and mingle. . .
+ Ensure that the speaker power is turned off, the microphones put away, and the Raspberry Pi turned off.
+ Ensure that the altar table and lectern are returned to their places. The blue cloth over the altar table.
+ The chairs can be left out.
+ Check that the door to the organ chamber is closed, and the key returned to its place.
+ Check that the cross has been put back in the Vestry
+ Check that all the ropes are cordoning off the Baptistery, Memorial Chapel and Chancel.