Calvary

Episcopal Church

Chalicist Manual

for Eucharistic Rites

Chalicists

Principal Sunday Service

Vestments

Black Cassock with White Surplice

Entrance Procession

Usually, the Clergy, Lay Ministers and Choir enter from the West Door Narthex. The usual order is: (Thurifer), Choir Crucifer with Torches, Choir (which may be divided by Banner/Flags), Altar Party Crucifer with Torches, Lay Readers (Lector/Reader of Prayers), Chalicists, Clergy. If the number of lay ministers is not even, remember that two Chalicists always end the lay procession (when one must walk alone, he/she should walk in front of the last two).

Occasionally the procession enters from the Library. The order is the same.

Upon arriving at the Chancel crossing stairs, watch out that you do not fall over the acolytes trying to place the crosses in their holders. Proceed to the Altar Rail Gate, reverence the Altar Cross and proceed to a stall seat in the sanctuary. (Note: entering and leaving the Sanctuary are the only times you need to reverence the Altar Cross no matter how many times you cross in from of it while performing duty in the Sanctuary.)

On occasion, a Chalicist is also scheduled as Lector or Reader of Prayers. In that case, that Chalicist will peal off from the procession at the top of the Nave/Chancel stairs and take a seat in the choir near the lectern. He/she will then proceed to the Sanctuary at the Peace.

On the occasion you also serve as Acolyte, take a seat on the pulpit side of the Sanctuary near the retable (the table holding the chalices, etc).

All stand when the Celebrant enters the Sanctuary after the Offertory Sentences to begin the Consecration. Be seated after the Clergy are behind the Altar.

Administration of the Chalice

Find the most comfortable way to hold the chalice and the purificator (linen cloth to wipe the rim of the chalice after each person receives the wine) so as to make the process as smooth as possible. Please avoid wiping the chalice with an embroidered portion of the purificator. Lipstick is almost impossible to get out of embroidery.

The words of administration in Rite I are found on page 338 of the BCP. The longer, first listed version are the preferred words to use. These are to be memorized. Either of the shorter versions may be used on rare occasions (especially when chalicing for the first few times). 

The words of administration in Rite II are found on page 365 of the BCP.

Most communicants receive the wine directly from the chalice. You are in charge of the chalice; please keep a tight grip on it. Some will help hold and guide it. Some will not touch it at all. Some will almost pull it from your grasp. Please be sure that the chalice is on the lips before tilting it! Also, please be sure that the communicant is ready to receive the wine (make sure they have time to safely consume the host).

Increasingly, more communicants receive the wine by intinction. The host is held until the chalice is offered and then dipped in the wine. Please be sure that the chalice is lowered to and tilted toward the communicant so that he/she may see into the chalice thereby avoiding missing the wine altogether or dunking the hand into the wine.

Some communicants receive the wine while standing. Be sure that the chalice is placed at the proper level, especially if intinction occurs.

On occasion a communicant will wait for the Chalicist to intinct the host and to then place it on the tongue of the communicant. This is now rare, but can happen.

Administering the Eucharist in the Nave

One of the Chalicists will give communion in the Nave for communicants with mobility problems. The Celebrant will give the Chalicist both a chalice and a paten (or other host vessel). Proceed to the Nave at a position in front of the lectern. Usually, an acolyte will accompany you to assist you (it is difficult to hold both the chalice and the host vessel while administering communion) but there is also a small table there to assist you. Although the Acolyte, dependent upon age, may carry the host vessel, the wine chalice is to be carried by the Chalicist. Please remember that the Acolyte is not to administer communion.

The Altar Rail Gate will be closed after you leave the Sanctuary (do not reverence the Altar Cross while carrying vessels. The bearing of the Body and Blood of Christ takes precedence over other ceremonial actions). Before proceeding to the Nave, commune anyone in the choir who is unable to get to the rail.

The words to be used are on page 365. They are the same regardless of Rite. Use the shorter sentences for both Body and Blood.

If more than one person comes to receive Communion in the Nave at the same time, it is practical to serve all persons a host and then all the chalice.

After the ushers have come forth to take communion, the Altar Rail Gate will be opened and you may then return to the Sanctuary for the Dismissal.

Cleaning the Table (ablutions)

After all communicants have received, the Chalicists are to assist the clergy and Server with “cleaning up the table”. Any excess consecrated wine in the flagon or glass cruet is poured into the metal reserve vessel. The celebrant or assistant will place this in the reserve tabernacle along with any excess consecrated host.

The burse, corporal, purificators and all vessels are removed from the Altar.

The paten is cleaned by wiping any crumbs of the host into a chalice. Wine left in the chalices is to be consumed and the chalices washed (small amount of water poured in, drunk) and dried with a purificator. This is purely symbolic so please don’t make a great thing of it. All vessels are washed thoroughly by the Altar Committee later in the sacristy.

When ablutions are finished, take you seat for the Post Communion Prayer, Blessing and Dismissal. If the ablution process seems to be taking too long, cover the vessels and take your seat. The ablutions can be competed after the recessional (one Chalicist will stay behind during the retiring procession to do this if needed).

Please remember that service at Holy Communion is not a time to have a private chat with a recipient or with an assisting acolyte unless common sense demands verbal communication.

Retiring Procession

Chalicists precede the clergy out of the sanctuary. The cross is reverenced, turn and step into the chancel crossing so that other members of the altar party can move out of the Sanctuary. The Altar Party Crucifer will move out when the Celebrant is ready to do so.

If there is no Crucifer, watch for a sign from the Celebrant to move out in procession.

At the West Door, one of the Chalicists assists the Celebrant with removal of the Chasuble. The Chasuble and the Celebrant’s prayer book are taken back to the Rector’s office. The Chasuble is hung in the closet next to the Rector’s office. The prayer book is carefully placed in the Rector’s mail box.

Serving as Acolyte

On rare occasion, the Chalicists at the Worship Service need to double as acolytes for lighting/extinguishing the candles, during Consecration of Elements, and during the Offertory. Fr. Morris will walk you through that process at the time. However, in general:

Candles are lighted at least 10 minutes before the service. Candles are extinguished during the last verse of the recessional.

During the Offertory, the large alms basin on the shelf on the lectern side of the Sanctuary is carried to the center of the Altar Rail Gate so that the ushers can place the small plates in it. The basins are then given to the Celebrant for elevation (and/or censing). The Celebrant will hand the basins back to the Chalicist for placement on one of the seats. Please do not try to put the basins back on the shelf.

For the Consecration: As the Celebrant turns to proceed to the Sanctuary after announcing the Offertory, the chalice veil is removed (placed on a seat) and the stacked chalice taken to and placed on the Altar near the candle. Proceed immediately to the shelf on the pulpit side and retrieve the Ciborium (bread box). Take it to the Altar and await the Celebrant’s (or assisting clergy) instructions (sometimes, enough wine and/or host has been brought forth by the ushers so no more is needed). Return the Ciborium to the shelf and retrieve the wine and water cruets (taking the stoppers out first). Carry the wine in the right hand and the water in the left with the handles extended toward to the Celebrant. (After the Celebrant has taken the wine cruet, take the water in the right hand, receive the wine cruet in the left. (On occasion, the Celebrant will not take the wine cruet as enough wine was brought forth in the Flagon by the ushers OR Celebrant will place the wine cruet on the Altar or later use). Take both the wine cruet (unless the Celebrant placed it on the Altar for later use) and the water cruet back to the shelf. Place the towel over your left arm, take the Lavabo bowl in your left hand (with cross toward you) and the water cruet in your right hand. Proceed to the Altar. Hold the bowl so that the Celebrant can place his/her fingers in it. Pour water over the fingers until the Celebrant indicates that you should stop. The Celebrant will dry on the towel and place it back on your arm. Take the towel, bowl and cruet back to the shelf. Place the stoppers in the wine and water cruets. Cover the bowl with the towel. Proceed to your seat or kneeler.