Church of the Resurrection

Resurrection Parish  Zillah, WA

Diocese of Yakima

Lay Ministry and Service

Prayer for the Altar Severs

Purify me, O Lord,

 and make me clean of heart

That through Your graces

I may serve at Your Altar with dignity and respect

and that I may be worthy to receive Your Word at this Liturgy,

witness Your changing of our gifts of bread and wine

 into Your precious Body and Blood

and through Your gift possess eternal joy.

Amen

Altar Servers Handbook: Parents can download a copy of the Resurrection Parish Altar Servers Handbook for review with their children.

Altar Servers work with the priest and others to make liturgical celebrations (sacrifice of the Mass) as smooth and worship focused as possible.  They do this by performing the duties with dignity, reflecting the true presence of Christ at the Mass.  It is said the best servers are those who are transparent.  In other words never cause the focus to be taken away from the Mass and directed towards you.

Altar Servers:

• Know and participate in the Mass
• Are observant and adaptable.
• Perform duties during the Mass in a dignified and respectful manner
• Serve as an example of dignified worship to the congregation
• By their actions, are a real life reminder of Christ's presence with us at the Mass

At Resurrection Parish a person who desires to become an altar server must:

• have their family as registered members of Resurrection Parish
• have been baptized, received First reconciliation and First Holy Communion
• be regular in attendance at Sunday Mass and Religious Education/REP classes
• have a sincere desire to serve Jesus at the Mass
• know the parts of the Mass
• be recommended by their REP Teacher, DRE, a Deacon or Priest. 
• be able to serve at least one Mass each month. 
• complete a training program (parents must also attend)
• be installed for service by the pastor

Please contact a Priest or the Rectory to learn more about this service opportunity.

Prayer for the Lectors

Lord, as I accept Your calling to be a Lector,

Bless me with passion that I may keep doing it with fervor,

Bless me with inspiration that I may keep doing it with excellence,

Bless me with wisdom that I may keep doing it with prudence,

Bless me with humility that I may keep doing it with servitude,

And bless me with love, that I may keep doing it for You. Amen.

Lectors Handbook: Current lectors and those who are wishing to become lectors may download a copy of the Resurrection Parish handbook for this ministry.

A lector is one who proclaims the word of God at Mass. The word ‘Lector’ comes from the Latin, legere ‘to read’. The lector assists at Mass by proclaiming the first and/or second readings and occasionally the Psalm and General Intercessions.  The lector’s role is not merely to read but to bring the word of God to life for the assembly.  Lector is an official ministry of the Catholic Church, not just a volunteer activity. 

We ask lector candidates to be:

• at least 18 years of age

• a registered member of the Parish

• an individual who regularly attends Mass

• confirmed (completed the Sacrament of Confirmation)

• have a desire to be more involved in the celebration of the Holy Mass

• have a pleasant and clear speaking voice

• complete a brief training
• develop a fuller understanding of the scriptures
• be able to serve at least one Mass each month. 
• be installed for service by the pastor

A sacramental celebration of the Word of God is never mere reading of texts. It is the public proclamation in the midst of the assembled faithful of who God is, where God can be found and how God works through us. It is a sacramental event. When the Word is truly proclaimed and heard, things happen. It becomes the experience of the power and presence of the living God in this community, here and new. It is the discovery that the great works of God are not simply history but are enacted anew in our own community as we gather to worship.

Please contact a Priest or the Rectory to learn more about this service opportunity.

Prayer for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

Heavenly Father,

You nourish us with the body and blood of your Son,
that we might have eternal life.

I thank you for calling me

to serve You and your people in this Parish

as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.

While I am not worthy of such an exalted honor;

I pray that You send me the necessary grace

to give the bread of heaven and the cup of salvation
to your faithful people.

May the saving mysteries I distribute
lead them to the joys of eternal life.

Grant your strength and holiness

To all your extraordinary ministers

And make me worthy to bring Christ to others.

Amen.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) are members of the community who feel called to be more involved in the celebration of Mass. They assist the priest in distribution of the Blessed Sacrament at Mass and the homebound.

The act of lay persons distributing the Holy Eucharist to people was authorized in 1973 by a decree signed by Pope Paul VI.  This decree authorized diocesan bishops to commission Catholic laity, both men and women to become
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and allowed the EMHC to distribute Communion during Mass (to assist priests) and take Holy Communion to the sick (people who are temporarily or permanently sick or homebound).   Paul the VI described the people involved in this ministry saying:

"The faithful who are special ministers of communion must be persons whose good qualities of Christian life, faith and morals recommend them. Let them strive to be worthy of this great office, foster their own devotion to the Eucharist, and show an example to the rest of the faithful by their own devotion and reverence to the most august sacrament of the alter."

We ask Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion candidates to be:

• at least 18 years of age

• a registered member of the Parish

• an individual who regularly attends Mass

• confirmed (completed the Sacrament of Confirmation)

• have a desire to be more involved in the celebration of the Holy Mass

• have the physical ability to stand and distribute Holy Communion during Mass

• have developed a fuller understanding of the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist
• complete a brief training
• be able to serve at least one Mass each month
• be open to bringing the Eucharist to those who are homebound
• be installed for service by the pastor

Please contact a Priest or the Rectory to learn more about this service opportunity.

Hospitality Ministry Prayer

Lord, you make all kinds of people, even people like me.

In your love, you gather them all into your Church.

As you gather your people this day, help me to serve them

in a Christ-like manner, even as your Son

served those who gathered about him.

Make me prayerful and patient, helpful and understanding,

and may I radiate the joy that faith brings as I serve their needs.

Give me you strength to support my fellow ministers.

May all who assemble to celebrate

our common faith in the risen Savior

be glad of heart for being here and for having encountered

your Son in one another, in our priest,

at the tables of the Book and the Bread,

and through the ministry of ushers like me.

I ask this in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Usher/Greeter: The function is simple but very important; to make all in attendance feel welcome at Mass and to assist the pastor and the parishioners as needed. They are men and women who welcome worshipers to our church and assist the Parish family in many ways. Ushers demonstrate the greatest hospitality to the parishioners and guests who arrive at our church by the greeters demeanor and their willingness to serve.

After all if people do not feel welcomed at the door, they will not return to hear the Word of God, nor to celebrate the Mass.  This Hospitality ministry is very important.

Greeters arrive early to welcome people as they enter the church, and reverently participate in Mass when it begins. Service includes distribution of missals, bulletins or other materials, taking up the collection and bringing gifts to the altar.  They assist the disabled if required and ask if they need special assistance at communion. They stand by to assist as needed at special masses (distribute palms, candles, assist with set up and clean up as needed, etc.).  They organize the collections at the end of Mass and deposit them in the safety box.  The members of the Hospitality ministry are often the last to leave as they secure the building, turn out lights and assist any in the parking lot with troubles.

Perhaps you have been “drafted” to help take up the offering at Mass and now would like to more about this Parish Service? 

Please contact a Priest or the Rectory to learn more about this service opportunity.