Altar Server Procedures

[KagomeShuko]

Lately, I've been a bit confused with this. I still do it the way it seems I was taught.

If the Christ candle is there, you light it first.
Then, go to the altar candles.
Light the one on your left first (if you are facing the altar, as this is the right hand of God).
Then light the one on the right.
Then, go light the pulpit candles.
Light the one on the left.
Then light the one on the right.

When leaving,
Extinguish the pulpit candles - right and then left.
Then extinquish the altar candles - right and then left.
If there is no Christ candle, before extinguishing the left candle, take the light from it.
If there is a Christ candle, extinguish the left candle and take the light from the Christ candle. Then extinguish the Christ candle.

I was always taught this because if you light the candle on your left first, you are lighting the candle that is on the right hand of God where Christ is seated. It makes sense to me.

However, when I've looked online, the few things I find say to light the candle on the right first. This is also what I see most of the others in my church do (though, true, they've didn't go to all the acolyte trainings I did - but was I taught incorrectly?)

It makes sense to me because then at the end of the service, you are always taking the light of Christ out into the world.

What have all of you experienced?

Stein Auf!
Bridget

 

[benedictine]

This is from an Anglican..... albiet an Anglo-catholic who happens to be more closer to Rome than Cantebury.

What I do is Paschal Candle(big white Easter Season candle) first. Then the altar. Right side, then left, IF you are facing pro deum. If you are facing pro populus, then do it left then right.

Then, I do the candles on the re-table, startng on the right, starting at the cross, inside out, then do the left.

 

[krstlros]

If the Easter candle isn't lit, then I do that first, that is, if I have someone to help me take it down. (My Pastor usually lights it when he opens the church in the morning.

Then I light the candle at the Ambo and then the candles at the altar. Our candles are on one side, so it doesn't matter which side is lit first.

I've never been told otherwise, so this is how I've always lit the candles.