A joyous time

With just one more Christmas service (Christmas Lessons and Carols) to celebrate before we reach The Epiphany, this verger is glad of a few days rest.  Not that I’m complaining, but after a hectic Advent (including two funerals in eight days) and six services over Christmas, I have been relaxing by making a start on the service bulletins for Epiphany.

After much hard work preparing for our Christmas worship I have to say that one of my favorite moments of the year is on Christmas Eve lining up the procession for the opening hymn “O Come All Ye Faithful”.  The opening bars of this wonderful hymn set the hairs on the nape of my neck a tingle.  Now I know Christmas is here and as I move off to clear the way for the procession I fight hard to concentrate and to keep the tears of joy at bay.  Believe me, it’s a difficult task. 

  

With a full corps of acolytes, a full choir, and the Thurifer doing his best to distribute the incense evenly, I am overjoyed that we now get to celebrate the Incarnation. 

Thanks to our wonderful Clergy, Eucharist Ministers, Acolytes, especially the indefatigable Acolyte Master, children (who performed in the Pageant magnificently), our Music Director, Choir, Altar Guild, Ushers and the whole St. Philip's community for making the Eve of the Incarnation so joyous.

The color purple

Is it already the third Sunday of Advent? The past few weeks have been busy with two weddings and two funerals in addition to the regular weekly services.

All weddings are special, but on the Eve of Advent, our church made history. A same sex blessing using the recently approved liturgy was, to the best of my knowledge, the very first in the nation. It was my privilege and an honor to be verger at this beautiful and moving service.

The verger is always concerned with making worship look seamless. Things do go wrong, but mostly they go unnoticed by the congregation, or indeed, by anyone other than the one who makes the mistake and/or the verger. Of course, the verger makes mistakes and I could list many, but I like to think that it is not what we do to correct them, but how we do it that makes the difference. In the event of mishaps I always tell acolytes and chalice bearers not to panic, keep calm, carry on as if nothing happened (where I have I heard that before).

That is not always as easy as it sounds. Last week, a teenage acolyte was making his debut as Crucifer. I was not processing and had expressed the need for him, as lead in the procession, to keep to a steady, dignified pace. This he did, but at the final step before the sanctuary he missed his footing (and a couple of heartbeats) and tripped, but recovered magnificently and  I’m sure no one on the congregation noticed. The liturgical color for Advent (in our church) is purple – very near to the shade of the Crucifer’s face!

Do I take my own advice? Looking calm is one thing. Dealing with the inner panic is another - but we won't go into that.

God knows we are not perfect, so He gives us the strength and courage to get over and learn from our imperfections whilst we strive to serve in in worship.

Episcopal lists

I first posted this a few years back to Norfolk Boy in NC.  It never hurts to remind ourselves who we are:

A Dozen Reasons for Becoming an Episcopalian, or At Least for Checking Us Out

1. It's one of the few denominations that allow alcoholic beverages to be served on the grounds.

2. The options: Rite One or Rite Two; back-to-congregation or facing congregation; traditional or contemporary music; all are allowed and welcome!

3. We used cool words like 'verger', 'thurifer', 'amice', 'warden', 'aumbry' and 'columarium'.

4. Otherwise, I'd be unchurched.

5. I ask too many annoying questions.

6. One is expected to ask all irritating questions and to use their brain.

7. It has a beautiful Liturgy.

8. I do not have to understand; I only have to believe.

9. Here laughter and fun are appropriate.

10. The 'fashion police' don't come to our church; the Holy Spirit does.

11. The clergy are not only smart, gifted and spiritual - they are fun!

12. Episcopalians spend less time beating on the Bible and more time actually reading it.

All of it true, and there's more. I have a tee shirt with the following on the back:

Top 10 Reasons for Being an Episcopalian (according to Robin Williams, that is)

10. No snake handling.

9. You can believe in dinosaurs.

8. Male and female, God created them; male and female we ordain them.

7. You don't have to check your brains at the door.

6. Pew aerobics.

5. Church year is color coded.

4. Free wine on Sunday.

3. All of the pageantry, none of the guilt.

2. You don't have to know how to swim to get baptized.

1. No matter what you believe, there's bound to be at least one other Episcopalian who agrees with you.

You just cannot argue with that.

Oh, and just how many Episcopalians does it take to change a light bulb?

Two answers to this (well, there would be, right? ) . . . . .

1. Change?

2. Three - one to change the bulb, two to mix the cocktails.

I am an Episcopalian (as if you hadn't guessed).

A tall yarn

Those who know my beloved Gail also know that I live in a house of yarn!  I needed a knitting needle this morning for a job on the aquarium pump (don't ask). In Gail's absence I searched for said object. Wow! Even I was amazed at how knitting yarn has taken over our home. Save for the bathrooms and kitchen (although there may be stuff stored there too - well, you don't look for a knitting needle in those places do you?), there was an avalanche of yarn everywhere and countless in-progress projects. It's as well yarn doesn't weigh much as I would live in fear of subsidence! 

Oh, the needle? I didn't find a single one that was not in use on the aforesaid projects. 

No doubt I'll be in big trouble on her return, especially when she shows me where she keeps her stock (although that might not happen if she finds out what I wanted one for)!

She will also, I know, comment on how, as a Verger, I have an eye for detail, but unless it involves my computer, books or tools, I am blind to things around the home. Fair comment.

Spoon fed

"Always expect the unexpected."  This well-known advice is constantly on the verger's mind.  However, "expect the expected" would be a better description of my experience on Sunday.

At a recent refresher course for our chalice bearers I stressed the need to use a spoon to remove a host accidentally dropped in the chalice and not trying to fish it out with your fingers.  I also mentioned that fortunately, it had never happened to me.  That was a mistake.

A last minute call-off saw me bearing the chalice at our 9:00 a.m. family service the very next day.  The fact that it is a family service sees many children participating - that's one of the reasons I love this service.  As some of the communicants are what I call "knee-high to a grasshopper," it is obviously necessary to get to their level so that they can see where they are intincting.  I was doing this, on one knee, when one youngster accidentally dropped his host.  Remembering the instructions (emphasized by me at the aforesaid course), I took the chalice to our deacon who, with grace and dignity, removed the host with the spoon provided.  Now I can share the experience with those who have yet to do so.

The 11:00 a.m. service went smoothly enough, but I was dismayed to see two of the candles with higher flames than the others.  I had taken great trouble, or so I thought, the previous day to trim the wicks, so was concerned that this was happening at the start of the service.  Much to my relief they both settled quickly.

Sunday was our Committment Sunday.  Members are invited at all services to place their pledges of Time, Treasure and Talent on the altar.  This is always a moving experience and a practice I feel is an important part of the stewardship campaign.

With two weddings, a memorial service, Christ the King and then Advent, it promises to be a busy time in our downtown parish.

A day in the life of the Verger

In the last few weeks, our church has seen a Bishop's Visitation (with Confirmations), a celebration of our Patron, a celebration of All Saints (with seven Baptisms and a tribute with presentation to our Verger Emeritus), a funeral, a special Choral Evensong in addition to the normal Eucharist's.

Each of the "out of the ordinary" services are different and take extra planning. That is why we have a customary for each one. Experience shows us that there is a need to occasionally tweak these guidelines. Suggestions at Worship Committee meetings (held to prepare for each season) are taken into account and the Verger, together with the Rector, make any adjustments thought necessary.

A "normal" Sunday will see me at our 9 a.m. Family Service, sometimes at the 8 a.m., before fortifying myself with coffee to prepare for Choral Eucharist at 11 a.m. After vesting there is a comprehensive checklist to go through, the sound systems to check, liaise with the Rector, Music Director, Altar Guild, Acolyte Master and Usher team leader for any last minute issues that might need attention.

After a final visual check of the Sanctuary there follows the head count/roll call of acolytes,lectors, intercessor and chalice bearers. This sometimes can be stressful, as I like to have everyone vested and prepared for pre-service prayers by the final ten minutes before worship begins.

When we are all set it's time to escort the complete altar party to the parish hall foyer for the processional assembly with the choir and clergy for prayers by the Presider.

By the time the organist has finished his voluntary, all the above are assembled in the narthex, the church bell rings, the opening hymn starts, the procession starts and our Sunday worship begins.

Unless I am part of the altar party, my normal place is at the Sacristy door. From there I can keep an eye on almost everything and be ready for any emergency without being visible to the congregation. The "emergencies" can be anything from an extra glass of water for the preacher, a request for another cruet from the Deacon or just closing or opening the altar rail if it has slipped the mind of the acolyte responsible.

Stage manager is sometimes used to describe the verger's work before and during the service. It is a fairly accurate description, but I prefer "minister of ceremonies".

Following the service general housekeeping is the order of the day before I can partake of any refreshments at fellowship hour. After that, ensuring that the church is secure, all candles are extinguished, lights and sound system off before it's time to think about planning the week’s schedule.

Over 800 years of service

Evidence from Rochester, Lincoln, Exeter, and Salisbury Cathedrals indicates the existence of Vergers as far back as the 12th century.  A familiar sight in English cathedrals and on television broadcasts of Royal weddings, funerals, etc., Vergers have maintained the buildings and furnishings of the Church, led the liturgy, and served God in the church for many centuries.

The office shares certain similarities with the former minor orders of "porter" and "acolyte."  Generally speaking, Vergers are responsible for the order and upkeep of the house of worship, including preparations for the liturgy, the conduct of the laity, and in times past even grave-digging among many other duties in the church.

In medieval times, the Verger (spelled "virger" in England and older texts) was the Protector of the Procession.  The Verger led the way for the procession as it moved from the vestry around the church or cathedral and into the front doors.  The procession often moved through crowds of people and animals, and the Verger was there to clear a pathway with his virge (mace or "Staff of Office").  The Verger had to be the first person in the procession as he cleared the way for the thurifer, crucifer, acolytes, choir, and sacred ministers by swinging the Virge in front of them.

Notice that "The Verger led the way for the procession."  It is important to clarify that the Verger "makes way for" and does not "lead" the procession.

My thanks are extended to Bruce Olive, St. Philip's Verger Emeritus, for this information.

What is a Virge?

Notice the spelling.  The virge is the staff that a Verger carries while making way for a procession.  The name comes from the Latin "virga" which simply means a rod or staff; hence, a "Verger" is one who carries a staff.  The virge can trace its history back to the ceremonial maces carried before civic and ecclesiastical dignitaries.  The Maces of State used in the House of Lords and the House of Commons of the British Parliament are examples of another modern use of the medieval symbols. Originally a weapon used to clear the way for processions (and control lunging dogs and unruly choristers!), its use is now principally honorific.  The size, style, and shape of a virge varies from parish to parish; but one end typically has a cross or other Christian symbol mounted on it.  A longer variation of the virge is called the "beadle", and was originally used to lead academic processions.

Why black?

Why do we wear a black cassock?  Except on special occasions, Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, Baptisms, etc., when we clear the way for the procession, a black cassock is our only vestment.

This enables us to be as inconspicuous as possible.  A verger only needs to be recognized as such in order to help visitors, and sometimes regulars, who have questions about the church in general or worship in particular. One of the many duties of the verger is the "Ministry of Welcome".

However, not all vergers wear black cassocks, those in cathedrals normally were purple.

Okay, so we need to be both inconspicuous but recognizable. This begs the question, "If you need to work quietly in the background, why did you start this blog"?  This ministry is a calling that can benefit most parishes and their clergy.  We are not a secret society and I wanted to explain what we do.  It is often said that all churches have a verger, but some don't know it.  For example, there is usually someone who does all or perhaps some of the work of a verger but wouldn't call her/himself by that name.  The Vergers' Guild is running a campaign to recruit vergers to this wonderful ministry - Got Vergers?

What is a verger?

Probably the questions I am asked most are, "What is a Verger?" and  "what does a Verger do?"

Thanks to St. Philip's and it's Verger Emeritus, the following may help answer those questions.

The office of Verger has its roots in the earliest days of the Church's history. Today's Vergers are laypersons who serve the church in a ministry of liturgical coordination and welcome. It is an appointed volunteer position, serving at the discretion of the rector. I am privileged to be the fifth Verger of St. Philip's Episcopal Church.

The Verger's logistical support allows the priest more time for pastoral and sacramental responsibilities. Some typical Verger duties are assigning, training, and checking in lectors, chalice bearers, acolytes, and prayer intercessors. The Verger coordinates with the clergy, acolyte master, music director and choir, altar guild, ushers and greeters, and checks lighting and sound. The Verger works with the rector to ensure that any special service needs are met and that the service flow is seamless and grace-filled. Often the visitor will see the Verger in a simple black cassock moving about the church preparing for worship, and responding to questions from parishioners old and new.

The Verger must be trained and able to fill any lay position if needed, from usher to lector to acolyte to chalice bearer.

A little history

On October 14th, 2012 I was installed as Verger of St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Durham NC. I am privileged to be the fifth Verger in the history of St. Philip's. A cradle Anglican, I'm an import from Norfolk, England where I was a pre-press manager of a well-known book printing company. In 2001 with Gail my Yorkshire-born wife moved to Andalusia, Spain where we lived in semi-retirement for five years before moving to North Carolina in 2006. 

I first became interested in the ministry of verger while a member of a small downtown church, St. Joseph's. I had  from early childhood always been interested in the liturgy and the rubrics of worship.  I was a junior chorister at my local C of E church and soon became an altar boy (aka acolyte, no altar girls in those days). 

As I became more involved at St. Joe's I found I needed to learn more so joined the Vergers' Guild of the Episcopal Church and enrolled in their training course. Meanwhile we had transferred to St. Philip's and I was soon active in the verger ministry there under the guidance of the patient and very knowledegable Head Verger, Bruce Olive (now Verger Emeritus).  His encouragement and leadership saw me involved and helping plan services throughout the church year and by late summer I had completed the Guild course to become a Fellow (FVGEC). 

My intention  is to post verger-related and personal reflections which hopefully will be of interest to readers and who knows, perhaps encourage others to take up this very worthwhile ministry.