Author: Vicki Patterson

Our Chaplain General, Fr John Penman has prepared “An Order for Spiritual Communion When Unable to Attended a Celebration of the Eucharist”. This may be a helpful resource for many as we face this current unprecedented time that has resulted in churches closing its doors to public worship until further notice.

Please download a copy and share with your fellow servers.

18 March 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This current unprecedented time comes as a stressful and worrying period for many.  In such a short space of time our society has been faced with the implementation of directives that all must observe for the health and wellbeing of the population.  All of us will now be experiencing these as we find our plans cancelled and our daily routine limited to the confines of our home.  The Church, too, has not escaped the effects of this pandemic; closing its doors to public worship until further notice for the first time in living memory.

This is, for all of us, a unique Lenten season.  We have found ourselves faced with the ‘giving up’ of things that are close to our heart.  We have also found ourselves reflecting on what is important and what we now realise to be trivial.

As members of the Scottish Guild of Servers we will all feel the limitation to our calling to serve at the altar during public worship.  This is how it must be for the time being.  I would, however, encourage you all to continue to foster your calling to be servants of one another.  This idea of service is at the very heart of what it is to be an Altar Server and it is also a calling to every Christian by their baptism.

In these days, do not forget the faithfulness of God, who humbled himself in Jesus Christ to be the Servant of all.  Please use this time of enforced separation to keep in touch by telephone and email; to offer practical help, and to encourage one another in our common hope in Christ.

Although things seem very Lenten indeed, let us never lose sight of the truth that we are an Easter people; a people of love, joy and hope; a people of new life and new beginnings.

Please be assured on my prayers for all members of the Scottish Guild of Servers.

Yours in the faith,

Fr Gordon

Revd Canon Gordon Fyfe

Warden of the Scottish Guild of Servers

SCOTTISH GUILD of SERVERS Servers’ Training Session

St James the Less, Bishopbriggs

Saturday 9 November, 2019

9:30- 2:30 (Lunch Provided)

Workshops:

A:     Serving Roles – MC, thurifer, acolyte, crucifer;  serving moves and postures including processing, standing, bowing, kneeling, genuflecting, sitting as well as handing cruets and the lavabo.              

B:    Using a Thurible – the use of charcoal and incense, the rhythm of swinging the censor and censing the congregation.             

C: Setting up for Mass – laying out chasuble, stole, maniple, girdle, alb and amice and preparing the chalice.           

 D:   Being a Crucifer – handling the cross, carrying the cross in church, at the Gospel and in processions.               

Young Servers

This year we are introducing a special training option for young servers (up to the age of 14 years) who will be led by 2 very experienced servers with expert knowledge in working with young people. The whole session for this group will be undertaken separately from the adults and will comprise experience of crucifering, acolyting and an introduction to thurifering.                                                           

Click on the link for an application form to complete for a place.

Our Action Plan from the last year is available here. There will be an update on the progress of this plan shared at the AGM on the 7th September 19.

SGS Action Plan ’18 – 19

When the council meets in October we will be compiling a new plan for 19/20 focusing on the Action Points from the AGM 19.

AGM 2018  minutes are now available to read ahead of our Annual Festival and AGM on Saturday 7th Sept 2019.

AGM 18