Lay Readers of Redeemer
The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer would like to welcome you as a Lay Reader. Participation as a Lay Reader is important to the overall growth and vitality of our parish family. Volunteering to serve in this rich tradition of lay ministry provides an opportunity to be directly involved in our worship of the Lord and it is hoped you will find it to be a spiritually meaningful and rewarding experience. From the earliest days of the Christian church, lay people have participated in the liturgical worship of our Lord, and it is this tradition of lay involvement which we strive to continue and strengthen.
In 1967, at the General Convention, the canon on Lay Readers was amended to allow certain authorized persons to administer the chalice during Holy Eucharist. In 1985, the canons were further modified to authorize five different licensed positions for the lay members of its parishes to assist the clergy and involve the congregation in the administration of the Eucharist. These are the Lay Reader, the Lay Preacher, the Pastoral Lay Reader, the Lay Eucharistic Minister and the Catechist. The Rector, through direct contact with the Office of the Diocese of
Southern Virginia, handles the licensing of our members. Special training is required for each of these positions. Any interest you have in becoming licensed in any other category beyond Lay Reader is welcomed and should be discussed with the Rector.
The Lay Readers are currently under the leadership of parishioner Doug Schutte, who returns to head this ministry that he helped to enhance and grow at Redeemer in 2000 taking over for Ross Disney, who had served in this capacity for a decade under the direction of The Reverend John Molton. Under Father John, Redeemer had transitioned from a Mission church in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia previously located in the Southampton neighborhood of the City of Richmond on Chippenham Parkway at Huguenot Road to a Eucharistically centered parish establishing the Eucharist as an integral part of every Sunday service. Albs, from the Latin meaning "white", were introduced in 2000 replacing the cassocks previously worn on the altar as directed by The Reverend Steve Cowardin and facilitated by Doug in the twelfth year of Redeemer's new home built in 1988 in the Salisbury neighborhood of Chesterfield County. Albs are merely cassocks made in white material to signify that the service centers on the presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist. You should notice that the clergy wear white albs during Eucharist and the outer vestments reflect the color of the church season. White outer vestments are worn for the feast days of Our Lord. Wearing a white alb makes a theological statement the Jesus is present in the Eucharist.
Additionally, Doug's handling of this ministry began the training regimen for Lay Readers on a quarterly basis at fellowship breakfast gatherings. This will enable you to complete the training for licensing as a Lay Reader and be comfortable in handling your responsibilities for this important lay ministry. As we transition back to full involvement of the Lay Readers in the Eucharist centered on the altar there will be a need for as many as eleven Lay Readers every Sunday to serve during our three service schedule at 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM and six during our summer schedule of 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM. There is a single Lay Reader at our 8:00/8:30 AM Rite I service and provides the greatest challenge and responsibilities for reading both Lessons, the Psalm and Prayers of the People while acting as Server on the altar by assisting the Celebrant in preparing the Euchrist, receiving the collection from the Ushers and chalicing for the Eucharist. These responsibilities are spread among as many as five Lay Readers at the 9:00/10:00/11:00 AM services acting as New Testatment-Chalicer, Psalmist-Chalicer, Old Testament-Intincter, Intincter and Host Server, the last when there is only the Celebrant present for the Eucharist.
Parishioner Lou Markwith leads the Lay Eucharistic Ministers in providing the Eucharist to those in the Parish unable to attend services at Redeemer. This is a separate license from that of Lay Reader and requires additional training under the direction of the Diocese and the Rector.
In the interim period the Redeemer Lay Reader Ministry has been ably lead by Parishioners Jack Egle, Joanne Simpson Marple and most recently Pete Hock.
