November 19, 2005
To:       Lay Ministers, St. Barnabas
From:   Your scheduler
Re:       December – January Schedule for Acolytes, Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers

Attached are the specific schedules for December 2005 and January 2006.  The December schedule is partially based on the “Master Schedule” that was distributed this fall but with some additional folks added!  The January 2006 schedule is based on a new Master Schedule that takes into account six new members of the lay ministry team.  We now have enough acolytes, Eucharistic Ministers and lectors at 10 a.m. that occasionally you MAY get a month off!  And it should be easier to “trade” with other members of your team.  Be sure to carefully look at the new schedule! 

You will notice that several Christmas Eve “assignments” are still in need of volunteers – so many of us are out of town that weekend!  If you are around and are not already scheduled, please consider the available vacancies and let Wendy and/or I know if you can serve. 

I’m pleased to welcome several new members to our ranks – Samantha and Mackenzie Scott will be starting as acolytes in December; Dick Gregory and Linda Heller will be starting as Eucharistic Ministers and Joanne Ellis as a lector.  And Abbey Heller, who has served as an acolyte and lector for quite some time, will also be serving as a Eucharistic Minister now that she’s 16! 

The schedules for February through April will be coming out in mid-January and will include Lenten Evensong (March 12) and Holy Week services.

And my usual reminder - you are responsible for finding a substitute when you are unable to attend on a given week.  Please notify Wendy as far in advance as possible so that the Sunday Bulletin can reflect the correct names. 

UPDATE ON NEW EUCHARISTIC MINISTER ALBS

Well, we’re trying it again.  The initial set of new albs did not work out for us.  So we are going with a tried-and-true model.  I expect to be ordering new albs this coming week – hopefully they will be here by Christmas – if not, in early 2006. 

REMINDER TO EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

When presenting the cup of wine to recipients, please remember two things.  First, wait until the priest has given the bread to two or three other recipients before starting to present the wine – this will give the recipient the opportunity to eat the bread and prepare for the wine.  Secondly, present the cup in such as way that you are bringing the cup UP to the recipient’s mouth rather than down – that way they can see what is in the cup and be better prepared to receive the wine.  Thank you!