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The Church can seem a place of many foreign words and expressions. Here are a few with their definitions: acolyte: a lay person who carries the torch into and out of the church and at the reading of the Gospel. Often, acolytes are children or youth. altar: the table on which the bread and wine are placed during the celebration of the Eucharist altar rail: the railing around the sanctuary which provides a place for kneeling during the receiving of communion. ambo: the lectern from which the lessons are read and the sermon is preached Anglican Christians: Christians who are members of churches that have their historical roots in the Church of England Anglican Communion: the churches in countries around the world in association with the Church of England Archbishop of Canterbury: the chief bishop of the Church of England and the symbolic head of the Anglican Communion
aumbry: a recess in the sanctuary wall that us used to store the reserved sacrament and consecrated oil. Book of Common Prayer: the official prayer book of a church in the Anglican Communion catholic: universal chalice: the cup used to hold the wine that has been consecrated during the Eucharist creed: a statement of faith or belief credence table: the small table near the altar which holds the chalice and other items needed to prepare the table for communion celebrant: the priest who officiates at the altar during the celebration of the Eucharist. The celebrant is usually vested (clothed) in a stole and chasuble. collect: a brief prayer which “collects” the petitions of the people Communion: relationship between people of faith; the part of the Eucharist where bread and wine are consecrated and shared consecrated: set apart for sacred purpose choir: singers: At St. Timothy’s, the choir usually wears burgundy-colored choir robes and sits in the “chancel.” congregation: the gathered community during worship crucifer: a lay person who carries the processional cross, holds the gospel book during the reading of the Gospel, and assists the deacon with setting and clearing the altar at Communion. deacon: one of the four orders of ministry in the Church. A deacon wears a stole that hangs over the left shoulder and across the front and, during the liturgy, reads the Gospel and sets the table (altar) for Communion. Eucharist: from the Greek word for “thanksgiving;” a common name for Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper grace: God’s love freely given to humanity for salvation. The word comes from the Latin gracia, a “gift or favor freely given.” gospel: Greek for “good news”; in the Bible, the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) which are part of the New Testament. healing chapel: the area at the back of the nave set aside for prayers for healing during communion healing team: Lay persons and clergy who offer prayers for healing during Communion lay eucharistic minister (LEM): a lay person who administers the chalice (cup) during Communion lector: a lay person who reads the lessons from the Old and New Testament minister: any baptized member of the church. The term does not refer only to those who are ordained. narthex: the room between the main door of the church and the door into the nave nave: the room between the narthex and the sanctuary where the congregation sits pew: the long, bench-like seat used for congregational seating preacher: a lay or ordained person who gives the sermon. priest: one of the four orders of ministry in the Church. A priest wears a stole that hangs around the neck with the ends hanging down in front. rector: the priest in charge of a parish congregation rite: a customary form for conducting a service sacrament: an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace; the two primary sacraments are baptism and Holy Communion sanctuary: the space inside the altar rail, where the clergy and other liturgical ministers sit sanctuary lamp: the lamp that hangs over the aumbry, lit when the aumbry contains reserved sacrament
Scripture: the collection of texts viewed by Christians as sacred
transept: in a church building shaped like a cross (cruciform), the parts of the building that make up the arms of the cross
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