ABLUTIONS: The cleansing of the chalice(s), paten, andother vessels after the administration of communion. The Celebrant does this with assistance from the server.

ABSOLUTION: The pronouncement of God's forgiveness after the Confession of Sin by a bishopor priest.

ACOLYTE: A termspecifically applied to the persons who assist the clergy during the service. An acolyte may serve as a crucifer, taperer, flag bearer, banner carrier, or server.

ADVENT: The beginning of the Church Year and the four weeks leading up to and concluding with Christmas.

ADVENT WREATH: A circle of greens, with four candles, which hangs in the Chancel during Advent. The candles are lighted consecutively week by week until all four are burning on the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

ALB: A long, white, sleeved linen vestment worn over the cassock.

ALLELUIA: An exclamation of praise and joy, used in various parts of the liturgy, except during Lent.

ALMS: Money or other offerings of the people for the work of the church.

ALMS BASIN: A large metal plate into which the money offerings of the people are placed before they are presented to the Officiant.

ALTAR: A stone or wooden table at which the Holy Eucharist is celebrated.

ALTAR BOOK: The large book containing the texts of the Liturgy from The Book of Common Prayer.

ALTAR CLOTH: The long piece of white linen that covers the top of the altar and hangs down the sides almost to the floor. (See Fair Linen)

ALTAR CROSS: The cross which stands upon the altar.

ALTAR RAIL: The rail where the people kneel to receive Communion.

ASCENSION: The feast commemorating the Ascension of our Lord JesusChrist to glory. This feast is forty days after Easter and always occurson a Thursday.

ASH WEDNESDAY: The day of special devotion that marks the beginning of the Lenten observance. Forty-six days before Easter (40 days excluding Sundays)

ASSISTING MINISTERS: Persons who assist the celebrant.

BAPTISM: The sacrament of initiation by which a person is born anew by water and the Holy Spirit and made a member of Christ's Body.

BAPTISMAL FONT: The basin to hold water for the administration of the sacrament of Holy Baptism.

BAPTISMAL WATER: The water blessed by a bishop or priest for use at Baptism.

BENEDICTION: Any blessing by a bishop or priest, or a service of devotion to Our Lord present in the Blessed Sacrament.

BIER: The stand upon which a casket rests during the Burial of the Dead.

BISHOP: A successor of the apostles, the chief pastor of a diocese, and (when present) the principal celebrant at sacramental liturgies.

BISHOP'S CHAIR: A chair set apart and reserved especially for the bishop. It is used when the bishop is present and sits for various parts of the liturgy (confirmation, ordinations, etc.)

BLESSED SACRAMENT: The consecrated bread and wine of the Eucharist which represent the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER: The official liturgy of the Anglican Church.

BREAD BOX: The container inwhich the bread or hosts for the Eucharist are kept. It is located on the credence table.

CANDLE LIGHTER/EXTINGUISHER: A long pole with a two-pronged end. One side is a tube into which a wick is inserted. A knob is used to raise or lower the wick for lighting the candles. The other side is a bell-shaped snuffer used to extinguish the candles.

CANTICLE: A hymn, usually taken from Scripture, sung or said after the lessons at Morning or Evening Prayer, or as the Song of Praise at the Eucharist.

CASSOCK: A long garment with sleeves, normally red or black, worn over street clothes when a person serves at the altar. It buttons in the front and should be long enough to cover the ankles.

CELEBRANT: The principal officiant at the Eucharist and other Sacraments. The bishop is the usual celebrant, or, if the bishop is not present, the priest would be.

CHALICE: A metal cup into which the wine (and a little water) for the Eucharist is poured.

CHANCEL: The area of the church between the nave and the Sanctuary.

CHOIR: A group of singers who assist in the celebration of the Liturgy.

CHRISTMAS: The Feast of the Nativity of ourLord JesusChrist celebrated on December 24 and 25th. The Christmas season extends through January 6, the Feast of Epiphany (12 days).

COLLECT: A prayer that is sung or said on behalf of the people by the celebrant or officiant at liturgical celebrations.

COLOR, LITURGICAL: By tradition, various colors are used for the vestments and Altar hangings for the different seasons and feasts of the Church year. At All Saints the tradition is:

Red used for Pentecost, Whitsuntide, Ordinations and Confirmations, on the Feasts of the Martyrs, and for Passiontide.

White on most festive occasions, such as Christmas, Epiphany and Easter. Also used for baptisms, weddings, and funerals.

Green in the season of Trinity (Sundays after Pentecost) and the period between the octave of Epiphany and Septuagesima.

Blue may be a year-round substitute for violet and used during Advent and Pre-Lent.

Violet used during Lent from Ash Wednesday until the day before Passion Sunday, the Ember Days, Rogation Days.

Black used at All Saints only on Good Friday.

COMMUNION RAIL: See Altar Rail.

CONFIRMATION: A mature public affirmation of the faith and commitment to the responsibilities of one's Baptismal vows, and the laying on of hands by the bishop.

CREDENCE SHELF: The shelf to the right of the altar on which the vessels and other items for celebration of the Eucharist are kept.

CREED: The affirmation of the faith of the Church. Two creeds are the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed.

CRUCIFIX: A cross upon which a figure of Christ is represented either crucified or in eucharistic vestments.

CRUETS: Glass or metal containers for the wine and water used at the Eucharistic. Cruets have handles and lids that can be raised. The metal cruet for wine is engraved with the initials XP, and the metal cruet for water is engraved with the initials IHS.

DEACON: An ordained assisting minister whose main functions at the Eucharist are to read the Gospel, prepare the gifts at the offertory, assist with the administration of communion, help with ablutions, and dismiss the congregation.

DISMISSAL: The words said by the deacon or celebrant at the conclusion of the Eucharist. The response to the dismissal is "Thanks be to God".

DOXOLOGY: Words said or sung in praise of the Holy Trinity (see Gloria Patri.).

EASTER: The day celebrating the Lord's Resurrection and the Fifty Days following.

EASTER WEEK: The week (Monday through Saturday) immediately following Easter Sunday.

ELEMENTS: The bread and wine to be consecrated at the Eucharist.

EPIPHANY: The Feast of the Manifestation of our Lord JesusChrist observed on January 6th. The Epiphany Season continues until the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday,

EPISTLE: The lesson at the Eucharist preceding the Gospel. It is taken from one of the Letters of the New Testament, the Acts of the Apostles, or the Book of Revelation.

EUCHARIST: Literally "thanksgiving" in Greek. The principal act of worship on Sundays and other Feasts (See Lord's Supper, Liturgy, The Holy Communion).

EWER: See Flagon, for water at Baptism.

FAIR LINEN: See Altar Cloth.

FEAST: A day of celebration associated with the life of Our Lord, of the Saints, or days of Thanksgiving.

FIFTY DAYS OF EASTER: From the Great Vigil of Easter up to and including the Day of Pentecost.

FLAGON: A large metal or ceramic pitcher often usedfor wine (and water) to be consecrated at the Eucharist. If more than one chalice is used during the administration of Communion, the Flagon (or an additional cruet filled with wine and water) is placed on the altarat the Offertory, and other chalices are brought to the altar after the Breaking of the Bread. There should be only one Chalice on the altar during the Great Thanksgiving.

FONT: A fixed receptacle for holy water in St. Mary's Chapel. (See also Baptismal Font)

GIFTS: The offerings of Bread and Wine (and Alms) presented to the celebrant at the Offertory of the Eucharist.

GLORIA PATRI: Literally, it means "Glory to the Father" in Latin. The Doxology which concludes with the recitation of a psalm at the beginning of the Eucharist; at the end of the psalms in the Daily Offices; and at other times as listed in the Prayer Book. (See Doxology)

GOOD FRIDAY: TheFriday before Easter Day on which the Passion and Death of our Lord JesusChrist is celebrated.

GOSPEL: The final lesson in the Word of God taken from one of the four Gospels in the New Testament. A deacon or priest normally reads it. As a sign of reverence, the people andassisting minister stand and face the reader when the Gospel is read.

GOSPEL PROCESSION: The movement of the deacon (or celebrant) with processional cross and tapers to the place of the reading of the Gospel (the nave, the Lectern, or the Pulpit).

GREAT THANKSGIVING, THE: The Eucharistic prayer. The major prayer of the Eucharist. It begins with the salutation and preface and concludes with the Lord's Prayer.

HOLY COMMUNION: The second part of the Holy Eucharist, following the Word of God and beginning with the Offertory. This term may also refer to the whole service in the same wayas Mass, Lord's Supper, Holy Eucharist or Divine Liturgy.

HOLY WATER: Water blessed by a bishop or priest for use in blessing the people or for other liturgical purposes. Holy Water is used for Holy Baptisms, and may be used at the Burial of the Dead, at Weddings, and other times at the discretion of the priest.

HOLY WEEK: It is the week that commemorates ourLord's Passion and Death. It consists of the Sunday of the Passion; Palm Sunday; Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of the Holy Week; Maundy Thursday, Good Friday; and Holy Saturday. The Great Vigil of Easter is the climax of Holy Week and the beginning of the Fifty Days of Easter celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord.

HYMN: Sacred poetry set to music and sung during the service.

LAVABO: The ceremonial washing of the celebrant's fingers by the server. This is done during the preparations for Holy Communion, and also at the end of the service after the cleansing of the chalice and other vessels used for communion.

LAVABO BOWL: The metal dish into which the water is poured by the server at the lavabo.

LAVABO TOWEL: A linen cloth used by the celebrant during the lavabo to dry the fingers. It is found on the credence shelf and is placed over the server's left wrist.

LECTERN: the podium from which the lessons and sometimes the Gospel are read at the Eucharist and other services.

LENT: The season of penitence and preparation for Holy Week and Easter. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday.

LESSON: The first reading from scripture at the Eucharist; also the scripture readings during Morning Prayer or other services.

LORD’S SUPPER: The celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

LORD’S TABLE: See Altar.

MASS: The celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

MAUNDY THURSDAY: Thursday in Holy Week.

MINISTERS: The celebrant, officiant, and any others (lay persons or ordained) who assist in the services.

MISSAL: See Altar Book.

MISSAL STAND: The stand on which the Altar Book rests whenin useat the altar.

NAVE: The areaof the church where the congregation sits during the service.

OFFERTORY: The presentation, reception, preparation and offering of the gifts.

OFFERTORY SENTENCE: A passage of scripture that is said at the beginning of the Offertory.

OFFICIANT: A person who officiates at the Morning Prayer and other rites.

PALM SUNDAY: The Sunday immediately before Easter Sunday, also known as the Sunday of the Passion.

PALMS: Branches blessed during the Palm Sunday service and given to the congregation. Burnt the following Ash Wednesday to provide ashes.

PASCHAL CANDLE: A large white candle, which may be decorated with a cross, the year of blessing, A (alpha) and W (omega) and other symbols of the resurrection. It is lighted at the beginning of the Great Vigil of Easter and burns for all services during the Fifty Days of Easter.

PASSION WEEK: See Holy Week.

PATEN: A metal plate on which the server or a member of the congregation places the bread for the Eucharist after it is presented.

PENTECOST, DAY OF: The conclusion of the Fifty Days of Easter and the commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples.

POST COMMUNION PRAYER: The Prayer of Thanksgiving after Holy Communion.

PROCESSIONAL CROSS: A metal cross affixed to a pole and carried in processions.

PULPIT: The place from which the sermon is preached.

SACRISTY: The room where the vessels, vestments and other liturgical objects are kept, and where the celebrant, officiants, and assistants vest before the service.

SANCTUARY: The area of the church surrounding the altar and inside the altar rail.

SEQUENCE HYMN: A hymn sung between and the Epistle and Gospel which normally relates to the lessons appointed for the day.

SERVER: An acolyte whoassists at the altar.

STAND: See Missal Stand.

STEPS, ALTAR: The three steps leading up to the altar.

STOLE: A long strip of material worn by bishops, priests and deacons when officiating at the Eucharist or other sacramental functions.

SUNDAY OF THE PASSION: Palm Sunday

TAPER: A candle on a pole that is carried by a taperer.

TAPERER: An acolyte who carries the taper in the procession and recession.

TORCH: See Taper.

TORCHBEARER: See Taperer .

TOWEL: A cloth used to wipe the celebrant's fingers, also called the lavabo towel.

VESTMENT: Any article of clothing worn over street clothes by those officiating or assisting at the services