Acolyte Festival 2010

St. Philip’s in Southport had the honor of taking home the “Lavabo Bowl” (a basin for washing fingers before the communion) prize at last’s month’s 1st Annual North Carolina Episcopal Acolyte Festival in Nags Head. The Bowl is given to the parish team who accumulates the most points during the festival.

After several grueling rounds of Acolyte Jeopardy, and Acolyte Olympics. St. Philip’s came out ahead of the pack with 674 point. Others were close behind though. Christ Church in Elizabeth City came in a close second with 651 points, and Holy Trinity, Hamsptead had 633 points.

Points were accrued by answering questions about the various tasks and symbols of acolytes during Jeopardy, as well as performing tasks simliar to those performed on any given Sunday during the Olympics. These tasks varied from soring M&M’s one handed to passing a cotton ball down a line only using the participants’ noses. (You can see more of what they did by viewing the video below.)

The Acolute Festival is used as a time to help recognize and celebrate the ministry the acolytes provide during Sunday services. “I want to take this time to celebrate you. You are important and valuable to your church,” said The Rt. Rev. Clifton Daniel, 3rd, Bishop of the Diocese of East Carolina, during the opening Eucharist.

In the Episcopal Church, the practice of the acolyte is rich. An acolyte is any lay person who helps with the church service by carrying the processional cross, lighting candles, holding the gospel book or torch during the reading, helping with the presentation of the bread, wine and gifts of the people, swinging incense, or any other tasks seen fit by the priest or acolyte director.

Traditions for acolytes vary from church to church. Some traditions call for very specific clothing, ranking, and training, while other traditions perform the role without any vestments or formal training.

St. Philip’s in Southport had the honor of taking home the “Lavabo Bowl” (a basin for washing fingers before the communion) prize at last’s month’s 1st Annual North Carolina Episcopal Acolyte Festival in Nags Head. The Bowl is given to the parish team who accumulates the most points during the festival.
After several grueling rounds of Acolyte Jeopardy, and Acolyte Olympics. St. Philip’s came out ahead of the pack with 674 point. Others were close behind though. Christ Church in Elizabeth City came in a close second with 651 points, and Holy Trinity, Hamsptead had 633 points.
Points were accrued by answering questions about the various tasks and symbols of acolytes during Jeopardy, as well as performing tasks simliar to those performed on any given Sunday during the Olympics. These tasks varied from soring M&M’s one handed to passing a cotton ball down a line only using the participants’ noses. (You can see more of what they did by viewing the video below.)
The Acolute Festival is used as a time to help recognize and celebrate the ministry the acolytes provide during Sunday services. “I want to take this time to celebrate you. You are important and valuable to your church,” said The Rt. Rev. Clifton Daniel, 3rd, Bishop of the Diocese of East Carolina, during the opening Eucharist.
In the Episcopal Church, the practice of the acolyte is rich. An acolyte is any lay person who helps with the church service by carrying the processional cross, lighting candles, holding the gospel book or torch during the reading, helping with the presentation of the bread, wine and gifts of the people, swinging incense, or any other tasks seen fit by the priest or acolyte director.
Traditions for acolytes vary from church to church. Some traditions call for very specific clothing, ranking, and training, while other traditions perform the role without any vestments or formal training.

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