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The call to discipleship, inherent in Baptism, finds its
expression through ministerial involvement. God’s people
respond to the invitation of the Holy Spirit to identify
and offer their gifts for the building up of the Body of
Christ.
The
word proclaim comes from the Latin pro
meaning “before” and clamare meaning
“to cry out.” The Lector proclaims the Good News of
Jesus Christ, making God present to the gathered
community.
It
is an ancient teaching in the Church that Christ is
truly present in His Word: the Word that is spoken,
heard and acted upon. A willingness to study the
Scriptures and time to pray with the readings before
each liturgical assignment are necessary commitments for
a Reader.
The
degree and kind of relationship that you establish with
the Word is the wellspring of your service. The Rule of
St. Benedict advises us: “anyone can read Scripture in
public; only a believer can proclaim them”. The ministry
of Reader is a charism for the building up of the
community, and it does require some native abilities
such as confidence, poise and sensitivity to the
assembly. Reading skills, the ability to develop
proclamation techniques and a clear and steady voice are
attributes of a Rector. Comfort with public speaking,
while an important gift, does not in itself render a
person capable of effective liturgical proclamation, for
our purpose is to celebrate the faith shared by the
worshipers.
Adults and Children are invited to become Readers for
our liturgies. In addition to proclaiming the
Scriptures, Readers may also share in responsibilities
for offering the Prayers of the People. Readers
are scheduled on a regular rotation and changes can be
made if you are unable to make you allotted time. The
Reader will learn to proclaim the Word transparently so
that the Word itself, not the proclaimer, is placed in
the foreground. Those who take on the responsibility of
the ministry of Reader are presumed to be of good faith,
eager to serve their fellow Christians, and willing to
engage in ongoing formation to improve the effectiveness
of their service. Readers areexpected to dress in a
modest and respectful manner.
Through your proclamation, the Word of God is alive with
power, achieving God’s purpose in those to whom it is
proclaimed and giving glory to God whose creative Word
brought all good things into being.
Thank you for your willingness to share your time and
talent with our faith community. |
