The Admission of Lay Readers

The Admission of Lay Readers

The Admission of Lay Readers is an occasional service of the Reformed Episcopal Church used for the admission of lay readers for authorized service in the church.

Overview

This service admits lay readers for appointed ministry in worship, especially in relation to Holy Communion or the Daily Office. It includes Scripture, examination, promise, charge, prayer, and blessing.

Full Text of the Service

¶ To be used before Holy Communion, or after the Collects in the Daily Office.

¶ At the appointed time each person to be admitted shall stand at the chancel rail as the person being designated to the office of Chief Lay Reader reads the following lesson from the lectern.

Hear the words of Saint Paul the Apostle in his second letter

to Timothy.

II Timothy 3:1-17

THIS know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

¶ The Priest shall first appoint and install the Chief Lay Reader using the interrogatory and charge but changing to read “Receive the authority to serve as Chief Reader of this parish”. The Chief Lay Reader, or a reader representing him, shall then present to the Priest all others to be admitted to the office of Lay Reader.

REVEREND Father in God, I present unto you these persons to be admitted to the Office of Licensed Lay Reader in this Diocese.

¶ The shall the Priest say,

ALMIGHTY and Merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that Thy faithful people do unto Thee true and laudable service, look down, we beseech Thee, on these thy servants who are now to be admitted to the office of Reader in this Church. Pour upon them the abundance of Thy grace; make them modest and humble in their ministrations, ready to obey those set over them in the Lord, diligent to frame and fashion their own lives, and the lives of their family, according to Thy blessed Word. Grant unto them growth in the knowledge and love of Thy Word, that they may faithfully minister to the salvation of souls, to the edification of Thy Church, and to the glory of Thy Holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ Then the Priest shall address all to be admitted.

DEARLY beloved, ye who are to be admitted as Readers in the House of God, we call upon you to know the holiness of that office, and to fulfill it with all reverence and godly fear. For our God is a mighty God, who will pour down upon you His grace that ye may go on to perfection. And as ye are set in an high place in the Church, that your voice may be heard of all men, so ought ye to study and strive to be models of holy living, obedient bearers of the Word of God, in all godly conversation, that God might bestow upon you His heavenly grace.

N. In so far as it lieth in you, do ye promise to faithfully execute the duties of the office of Reader in the Church of God and to be obedient to the clergy and others appointed over you being diligent in the same?

Answer. I will, the Lord being my helper.

¶ Then shall the Priest deliver to each man to be admitted a license bearing the seal or signature of Bishop together with the following charge, saying,

N. By the authority of the Bishop, receive thou the authority to serve as a Reader in the House of God.

May God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, rest upon thee, and upon this work done in His Name. Amen.

Let us pray O Lord God, Holy Father, vouchsafe to bless these Thy servants in their office of Lay Readers, that they may be diligent in the conduct of public worship, and such other duties as may be assigned, and may in their lives so set forth the beauty of the things they read that they may be for examples of holiness in Thy Church. Keep them by Thy grace in purity of life, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Notes on Use

• Use before Holy Communion or after the collects in the Daily Office, as directed by the rubric.
• Candidates should be instructed in the duties and limits of the office before admission.
• Licenses and any required signatures should be ready before the rite.

Liturgical Structure

• Lesson from Scripture
• Presentation
• Examination and promise
• License and charge
• Prayer and blessing

Theological Themes

• Lay ministry ordered by the church.
• Scripture read publicly for doctrine, correction, and instruction.
• Faithfulness, reverence, and obedience in service.

Source

This text is transcribed from the official Reformed Episcopal Church PDF.

See Also

• Book of Common Prayer
• Reformed Episcopal Church
• Anglican liturgy
• Book of Occasional Services (Reformed Episcopal Church)
• The Admission of Lay Ministers and Officers