We are  now entering the final quarter of the church year and most churches are getting back into their regular routines after a relaxing summer schedule. So are parish altar guilds. Because today a guild usually has its own method of preparing for the celebration of the Eucharist in its own worship space, members should have a carefully prepared parish manual which addresses the altar guild ministry there—comprehensive and easy to follow. This time of year is a good time to review—perhaps edit—these manuals as well as to review general guidelines for altar guild work.

Altar guild members on duty for a given weekend usually find it convenient to work on a Saturday morning. Spending a few moments in prayer (together or separately) before beginning to work allows time for setting aside worldly activities and refocusing on the special chores ahead. Readying the worship place comes first--mopping and dusting, polishing if necessary, checking linens and candles, arranging flowers, and doing whatever else is needed in each place. Arranging the vestments for the convenience of the officiating clergy may be done on Saturday or on Sunday before the first church service. How they are arranged depends on the vestments to be worn and the available space

To prepare the altar, the first step is to remove the cloth "protector" and check the "clean white cloth" (rubric p. 402) altar cover (the "fair linen") to be sure that it IS clean and wrinkle free. After that it is necessary to follow the instructions in the parish manual. How and when the table is set for a parish celebration of the Eucharist depends on what is customary in that parish. For example, the altar may stand ready and waiting until the Offertory at the Eucharist. If there are "oblationers," the altar guild places bread and wine in suitable containers on a table in the nave and the oblationers present these to the celebrant (or the Deacon) at the Offertory. If there is a Deacon, setting the table is the Deacon’s responsibility (rubrics p. 322 & 354) and done according to the Deacon’s training. The altar guild has placed the needed vessels and linens on the credence table, ready for the Deacon. In the absence of a Deacon, altar guild workers set the credence and the altar according to parish custom.as described in the parish manual.

There is much reference today to "unity in our diversity." Altar guild work has become a stellar example of this. Every week across the Church we prepare diverse places for the one great sacrament of our life together. Through our diversity we find unity.