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St.
Gregory's, Boca Raton, boasts--as far as they know--the
only Youth Verger in the Episcopal Church, Richmond Jones,
age 14 (left), as well as the person with the longest
service as an acolyte, Robert Waterman (right), who became
an acolyte at age 7 and is now in his 76th year serving
at the altar.
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Angel
(left) and Janine (right), proudly wearing their parish
t-shirts, were two of the four acolytes who made the long
trip from St. Monica's, Stuart. The group stayed up all
night at the home of their parish youth advisor in order
to get an early start--they didn't want to miss any of
the big day!
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After
gathering in the morning for workshops on the history and ministry
of acolytes and of vergers, the acolytes and their clergy, vergers,
advisors and guests had a picnic lunch on the cathedral grounds
and patio...
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...and
even in the Diocesan Office parking lot.
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Then
it was time to vest...
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...retrieve
crosses and banners...
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..and
gather to form the procession, which began in the cathedral
parking lot.
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While
the procession formed, Bishop Frade demonstrated his skill
in balancing his crozier on one finger.
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Following the mariachi band, La
Voz de Veracruz, playing "Celito Lindo", the procession
of acolytes, clergy and vergers, with the banners of their parishes,
moved along 15th Street and around the corner onto Bayshore Drive...
...and
onto the cathedral porch, where Youth Verger Richmond Jones,
of St. Gregory's, Boca Raton, and St. Gregory's senior Verger,
Walter Stuart, led the group into the cathedral.
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Frade began the service by leading the acolytes in rededicating
themselves to "a special ministry of service at the
altar of God". The acolytes themselves were lectors,
led the prayers and provided special music. One of Trinity
Cathedral's acolytes, David Pringle, served as the bishop's
chaplin.
In
his homily the bishop told the acolytes, "You are
indeed very fortunate young men and women, because you
are here...because you dedicate yourselves to work at
the altar of God...and because you live in this diocese."
"This
is a very special diocese," he continued. "Look
around you...we are not a boring diocese!"
Reminding
them that gifts are "wrapped in different wrappings",
he said that "God has given the world people",
who are also "gifts wrapped in different wrappings".
"We
have a purpose, "he said. "We can show the world
that we can be 'one out of many' because we have the same
work: to glorify God."
After
telling the story of his own calling to serve God, he
said that some of the young people present were "people
God will be calling to be priests".
"God
will be smiling on you," he promised.
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In
keeping with the theme of unity in diversity, the Gospel was read
in four languages, by four readers.
The
Gospelers before the service: (l-r) Père Maud Paraison, who read
in Creole;
Pastor Andrew Kim, who read in Korean; Deacon Ornoldo Surgeon,
Spanish; and Deacon Ruby Cruz, English.
Guests
at the service included acolytes from Bethlehem Lutheran Church
in Hallandale
and
the bishop of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Rt. Rev Celso Franco
de Oliveir,
and his wife Lucien (shown here with Bishop Frade before the service).
Bishop
Frade recognized senior acolytes, including
Maceo
Brown, St. Bernard, 31 years service (he started very young);
and
acknowledged a family tradition of acolyte service--
Elisha
Clarke III (left) of Transfiguration,Opa-locka, 44 years service,
and his son Elisha IV, who now serves at the altar with his father.
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