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John Bilello (978)
733-1713
Joan Cowels (978)
365-6556
Richard Cozzens (978)
365-7441
Allen Cozzens
Mike Kolakowski (978)
365-3587
Dottie Kulis (978)
365-5825
Stephanis Kunst (978)
368-0046
Mark Niedzielski (508)
251-1887
Patty Slattery (978)
897-0619
Kathy Tamburri
(978) 365-5855
Kathryn Wiinikka
(978) 365-7347
Jim Boyle (978)
365-3322
Bob Gorman
(978) 365-2942
Joseph Lemanski (978)
368-7963
David Dunn
(978) 365-2884
Timothy Cross (978)
368-8369
Dear Lector,
Yours
is a share
in the work of the Lord's Spirit
who opens our hearts to God's holy word.
Yours
is the task of telling our family story,
the story of salvation.
Yours
is to proclaim
the true and saving word of God.
You are
the messenger of God's love for us.
Your
task is to proclaim that word,
which challenges, confronts,
and captures our hearts.
You
proclaim a word
that heals and comforts and consoles.
Yours
is the ministry
of the table of God's word,
which feeds the hungers and the longing
of our hearts for truth.
Yours
is to offer the story
of the "great things the Lord has done for us,"
that we might turn to the table of Eucharist
with good cause to give thanks and praise.
Yours
is nothing less
than the ministry of the Lord's voice
calling out in the midst of God's people.
Come to
your work
from your personal prayer,
praying that the Spirit
will open your heart to what you proclaim.
Prepare
the word, which is yours to speak:
study the scriptures,
understand the passage,
let it dwell deep within you.
Come to
your work in awesome reverence
of the word you proclaim:
it is the Lord's word.
Come to
your ministry
as one judged and saved
by the word you speak.
Anyone
can read the scriptures in public;
only the believer can proclaim them.
Approach the ambo,
the table of the Lord's word,
as you would the Lord himself:
with reverence and awe.
Handle
the book of the Lord's word
with great care:
it is a tabernacle of the Lord's presence.
Let
your eyes fall often
on the faces of the assembly:
they are the body of the Lord
whose word you proclaim.
Let the
Lord's peace settle in your heart,
that your voice may be clear and steady.
Let
your voice echo the sound of the word,
with conviction, with gentleness,
with strength, and with wonder.
Remember that the story you tell
is filled with a drama you need not supply,
but must always convey.
Like
the prophet,
you will sometimes proclaim
what no one wants to hear;
remember always
your own need to hear the hard saying,
and never imagine that your ministry
places you above what you proclaim.
If you
are the best of the parish lectors,
be gentle in helping others to improve.
If you
are the least of the parish lectors,
seek out that help which others can give.
If you
do not know how well you read-ask:
be grateful for constructive criticism
and humbled by any praise you receive.
Every
lector wants to read at the Easter Vigil
but not all will be assigned:
be patient in waiting your turn
and nourished by the word
that others proclaim.
Let no
minister of the word
think that there is nothing left to learn:
another commentary and another workshop
cannot but help the open mind and heart.
When
your brothers and sisters
praise and thank your for your work,
take delight in the word they have heard
and rejoice in the work
the Lord has accomplished through you.
Be faithful in the work you do,
for through it the Lord saves his people.
Lector
Prayer
Praise to you,
Lord God,
king of the universe,
and all glory to your name.
I praise you and thank you for calling me
to proclaim your word to your beloved people.
Open the hearts
of all who worship with us,
so that they may hear your voice when I read.
Let nothing in my life or manner disturb your people
or close their hearts to the action of your Spirit.
Cleanse my heart
and mind,
and open my lips so that I may proclaim your glory.
All praise to you, heavenly Father,
through the Lord Jesus in the Holy Spirit,
now and forever. Amen.
Lord,
invest me with your power
as I prepare to proclaim the marvel of your message
I have prepared my reading,
I have tried to take within me
the meaning of what I am about to proclaim.
Help me to proclaim, not just with my lips,
but with my whole heart and soul.
Lord, make me a hollow reed
so that your voice will be heard by all who hear me.
Free me of excessive concern over my performance.
Convert my feeling of nervousness and
turn all my apprehension into an energy
for proclaiming your word with power and authority.
May your Spirit live in me and
fill the holy word that I proclaim.
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