Lesson 10: Provide Support for a Worship Service

Introduction

Lesson Introduction

Welcome to the Provide Support for Worship Services lesson. The Religious Affairs Specialist is in charge of supporting the Chaplain with any and all services required by the Soldier's religious needs. What does it mean to provide support for a Worship service? This lesson with examine your role in providing that support.

Topic 1: Provide Support for Worship Service

Introduction

Chapels and worship services are similar in that they are all distinct from one another. Even the same service can harbor fundamental differences when conducted by different Chaplains. At the completion of this lesson, you will have a good idea of what to expect when providing support for a worship service, to include typical chapel layouts, where to ask questions, and how to locate and handle ecclesiastical items.

  • Preparation

  As a Religious Affairs Specialist, you will be expected to set up and prepare for worship services. This encapsulates many subsequent responsibilities, including the physical setup and recovery of a worship area, the management of any offerings, and perhaps the preparation of a worship bulletin and the setup of a fellowship area. Local SOPs, or standing operating procedures, will help determine the specific duties and details of execution for individual chapels. Even the basic setup for a single type of faith group can change from worship leader to worship leader.

  • Physical setup of worship area
  • Managing offerings
  • Preparation of worship bulletin
  • Setup of fellowship area
  • Local SOPs determine specific duties and execution details
    • Supporting and Participating

  Supporting a service is very different from participating in a service. Supporting a service requires much preparation and can therefore be time-consuming. Supporting a service includes physically setting up the worship area, producing and reproducing required bulletins, and providing worship materials. You are responsible for ensuring that the needs of the congregants are met. The key is to plan ahead and ask the right questions. Participating in a service includes: singing, praying, taking communion, being baptized, and other religious actions. As a Religious Affairs Specialist, it is very important that you know the difference between supporting and participating in religious services.

  • Supporting a service
    • Setting up worship area
    • Producing required bulletins
    • Providing worship materials
  • Participating in a service
    • Singing
    • Praying
    • Taking communion
    • Being baptized
    • Types of Support

  You will be a part of three types of support during your career as a Religious Affairs Specialist. Click the links to learn about each type of support.

  • Installation support
    • Installation Support

      One type of coverage or support you can expect to provide is installation support. Installation support covers support for post-wide religious activities. Some examples are Sunday services or mass, Sunrise Services, and National Prayer Breakfasts. Most installations maintain a duty roster to rotate support for the weekend services. The frequency and duration you will work on weekends, as well as the type of chapel or services you will be supporting, are largely dependent on individual installations. For more information, you can check with your higher echelon Unit Ministry Team, or UMT, non-commissioned officer or the Installation Chaplain's office. * Religious activity support for entire post * Most installation maintain weekend roster for support rotation * Check with UMT NCO or Installation Chaplain’s office

  • Unit support
    • Unit Support

      Unit support is another type of coverage or support that will be required of you. Unit support covers the unit that the UMT is assigned or attached to. Some examples are counseling, duty days with God, prayer breakfasts, or Bible studies. In addition, you will be expected to support your unit's worship services in the field. Your Chaplain may also offer regular worship opportunities for your Soldiers in garrison. * Covers UMT’s assigned unit * Support unit’s worship services in the field * Chaplain may offer worship for Soldiers in garrison

  • Area support
    • Area Support

      You will likely be called upon to provide your services beyond the installation and the unit. This type of support is called area support. Area coverage and support does include regular worship services and mass. It covers Soldiers, members of other units or joint forces, and even authorized civilians who are not a part of the assigned unit but who operate within that unit's area of operations. An example would be the Chaplain of a specific faith group requiring special holiday services. That Chaplain may have to travel within the unit's area of operations. As a Religious Affairs Specialist, it would be your duty to provide support for all those involved. * Includes regular worship services and mass * Covers Soldiers, members of other units, and authorized civilians * Must provide support for all those involved

  • Types and Parts List

  As the Religious Affairs Specialist, you will be performing various duties and services inside chapels. It is therefore imperative that you are solidly familiar with the common types and parts of chapels listed in this frame. Click the links to learn about each area.

  • Narthex or vestibule
    • Narthex or Vestibule

      The narthex, or vestibule, is the area immediately inside the main chapel entrance. The narthex is generally closed off by doors from the main worship area, in order to reduce interruptions to any services that may be in progress. People arriving for worship are greeted in the narthex. The narthex may also serve as a waiting area if an earlier service is still in progress. * Immediately inside main chapel entrance * Closed off from main worship area * Greeting area for arriving worshipers * Waiting area for services

  • Sanctuary
    • Sanctuary

      The sanctuary is simply a place set aside for worship. This area is made up of two parts: the front area, called the chancel; and the seating area, called the nave. The term "sanctuary" may be mistakenly applied to the nave, but the actual sanctuary encompasses the entire room. * Area set aside for worship * Made up of two parts * Chancel * Nave

  • Nave
    • Nave

      The nave, located within the sanctuary, is the designated area where congregants sit. The choir, piano, and organ may be located in the nave as well. It is common for the nave to be mistakenly called the sanctuary by itself, though the sanctuary comprises the nave and the chancel. * Located inside sanctuary * Designated area for congregants to sit * Forms sanctuary along with chancel

  • Chancel
    • Chancel

      The chancel is the very front of the sanctuary area. The floor of the chancel is commonly several inches higher than the nave, and is accessible by two to three stairs. The chancel and nave may be separated by a railing, though this will not be the case for every sanctuary. The altar, pulpit, and lectern are located here in the chancel. It may house the choir, piano, and organ if the nave does not. * Front of sanctuary * Elevated from nave * Forms sanctuary along with nave * Altar, pulpit, lectern located in chancel

  • Sacristy
    • Sacristy

      The sacristy is primarily a storage area, used for the safekeeping of liturgical supplies, clerical vestments, and other pieces of equipment normally used during worship services. The Chaplain may also choose to keep their liturgical vestments in the sacristy, in preparation for a worship service. * Storage area * Liturgical supplies * Clerical vestments * Equipment for services

  • Cry room
    • Cry Room

      The cry room is an area adjacent to the sanctuary. They are not found in all chapels. With the provision of a cry room comes the allowance of parents with small children to attend worship with little effect on the service, should their children become disruptive. Cry rooms are relatively soundproof and are equipped with a window for parents to see into the worship area. They also feature speakers connected into the main sound system, providing audio of the service. * Adjacent to sanctuary * Not found in every chapel * Window and audio allow for participation in service

  • Confessional
    • Confessional

      The confessional is a small room or space within the chapel. It is dedicated to passing and hearing of confessions as an act of contrition, and is therefore kept somewhat private. Confessionals are commonly used by the Catholic faith. * Small room or space * Passing and hearing confessions * Commonly used by Catholic faith

  • Blessed Sacrament Chapel
    • Blessed Sacrament Chapel

      The Blessed Sacrament Chapel is authorized to be used only by those of the Roman Catholic faith. As such, it is the only room in a chapel officially designated for use by a specific faith group. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel is primarily used to store and secure the sacred Blessed Sacrament between Catholic masses, as the sacrament requires a quiet, reverent place to be held for future use. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel can also be used for small Catholic liturgies and rites such as daily mass or baptisms. It is used at the discretion of the assigned Catholic Chaplain or contracted Catholic Priest. * Authorized only by Roman Catholic faith * Stores and secures Blessed Sacrament * May be used for small liturgies and rites * Used at discretion of Chaplain or priest

  • Getting Started

  Now that you have learned about the types of support and the relevant parts of chapels, it's time to focus on how you can support a worship service. Though a set procedure will be presented, every chapel, Chaplain, and service will be different, and you should research the preferences of each one in advance.

  • Checking with Chapel Staff

  The first place you should look to for insight is the staff of the chapel where your services will take place. This should be done one to two weeks prior to your scheduled duty. You should first confirm the details of what you will be supporting, namely the specific chapel and services. For the services, you'll also want to inquire as to the existence of any special events or requirements they may have. Be sure you know who the officiating Chaplains are and who will be producing the bulletin. If supplies are necessary, identify who will need to assist you in placing orders. Ask whether there are any designated offerings and where their control sheets may be found. Finally, ask where you may obtain the keys to the chapel.

  • Check with chapel staff 1-2 weeks prior to duty
  • Confirm specific chapel and services
  • Know the officiating Chaplains
  • Ask about necessary supplies
  • Locate keys to the chapel
    • Checking the Local SOPs

  After obtaining information about basic worship and service details from the chapel staff, you will next want to check for any local SOPs. Some services will have SOPs in place regarding setup information for their services. Check the chapel at which you'll be working to see if they have such procedures. Many setup SOPs will feature helpful photos or diagrams that can save you tedious guesswork and confusion.

  • Check for any local SOPs
  • May provide setup information
  • Check your chapel
    • Checking with the Officiating Chaplain

  Officiating Chaplains are a great source of knowledge for how a service needs to be prepared. He or she will be able to answer any questions you might have about supporting the process. You already know to check with the chapel staff for special requirements or instructions, but it may be a good idea to double check with the Chaplain as well. The Chaplain will also be able to verify both the setup instructions from SOPs and the fellowship area setup. Remember that most Chaplains have their own preferences for how they'd like their service set up, and as such, services will likely not be conducted the same way every time.

  • Ask questions about the service
  • Verify obtained information
  • Remember that different Chaplains prefer different methods
    • Ecclesiastical Items

  Another procedure that you should be familiar with is the handling of ecclesiastical items. Some ecclesiastical items are consecrated and should not be handled or disposed of by anyone not approved by the officiating Chaplain. If you are in doubt about items, consult local SOPs, chapel staff and Chaplains, or your senior UMT's non-commissioned officer.

  • Ecclesiastical items may have special handling procedures
  • Some items considered holy
  • May consult SOPs, chapel staff, Chaplains, UMT NCO
    • Setting Up

  Most chapels have a kitchen or fellowship area. Check the SOPs and confirm the setup requirements, such as tables and chairs, with the officiating Chaplain. Remember, many SOPs will have a diagram for fellowship area setup. A typical fellowship will include items like coffee, juice or Kool-Aid, cookies, cups, and napkins. Ask chapel staff and the officiating Chaplain for the appropriate quantities. Their answers will be preferential and influenced by the average size of each congregation. The chapel staff should also be able to tell you where to find the items you'll need for fellowship setup. Plan far enough in advance to order any needed items as required per the SOPs.

  • Confirm setup requirements for fellowship
  • Ask chapel staff for quantities of food items
  • Plan in advance for ordering items
    • Summary

  In this topic, you identified the types and parts of the chapel in a computer-based training environment, which will aid you in completing the Lesson 10 Provide Support for a Worship Service posttest with a score of 70%. Taking care of military personnel and their family members is one of the cornerstones of the Army Chaplain Corps. As a Religious Affairs Specialist, it is imperative that you have a working knowledge of all religious faiths as well as ecclesiastical settings and items. Understanding different religions and their unique needs will help us to provide better facilities, supplies, and assistance needed for our Soldiers to express their faith.

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