Lectors learning

Nate is the newest lector at St. Paul's, joining a dozen or so long-time and recent readers at the church who feel called to share their love of Scripture as part of Sunday's service.

A "lector" is a reader. If you're familiar with Latin languages, you might recognize the shared origin of the word from leer meaning "to read" in Spanish.

Serving as a reader is a ministry in itself. The word "ministry" derives from another Latin word meaning "servant." A lector serves the rector by helping with the wonderfully elaborate Episcopal service; serves their fellow parishioners by preparing the reading in a way that allows them to listen calmly and clearly; and serves God by honoring the words that teach, comfort, intrigue and guide. Maybe the lector serves themselves a bit, too: in preparing the passage (provided in  advance) they not only learn more about their beliefs, they have an opportunity to digest and integrate the teachings. 

If the ministry of lector sparks curiosity, seek Loreen, senior warden, at a service or send an email to Rev. Rik at St. Paul's. You might be assigned passages from the Old or New Testaments or asked to read the Prayers of the People.

A lector is not required to be licensed. Anyone with a love of Scripture who is comfortable speaking before a gathering can be a lector after a short training session.