Lectors

The Effective Lector

by Edward Horodko

When we gather to celebrate the Mass, God is present in the assembly, the presider, the scriptures, and the eucharistic bread and wine. The first part of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Word, focuses on the scriptures. The lector is the minister who brings them to life for all to hear. To be able to do this, the lector must successfully communicate them to the assembly.

Here are some practical thoughts for the lector on how to bring this about.

Scripture is oral and aural. It is spoken and heard. The lector proclaims it, the assembly listens. This is the mechanism which brings the Word of God to life.

To be effective, it helps to read to someone informally, perhaps to a family member, as part of your study. Practicing aloud is essential. Get used to the sound of the readings, and gain insights as you practice.

Start your preparation early in the week before your assigned turn. Begin by understanding the gospel, even though the presider will be reading it. The gospel usually relates to the first reading in particular, so it will provide a context for the first reading. (Occasionally, it also relates to the 2nd reading.)

As you study a reading, reflect on its fundamental nature. Is it a letter? A discourse to a crowd? A story? Is it dialog? A poem? A song? A metaphor? A warning? What is the passage's context in its Biblical book? What emotions are to be conveyed?

Make the text your own, do not use someone else's ideas of where to pause, how to inflect, or which words to emphasize. These must come spontaneously and from only one place, from what the reading means to you.

As the weekend approaches, review the readings. But don't wear them out by reading them too often. Stop when you feel they really make sense to you, and when you have enough understanding ... to bring them to life with authority.

Arrive before Mass starts. Look over any intercessions or announcements, reading them quietly aloud, getting comfortable with people's names, so you avoid surprises Then read your assigned reading(s) quietly aloud a couple of times, recalling your earlier study, placing the meaning and flow in your "short term memory," reminding yourself of what the material means to you.

When you arrive at or approach the [Altar of the Word], look like you belong there.. Convey with your body language that you are aware of the importance of this book. Don't rush uncomfortably to put it down and get out of there. Realize that people are watching and you are silently telling them about this book with your body language.

The Body. When it's time to address the assembly, hold your body straight but not rigid. Don't slouch. Look like you want to communicate. Have authority. Be genuine.

The Feet. Keep your feet firmly planted while you speak.

The Face. Use it to convey meaning, but avoid all artificiality. Be yourself.

The Eyes. Have eye contact when you talk. But not at the expense of losing your place in the text. Be aware all the people, but talk to them one-to-one.

A good time to establish eye contact is during the opening "A reading from..." Stand still before you begin reading. Put the whole opening phrase in your short-term memory right before you speak it. Create a significant silence before you begin speaking. This will compel the assembly's attention. Look across the entire room as you say the opening phrase. Then pause again and begin the reading.

Have your attention on your "audience" as you speak. If you do this, the eye contact will take care of itself. Have respect for the Assembly, remembering that you are conveying God's Word to God's people in God's presence.

The Hands. If your height and eye-tracking abilities allow, hold the book while you read as a visual reminder of the source of the words. This is good but not essential.

Whether you hold it or rest it on the ambo, you may find it useful to run your finger along the text as you read so you can freely maintain eye contact with the assembly.

Hand gestures are occasionally appropriate. But use them only if they clearly enhance the reading. Avoid all gestures that do not really help communicate the reading. Never look artificial or "theatrical." The operative word here is honesty.

The Voice. The lector obviously must be heard to be effective. You must project your voice toward the tip of microphone which should be positioned so that you can comfortably see your listeners. Don't ignore the mike, don't avoid it and don't be obsessed with it. Use the microphone.

When it's time to read, walk to the ambo and take a deep breath as you arrive there. This will calm you and help you focus your power. Realize that the sound of your voice originates in your diaphragm (your solar plexus). Breath from there as you would sing from there. Do not strain your neck or vocal cords.

Let the power of your voice come from the diaphragm, through the vocal cords. Project the sounds and do not force them. Even "soft" speakers can and must learn to speak loudly, clearly, and naturally by practicing this.

Understand and utilize the acoustical properties of the church building. In some churches, if you speak too quickly, meaning will be lost in the echoes. If you speak a little more slowly than you think you should, you're probably speaking at the best rate. Ask other lectors to listen carefully to you from all parts of the church and tell you if you're speaking slowly (and loudly and clearly) enough.

Concise articulation is essential. Avoid running words together; they can't be understood that way. Pay some attention to ALL the phonemes (sounds) in the words, and make sure you say them. If a word is strange or difficult for you, repeat it so often during your practice that it becomes easy and natural. Don't let the ends of words or sentences fade softly away. Don't bunch your words together; let them be distinct. Ask other lectors to critique you. Be dedicated to being an effective lector.

Mean what you say. .....

Create appropriate drama with body language, loudness, dynamic range, and inflection. But don't overdo it. Use only the drama that comes from meaning.

Use dramatic pauses where they work. Silence makes people to listen to you.

When you tell a story, really tell the story. When you quote someone, take on the persona (the "mask") of that person.

Do not speak in monotone. Use inflection to convey meaning, to bring words to life.

Always set the opening and closing forms ("A reading from..." and "The Word of the Lord.") apart from the body of text with both a pause and a change of attitude. Remember that they are not part of the reading; don't make it sound like they are. Avoid unnecessary detail in the introduction. For example, just say "A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans..." Don't say something like "Our first reading is a reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans." In other words, don't add things that are obvious. Avoid introducing or summarizing the reading before you start proclaiming it. This gilds the lily, and perhaps inhibits the listener's openness to the Word of God itself. Do not presume to explain what God means.

When you make a mistake, remember why you're there... to convey the Word of God. If you ruin a sentence, simply back up and say it correctly. Don't apologize, that takes people even farther from the meaning you're trying to convey. Don't be embarrassed because you're human. If no meaning was lost, ignore the error.

SUMMARY

Ask yourself these questions about why you're speaking... and get a Yes.

Are you trying to involve people in what you're saying?

Have you done your homework?

Are you using the resources (workshops, books, etc.) your parish provides to

enhance your lector skills?

Do you mean what you're saying?

To be an effective lector, you need to...

understand what a lector is...

use the technical skills of good public speaking

be sensitive to the acoustics and electronic sound reinforcement in your church..

convey and create emotions appropriate to the specific readings. Let the readings drive the feelings. Mean what you say.

integrate this spiritual practice with the other spiritual practices in your life, making these readings part of your prayer life.

be warm and hospitable if you also greet the assembly at the beginning of Mass.

remember that ministry is service.

perform your role in the Liturgy of the Word fully prepared, with a mastery of your readings, honestly communicating God's word to God's people.

Ed Horodko is a liturgist, cantor, music director, Director of Lectors at Sacred Heart Church, Olema, Ca., also a professional voice actor in thousands of commercials.

Reprinted with permission.
THE EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

PART OF THE MINISTRY OF THE TABLE

“Ministry of the Table" in general is any of the ministry/work which takes place during the Liturgy of the Eucharist:

* the worshipers who bring the bread and wine for the Eucharist,

* the ushers who take up the weekly collection,

* the altar servers who set the Holy Table;

* the presider who silently offers a blessing to God for the bread and wine, "the fruit of the earth and the work of human hands"

* the assembly who approach the Table in solemn procession to receive the "Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation"

* the Eucharistic Ministers who distribute the bread and wine.

All these could be considered as sharing in the "Ministry of the Table." Ministry comes from Latin (manus) meaning 'hand' -- Liturgy comes from a word meaning "the work of the people." Setting the table, blessing the food, sharing the sacred meal -- these are the "work of our hands," the "work of the people."

Those who have share these liturgical roles feel a strong responsibility for the liturgy and grow in their understanding of it. They sense a deepening of their own Eucharistic spirituality. They experience a greater sense of service to their community. They share in "ownership" of the rites of worship.

(abridged from a longer article in Digital Liturgy, an Internet Site)