Greg Van Buskirk, 10, has been a server at St. George’s, Moncton, ever since his father, Rev. Chris Van Buskirk, first asked him to help in the sanctuary. He felt “nervous” but thought he “would give it a try.” The hardest part is “not talking to your friend.” Christmas Eve is the busiest. As candle bearers Greg and his friend, Jonathan Saulnier, have to make “a figure eight around the pews” and then quickly change into their wisemen costumes for the nativity play. Greg is also happy sitting with the congregation and colouring with a “pew pack” that is supplied to all children in the nave before Sunday school. In his spare time he plays lacrosse. 

Jonathan Saulnier, 11, was only six when the former priest at St. George’s, Rev. David Mercer, asked him to stand in for a server who had not shown up. It was a “little bit scary” but Jonathan jumped in anyway. He is usually a candle bearer and has to be careful “not to hit the person in front” of him. The hardest service is Maundy Thursday “when we take everything off the altar.” Jonathan likes playing soccer and ball hockey.  

Three years ago when Thomas Shields, now 14, of Nova Scotia was studying for confirmation, his priest, Rev. David Phillips, showed him and the other confirmands how the sanctuary was laid out for Holy Communion and what each symbolic action meant. The priest invited the class to consider becoming servers and Thomas said that once he understood what was happening he thought “it would be a cool thing to do.” For the past three years he has been helping “all over” the two parishes of Petite Riviere and New Dublin “wherever they need me” on a “lot of Sundays.” Thomas usually carries the cross and often reads the Gospel.

“The hardest thing is remembering what to do when.” There is usually added pressure with a visiting priest and a visiting bishop can be “nerve-racking.” Baptism is difficult because it is less frequent than Communion. Thomas finds it easier to concentrate on worship when he is serving than simply praying in the pew. He doesn’t get as bored. Has he considered becoming a priest? “I’ve thought about it but I don’t think it’s me.” Right now he enjoys French and mountain biking.

Drew Eaton, 15, (below left) serves at St Peter’s Cathedral in Charlottetown. He was invited by Canon Peter Harris and started just before Christmas. His first service was a baptism and he was “thrown right into it.” He knew the other servers and they helped him out. “The ritual is pretty cool” but also challenging--especially during Christmas and Holy Week. In the summer, besides holding down an evening job as a dishwasher, Drew helped with some midweek morning Eucharists. Now that school has started he balances two services a week (one Saturday morning, one Sunday) with rugby and football practices.

Drew finds the Holy Week service of Tenebrae--when the candles are all extinguished one by one and the altar stripped—particularly moving. It symbolizes Christ’s passion and requires extra attentiveness. “You want to be on your game.” Drew would "definitely rather be serving" than worshiping in the pew. You can see more and have a hands-on experience.” He would like to “do some sort of ministry” in the church but is not sure yet what it will be. 

Sean Bulman, 18, (right) also serves at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Charlottetown. He didn’t spend much time in church until he was about 13. Then he was invited a few times to become a server and refused at first. But he eventually gave it a go. “You make mistakes for sure. I tripped on a step with a candle and waxed myself. But after a few months you get the routine down—it’s pretty basic.” Today Sean is teaching the first and second year servers. During Holy Week when the youth group and servers presented the Stations of the Cross, Sean played the role of Jesus. Sean is completing grade 12 and plans to pursue carpentry as a trade.

David Chen, 16, of Winnipeg serves at St. Aidan’s under Rev. Brett Cane. The head of the servers invited him to join. He attended an afternoon training seminar, served a few times with another server until he got the gist of it and now serves alone. Three years ago David was baptized and confirmed and finds whether he serves or worships in the pew that “it’s the same. But I do understand more now what is going on.” David skateboards and plays soccer as well as acoustic and electric guitar.

For Sarah Hebb, 17, of Island View, NB, being a server “was something I always wanted to do. It was the way I was raised.” She began right after she was confirmed at 12. She met with her father, Dr. Ross Hebb, the priest at St. Peter’s, for two hours of instruction. After that she used a Prayer Book that had been annotated by an earlier server, with notes like “face east now” carefully written in the margins. She soon learnt the pattern but admits she has to “wing it” a bit with new priests. St Peter’s sanctuary is so small there is only room for one priest and one acolyte, so the acolyte on duty carries out all the server’s duties.

“You must be attentive; you can’t totally relax,” Sarah explains. “I carry myself differently because I have more of a role to play.” When she serves she says, “I feel more connected to what is going on, more in tune. Down in the pew I can get mentally detached.” She is thinking about possibly becoming a lay reader, which means she would be licensed to lead Morning and Evening Prayer and to preach.

Last summer Sarah worked as a waitress and dishwasher. Currently she coaches her swim team and swims six days a week, often before and after school. She will be off to university next fall so it is likely that her younger brother, Ben, who has just been confirmed, could take her place. “My father always has his eyes out for the next generation.”