How to Carry Candle Lighters as an Acolyte
One of the duties of an acolyte serving in the rituals of many religious denominations is the lighting and extinguishing of candles. The instrument used to perform this activity in Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran and Methodist services is called a candle lighter/extinguisher. Some candles may be lit well before the service begins, while other are lit during the service. All candles are put out at the end of the service in the same order they were lit.
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Instructions
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Before and During Service
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Light the candle lighter's wick as your church requires.
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Carry the candle lighter about head-high in front of you with your left hand close to the bottom to control weight and balance and your right hand close to the knob that adjusts the wick length (reverse this if you are left-handed).
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Turn the wick flame toward the altar and the snuffer bell toward you.
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Lean the candle lighter slightly forward so that the flame burns straight up.
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Move slowly and carefully, with dignity, and make an appropriate gesture of reverence -- bow your head, genuflect or whatever your church requires -- when you approach the altar.
Lighting Candles
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Dip the flame toward the first candle's wick at a right angle and touch the flame to it.
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When you are sure the candle wick is lit, bring the candle lighter back to the original position and proceed to the next candle.
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If another acolyte is lighting candles opposite you, hold your lighter to your candle until his candle is lit, and then go on together to the next candle.
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When all candles are lit, bring the candle lighter back toward you so that it is not over the altar. Use the control knob to retract the wick just long enough that that the flame goes out.
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Carry your candle lighter to its proper place and secure it, keeping its wick toward the altar.
After Service
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At the close of the service, get your candle lighter and turn the snuffer, or extinguisher, toward the altar.
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Go to the first candle you lit, extend the candle lighter bell and lower it gently over the flame.
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When you are sure the flame is out, raise the snuffer and move to the next candle.
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Extinguish the remaining candles in the same order you lit them. Before you snuff the last candle, light the candle lighter's wick from it.
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When the last candle is out, turn and face the congregation while turning the candle lighter's flame toward them. Carry the candle lighter back to its place the way you brought it out --- head-high with the flame burning. Extinguish the flame and secure the candle lighter with the wick toward the congregation.
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Tips & Warnings
When extinguishing candles, try not to break or mash the candle's wick, as this makes it hard to light next time.
When you extinguish the flame of the candlelighter's wick, once the flame is out, extend the wick again so that melted wax does not cool and cause it to stick in the retracted position.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit candle snuffer image by Kevin Chesson from Fotolia.com
