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Times-shamrock communiTy newspapers 149 Penn Avenue Scranton, PA 18503 Phone: (570) 348-9185 Fax: (570) 207-3448
October 8, 2015
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A Chance to Serve
ON THE INSIDE The latest happenings in our area Page 2
SUBURBAN
Youngsters head to D.C. this weekend for religious service By Teri Lyon
SPECIAL TO THE ABINGTON SUBURBAN
For Kyle Six-Napierala of Clarks Summit, Columbus Day weekend is a celebration of the soul. Kyle and six other acolytes from the Church of the Epiphany in Glenburn will participate in the church’s 30th consecutive attendance at the National Acolyte Festival held Oct. 10 at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Kyle, an Abington Heights High School senior, will actually lead the procession of acolytes from around the world in his final festival year. “To me, one of the most breathtaking parts of the service is the procession of acolytes,” said Rick Little, acolyte leader at the Church of the Epiphany. “All of the different banners, streamers, crosses, torches and albs is truly a sight to behold. There have been occasions where that procession takes close to 45 minutes just because of the large number of acolyte attendees. I have always felt that our participation in this event is critical in the spiritual development and commitment of our kids.” In addition to Kyle, Church of the Epiphany acolytes attending the festival are: Connor Six-Napierala of Clarks Summit; Nathan Whitney of Moscow; Sam Kalmanowicz of Clarks Summit; Phoebe Mattes of Nicholson; Madison Driscole of Falls Township and Boden Loss of Clarks Summit. “It’s truly an honor to be crucifer and lead our acolytes down the aisle of the National Cathedral for the 30th anniversary of the festival,” said Kyle. “I’m proud of myself, the acolytes, our parents, the Church of the Epiphany and our leader. It’s been a truly amazing experience being an acolyte for seven, going on eight years. The Washington trip is always a highlight of the Church of the Epiphany experience and provides ample opportunity to serve/represent the church and have a ton of fun. I will remember acolyte trips for a long time to come, and wouldn’t miss this one for anything.” Little said the Church of the Epiphany is
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From left, front row: Sam Kalmanowicz, Luke Brauer, Nathan Whitney and Jacob Whitney. Second row: Kate McMahon, Connor Six-Napierala, Zack Spangenberg and Kyle Six-Napierala. Back row: Rick Little.
proud of Kyle, the other acolytes attending and the fact that it has consistently been part of such an important festival. “Besides the National Cathedral acolytes themselves and one or two churches in the D.C. area, our little church in Glenburn has the most consecutive attendances at the National Acolyte Festival,” he said. The festival is a nondenominational service which brings young people from around the world, as far away as Germany and England and from all over the United States, including Hawaii. The service itself is about two hours long, with the acolytes rededicating themselves to serving at the Lord’s Table. Officiants at the service include the bishop of Washington and dean of the cathedral. There is also an opportunity for the acolytes to attend workshops and meet one another. Little said he and three other chaperones will leave Glenburn with the acolytes the day before the festival for an afternoon at The In-
ternational Spy Museum and dinner out. They will return home immediately after the festival. The acolytes raise funds for the trip by putting on the Adrien Miller chicken barbecue held annually the last Sunday in April. An acolyte is an altar boy/girl who assists the rector during services by lighting and extinguishing candles, leading the procession and recession and assisting with preparation of the Eucharist. Little said the Church of the Epiphany currently has 14 acolytes. Acolytes must be at least 11 years old or in fifth grade. They complete service upon high school graduation but always have an invitation to serve. This will be Little’s 22nd consecutive National Acolyte Festival. Baptized in the Church of the Epiphany, he served as an acolyte for more than seven years until he graduated from Abington Heights High School in 1974. The Ohio State University graduate moved back to northeastern Pennsylvania with his wife in 1979 and was appointed acolyte leader in 1993.