In preparation for the service:

The Propers to be used shall be those for that particular day, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Rector and Bishop.  The liturgical color is ordinarily white, though other colors may be used as is appropriate for special occasions.

It is the Bishops' desire to celebrate confirmation, using the order of service beginning on page 413 of The Book of Common Prayer.  If there is to be a baptism, the service begins on page 299.  Should you desire it, a Rite I adaptation of the Confirmation service or any other service by the ordinary is permitted, but in either case, the order of service shall be in accordance with The Book of Common Prayer.

Please enclose information regarding the Bishop's Discretionary Fund in the bulletin for the Sunday of the Bishop.

Before the service

Be sure there is a designated parking space near the church and a person waiting to assist the Bishop with his vestments.

The Bishop would like to meet, if possible, with the confirmation class one half hour before the service.

The Bishop will wear the Eucharistic vestments as provided by the parish and will wear his own vestments for the Liturgy of the Word.

The Bishop would be available to be present at all Sunday services. The Bishop would also be delighted to participate in your Christian Education program during his visitation.

If there are gifts to be signed, please have them ready in the sacristy before the service.  If they are to be blessed, please place them on the altar before the service begins. They will be blessed after the post communion prayer and picked up after the service.

During the service

If possible, the Bishop desires to be seated from the beginning of the service in front of the altar with two attendants, clergy or lay.  They are to assist him in changing vestments, holding the prayer book, handling the oil stock, etc.  The chairs are then removed during the Peace in preparation for Holy Communion.

Please have a name tag or card for each confirmand.  Sometimes it is hard to hear whispered instructions.

Please designate someone to lead the prayers for the candidates.  If the parish prayer list is to be mentioned during the service, please do so as an intention for the Eucharist, or use Eucharistic Prayer D, which provides for such intercessions.

The Bishop suggests that the confirmation class be part of the incoming and outgoing processions of the service.  If a confirmation class photo is desired, it shall be taken immediately after the Bishop greets the people at the door.  The Rector or someone designated by him/her should bless the food at the reception if the Bishop is delayed for one reason or another.

After the service

The Bishop requests that there be no head table at the reception.  He would like to be free to circulate and meet everyone there rather than be confined to just one table.

Afterwards

It is customary to donate the open plate offering to the Bishop's Discretionary Fund whenever the Bishop officiates, celebrates, preaches, or pontificates.  The check should be payable as follows:

          Bishop _______________Discretionary Fund
and mailed to:

          The Diocese of Southeast Florida
          525 NE 15th Street
          Miami, FL 33132

Please note on the check which Bishop was present and the date of the visit.

Please fill out the enclosed form after the confirmation has taken place.  The form is part of the permanent records to be kept in the Diocesan office.  Please list the names of the persons received separately or indicate with an asterisk.  People who are to be received are those who have previously been confirmed in the Roman Catholic Church, one of the Orthodox churches, or a church with whom we are in communion.