SERENADE

Serenade is performed around 7:30 am on the morning following Candlelight. The community gathers in the indoor chapel between 6:45 and 7:00 am for a continental breakfast and to prepare for serenade.

As chairperson, you should attend the two team meetings prior to the Walk. At each team meeting, you should pass around a bucket/basket labeled “Serenade” to collect money for carnations and food.

You will need to have a musician with a guitar to accompany/lead the singing. Many times one of the musicians from the walk will agree to help at Serenade but they must be asked prior to the Walk.

The cost of Serenade can vary from $120-$150, depending upon the cost of the food and carnations. If you spend more than you receive from donations, the Treasurer will reimburse you. Keep all the receipts of your purchases and make copies for your records. On the back of the original receipts, write your name, address, phone number, and walk for which these items were purchased. Give the original receipts to the board member in charge of Serenade who will give them to the Treasurer so that you can be reimbursed. Any donated money remaining after the cost of supplies, should be given to the board member who will give it to the Treasurer.

Purchasing Carnations

You will need to purchase 80-85 carnations (as some will get damaged). ONLY carnations are to be used (as voted by the CAE Board). Usually red carnations are used, but the Lay Director can have their color preference. In that case, ask for a second and third color choice in case the first color is not available.

Carnations may be purchased from a variety of places: florists, grocery stores, Walmart, Sam’s, etc. It may be easier for florists to obtain such a large quantity at the time you need them. Be sure to tell whomever you purchase from that they are for a religious event so that you may get their best price. Call 3 days in advance to place the order and pick them up the afternoon before Serenade. Most florists will give them to you in a large bucket of water.

Another option is to order online from walmart.com. The carnations are delivered to your home. This may not be the best choice in hot weather unless you will be home when the flowers are delivered.

On average, carnations are about 70 cents each, so plan to spend around $60.00. You may bring them up to Candlelight and keep them with you until Serenade. Make sure that the carnations are kept in water and in a cool place.

Breakfast on the Morning of Serenade

There is a special coffee pot marked “Serenade” in the agape room. The morning of Serenade plan to be preparing the coffee around 6:15 to allow time for it to perk. The community will begin arriving around 6:45.

You will need food for about 50 people; all those folks working in the background on the walk and those that drive up for Serenade. There is a list of items needed and a list of suggested foods to serve on page 3.

The morning of Serenade:

A few minutes after seven, offer a prayer for the pilgrims and the success of the walk. Practice singing Spirit of the Living God. Then make the following announcements:

Remove watches.
Turn off cell phones.
The musicians will lead, followed by the opposite sex of the pilgrims, then those the same sex as the pilgrims.
We will walk in humming Spirit of the Living God. The musicians will lead the group around the front of the pilgrims and will stop at the side of the first row. The rest of the group will continue partially up the side of the pilgrims, forming a horseshoe so that the opposite sex of the pilgrims is in a horseshoe with a row of the same sex as of the pilgrims behind them on stage. In other words, if it is a women’s walk, men will follow the musicians and line up in a horseshoe shape around the pilgrims. The women will line up behind the men on stage. For a men’s walk, do the opposite.
The opposite sex will always give out the carnations (men to women, women to men). Those in the second horseshoe stand still and wait until someone from the first horseshoe comes and gets a carnation from them.
Remind everyone to have a big smile during Serenade.
Remind everyone that once they leave the indoor chapel they must be silent because voices travel and the pilgrims are engaged in morning meditation.
SPONSORS-PLEASE DON’T GIVE A FLOWER TO YOUR PILGRIM.

SPOUSES- PLEASE DON’T GIVE A FLOWER TO YOUR SPOUSE.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

Do not try to talk to the pilgrim whom you are giving the flower. Just say, “God bless you” or “God loves you.”
Once the pilgrims and all the members of the Conference Room Team have received a carnation, we will depart, humming the song and return to the gathering area or area of the Walk you are working.
Any extra carnations are to be collected and brought down to the kitchen and given to the cooks.

At about 7:15, or when told to be an ALD, the community will proceed QUIETLY to the entrance to the outdoor chapel. Once the Lay Director has started leading the pilgrims in the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, walk slowly down the hill to the chapel area. When the prayer is finished, begin humming Spirit of the Living God.

Same Sex as Pilgrims