liturgy, mass, or service. In most instances, the chaplain or clergy will arrange for the disposal of these items. A Protestant chaplain, in some instances, may ask you to dispose  of  or  store  excess  consecrated  communion elements. Adhere strictly to the chaplain’s instructions. In some instances, wine or grape juice must be poured on the ground, into the sea, or into a special sink, or sacrarium, in the sacristy. In some instances, excess communion wafers may be placed in the sacristy in a safe place designated by the chaplain. Wooden Chapel Equipment Polish wood items such as tables, altar railings, altars, pulpits, and pews using only a good quality furniture polish and a clean cloth. Wash wood surfaces that have come in contact with wine or grape juice as soon as possible. If the spill is dry, you may need to use a damp cloth and a commercial wood surface cleaner before you polish. Stained-Glass Windows Decorative   stained-glass   windows   are   very expensive  and  often  irreplaceable.  If  cleaning  is needed, wash and immediately dry them with extreme care. Old stained-glass windows are usually assembled with lead strips between each section. If too much pressure is applied, they can easily be pushed out. On a commercial window, you should use a cleaning solution or ammonia and water. Be aware that some of the newer stained-glass windows are not manufactured in the old manner. The  newer  stained-glass  windows  are manufactured from surface-treated regular glass instead of true stained glass. In the case of a newer stained-glass window,  you  could  remove  the  color  if  you  use  an abrasive or a stiff brush, or even some types of cleaning solvents. Metal Appointments In your duties and responsibilities for maintaining ecclesiastical gear, you will be responsible for the care and maintenance of metal appointments. You must use specific procedures for each type of metal. BRASS   APPOINTMENTS.—  If  the  brass appointments have a lacquer finish, do not use an abrasive cleaner since this will damage the lacquer finish. Clean brass appointments with warm, soapy water to remove stains, and dry with a clean cloth. Then polish them with a nonabrasive polish. If you notice that the lacquer finish on a brass item has been removed because the item was polished with a harsh polishing compound, clean the item with an abrasive cleaner then polish it with a soft cloth to restore a high shine. GOLD,   GOLD-PLATED,   SILVER,   OR SILVER-PLATED APPOINTMENTS.— Use only an approved gold or silver polish made specifically for these metals. Never use harsh polishes or steel wool. Abrasives will remove the metal and scar the finish, which may necessitate the replating of the appointment. C H R O M E    A N D    C H R O M E - P L A T ED APPOINTMENTS.— Use only a soft cloth and rub briskly, then shine with a soft dry cloth to prevent body oil  from  soiling  the  finish.  The  use  of  a  polishing compound is not recommended. After   cleaning   and   polishing   metal   altar appointments, you should handle them with gloves or a piece of cloth to prevent body oil from soiling the finish. Before storing altar appointments, you should wrap them in a soft cloth. PROCUREMENT OF FAITH GROUP SUPPLIES Among your responsibilities for logistics will be the procurement of faith group supplies. As an RP, you must recognize the sources and the procedures you should use to procure these items. Ecclesiastical  supply  catalogs  provide  a comprehensive list of church goods, vestments, and articles   of   devotion.   Private   commercial   firms specializing in certain religious articles will publish these specialty catalogs. Recognize, however, that items ordered from such a firm may be more costly than the  same  articles  carried  in  the  Federal  Supply Classification  (FSC)  system  using   Afloat   Supply Procedures,  NAVSUP  P-485.  Consequently,  you should  order  ecclesiastical  items  through  the  FSC system whenever possible. If you cannot procure an item through the system, use a private commercial firm and  request  the  item  through  an  open  purchase agreement. More about the FSC will be discussed later in this chapter. PROCUREMENT  AND  MAINTENANCE  OF FIELD EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES When operating with Fleet Marine Force (FMF) components or a Navy Construction Battalion (CB) in the field, you and the chaplain will use a field facility. This may consist of no more than a general-purpose tent where you set up your mountout boxes, erect a portable altar, store supplies, and establish the office of the 6-21