Usher's Guide
How to become an Usher -
Smile!
Please read through this usher's
guide. Then contact the church office and specify the service you would like to
help usher. Your contact information will be taken and someone will contact you
with specifics on schedule. It is that easy.
Duties
1. Remember a smile goes a long way and you never know
when you might be the first friendly face a new person sees.
2. If you are scheduled to usher at any of our services please arrive at
least thirty minutes early to be in place before parishioners start arriving for
the service. If you are unable to usher and it is the day before your scheduled
time, please call the church office and leave a message on the voice mail
system. This can be done even if the church office is closed. If it is the day
of your scheduled usher time and you are unable to attend, please call the
church office number and follow prompts which will tell you how to get in
contact with someone whom can pass the message to the appropriate person.
3. Upon arrival, you will find the bulletins located on the guest
registry beside the front entrance doors. You will also find a basket with
usher pins. Please wear an usher pin.
4. Take a handful of bulletins from proper service time you are ushering
for and stand at the double doors just outside the entrance to the worship
area. At Christ Spry we have a custom of greeting parishioners with a hand
shake, a warm smile, and a few words of welcome as we hand them a bulletin. It
cannot be over emphasized how important a friendly greeting is.
5. As the service begins, please close all
necessary doors leading into the worship service. One usher must remain
stationed by the doors for a few minutes for those arriving late to receive a
bulletin, and to help them identify where their other family members are seated
when necessary.
The last pew row to the left on entering the worship area is reserved for the
ushers to sit.
Offering Procedures
1. When it is time for the offering the ushers meet in
the rear of the service area. On queue the ushers proceed at the same time up
the aisle to the front of the church where they stand to receive the collection
plates from the alter attendant. Once each usher has received a collection
plate they turn around, separate and begin collecting the offering.
2. Working as a team on each row of pews
the plate is passed to the middle of each pew and back to the usher. On rows
where only a few persons sit next to the ends of the pew, the usher holds the
plate, take the offering, and then move to the next row, glancing across to
his/her partner to acknowledge the move.
3. The ushers meet at the rear of the service, pair up and wait for the
queue to begin the procession to the front of the church. On queue the ushers
proceed up aisle to the front of the church where they stand and hand the
collection plates to the alter attendant. Once all ushers have provided their
collection plates, they turn around, and in pairs proceed to the rear of the
service where they return to their seats.
4. At the conclusion of the service the ushers open the double doors at
the entrance to the service area. The pastor will usually greet the
parishioners as they leave the worship area.
Communion Procedures
1. The two ushers on the outer aisle open the doors at the front left
and right sides of the service. They then proceed to the front center aisle to
distribute communion cups. Once the choir has completed communion, these ushers
begin to release parishioners to take communion. After each communion set these
ushers release another group of parishioners to take communion. After the last
person, the ushers join the procession and take communion also. On completion
of communion they close the two front side doors and return to their seats.
2. The two ushers at the center aisle proceed to the first pew and wait.
Once the choir has completed communion, these ushers begin to release
parishioners from the pews, encouraging them to line up for communion. At the
first communion they release approximately 16 persons on each side. There after
they try to maintain a waiting line of eight persons. After the last person, the
ushers join the procession and take communion also. On completion of communion
they return to their seats.
Emergencies
In the event of a medical emergency it is suggested that two of the ushers
seek attending care for the emergency while the other two ushers inform the
congregation that the emergency is being attended to.
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