USHER RESPONSIBILITIES

TO ALL USHERS: UPDATED USHER LIST AND SCHEDULE FOR SPECIAL SERVICES DURING 2007. USHERS NEED TO BE IN TOUCH WITH THEIR TEAM CAPTAIN IF THEY ARE UNAVAILABLE FOR A SCHEDULED SERVICE.

MEMO TO ALL TEAM CAPTAINS AND USHERS. THIS IS A JOB DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES FOR EACH USHER TEAM THAT WAS REVIEWED WITH TEAM CAPTAINS AT A SPECIAL MEETING HELD IN SEPTEMBER 2006. . DIRECT ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO YOUR TEAM CAPTAIN OR HEAD USHERS, ROGER AND MARLENE DURST. 282-4517. EMAIL RDURST2000@MSN.COM. IF YOU HAVE AN EMAIL, PLEASE FORWARD TO US AND YOUR TEAM CAPTAIN AS THIS IS A MORE EFFICIENT WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH EVERYONE. EACH OF YOU ARE VERY VISIBLE AND CREATE A FIRST IMPRESSION TO MEMBERS AND VISITORS THAT EVERYONE IS WELCOME AT BETHEL

RESPONSIBILITY OF USHERS
AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE WORSHIP EXPERIENCE.

ARRIVAL:

THE TEAM CAPTAIN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS TEAM. HE/SHE SHOULD ARRIVE ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE SCHEDULED SERVICE AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS IN ORDER IE BADGES OUT, SOUND ENHANCEMENT DEVICES PLACED ON CABINET IN NARTHEX, FRONT CANDLE LIT, CROSS IN PLACE IN THE BACK SO IT IS READY FOR THE PROCESSIONAL, AND BULLETINS AVAILABLE. INDIVIDUAL TEAM USHERS SHOULD KNOW WHEN THEY ARE EXPECTED TO SERVE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A SCHEDULE, LET US KNOW. ALSO, LET THE CAPTAIN KNOW IF THEY WILL BE GONE, IN ADVANCE. TEAM USHERS SHOULD BE READY NO LATER THAN 25 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE SERVICE START TIME. THE CAPTAIN CAN CALL FOR REPLACEMENTS OR BE READY TO RECRUIT PRIOR TO THE SERVICE. AS NEEDED. THE BULLETIN SHOULD BE REVIEWED BY ALL SO THE TEAM IS AWARE OF ANY POTENTIAL CHANGES IN THE ORDER OF SERVICE AND BE READY.

NUMBER OF USHERS:

THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST 6 USHERS AVAILABLE AT EACH SERVICE (EXCEPT AS NOTED IN SPECIAL SERVICES LIST) TO ACCOMMODATE OFFERING AND/OR COMMUNION. IDEALLY, 2 ADDITIONAL USHERS SHOULD BE UTILIZED DURING THE OFFERING TO COVER THE NORTH AND SOUTH AISLES OF THE SANCTUARY. WHILE NOT TOTALLY NECESSARY, IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO PASS THE COLLECTION PLATE IF AN USHER IS NOT PRESENT IN THE OUTSIDE AISLES. THESE 2 ADDITIONAL USHERS COULD BE ‘DRAFTED’ BY THE CAPTAIN DURING THE SERVICE JUST TO SERVE DURING THE OFFERING. A NAME LIST OF ALL USHERS WILL BE KEPT AVAILABLE AT THE USHER STAND. ALL USHERS WOULD BE ON NOTICE THAT THEY SHOULD BE AVAILABLE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE TEAM CAPTAIN FOR THAT SERVICE OR ANNOUNCE TO THE CAPTAIN EARLY IN THE SERVICE THAT THEY CAN ASSIST AT THE APPROPRIATE TIMES.

USHERING TO NEEDS OF THE HANDICAPPED (WHEELCHAIRS & WALKERS).

WE HAVE POSTED RESERVE SIGNS TO SAVE A PEW END FOR THE ASSISTANT TO A WHEEL CHAIR WORSHIPPER. SOMETIMES THESE SIGNS ARE NOT NOTICED OR IGNORED. BE READY TO ASSIST THE ELDERLY OR HANDICAPPED USING WALKERS OR IN A WHEEL CHAIR AND MAKE SURE THEIR NEEDS ARE MET. MAKE SURE WALKERS AND/OR CANES ARE NOT LEFT STICKING INTO AISLE AND CAUSE A TRIPPING HAZARD.

DURING THE FIRST HYMN

THE USHERS AT EACH ENTRANCE SHOULD QUIETLY CLOSE THE SANCTUARY DOORS TO PROVIDE A QUITE WORSHIP EXPERIENCE FOR WORSHIPPERS SEATED IN THE BACK OF THE SANCTUARY. SOMETIMES THERE IS A LOT OF TRAFFIC IN THE NARTHEX WHICH BECOMES DISTRACTING.

COLLECTION OF BULLETINS AFTER START OF FIRST SERVICE (FIRST SERVICE TEAM)

MANY TIMES FIRST SERVICE BULLETINS ARE NEEDED FOR THE SECOND SERVICE. THE NEW BULLETINS LEFT SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE TOP BULLETIN SHELF AND PLACED ON THE LOWER SHELF SO THEY DO NOT GET MINGLED WITH THE BULLETINS LEFT BY DEPARTING FIRST SERVICE WORSHIPPERS. THIS WOULD HELP THE NEXT TEAM OF USHERS ASSESS THE NEED TO ASSEMBLE SOME ADDITIONAL BULLETINS AND INSERTS FOR THE SECOND SERVICE. WE SHOULD HAVE A SUPPLY TO “SIGN UP SHEETS” AVAILABLE TO BE INSERTED OR IN A RUSH HANDED OUT SEPARATELY?

WORSHIP IS A QUIET EXPERIENCE

USHERS SHOULD BE COGNOSCENTE OF THE FACT THAT THE ACOUSTICS IN OUR NEW SANCTUARY CARRY FAR AND WIDE. IF THE TEAM CAPTAIN NEEDS TO CONVERSE ANY SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS, THIS SHOULD BE DONE IN THE NARTHEX OUTSIDE THE CLOSED SANCTUARY DOORS OR PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SERVICE. THE TEAM CAPTAIN SHOULD ASSIGN HIS/HER USHERS TO THE AISLE AND DUTIES THEY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DURING THE SERVICE SO EVERYTHING MOVES SMOOTHLY AT THE APPRO0PRIATE TIME. IE, WHAT AISLE, WHO PRESENTS THE OFFERING, WHO PRESENTS THE BREAD AND WINE AND WHO IS TAKING THE OFFERING TO THE OFFICE AT THE CLOSE OF SERVICE.

BAPTISMAL SERVICE:

THE TEAM CAPTAIN SHOULD BE READY TO DIRECT THE PARENTS AND SPONSORS TO THE FRONT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. IF A LARGE FAMILY GROUP IS ANTICIPATED, THERE ARE RESERVED SEATING SIGNS WHICH ARE AVAILABLE TO RESERVE APPROPRIATE SECTIONS TOWARDS THE FRONT. WE ASSUME PARENTS AND SPONSORS HAVE BEEN GIVEN DIRECTIONS PRIOR TO THE BAPTISM. BE READY TO ASSIST AS NEEDED.






PRESENTATION OF OFFERING:

THE NUMBER OF OFFERING PLATES USED IS AT THE DISCRETION AND JUDGMENT OF THE TEAM CAPTAIN. IF THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF USHERS, IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE TO HANDLE MORE THAN ONE PLATE PER USHER. USHERS WILL QUIETLY COMBINE THE OFFERINGS INTO TWO PLATES AND PROMPTLY. AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, THE PREVIOUSLY DESIGNATED USHERS WILL PROCEED TO THE ALTER AND PRESENT THE OFFERINGS TO THE PRESIDING PASTOR WHO RECEIVES THEM, TURNS AND GIVES A SHORT BLESSING AND PLACES THE OFFERING ON THE ALTAR. AT THIS POINT, THE PRESENTING USHERS SHOULD TURN ‘INWARD’ AND EXIT TO THE REAR.


COMMUNION SUNDAY OFFERING

2 ADDITIONAL USHERS ARE UTILIZED. THE ONE ON THE RIGHT WILL BRING FORTH THE WINE AND THE ONE ON THE LEFT WILL BRING FORTH THE BREAD. THEY WILL PRECEDE THE OTHER USHERS WITH THE SERVICE OFFERING.

AT THE ALTAR, THE 2 USHERS THAT HAVE DELIVERED THE WINE AND BREAD WILL BE AT THE CENTER AND THE OTHER 2 USHERS WITH THE OFFERING WILL BE ON EACH SIDE. AFTER THE WINE AND BREAD IS PLACED ON THE ALTAR AND THE OFFERINGS ARE RECEIVED BY THE PRESIDING PASTOR AND PLACED ON THE ALTAR, THE CENTER USHERS WILL TURN TO THE CENTER AND THE OFFERING USHERS WILL TURN TO THE CENTER AND FOLLOW TO THE REAR OF THE SANCTUARY. THE LEAD USHERS SHOULD WALK SLOWER SO AS THE OTHER USHERS DO NOT APPEAR TO BE RUSHING DOWN THE AISLE.

USHERING WORSHIPERS FOR COMMUNION

3 USHERS ARE NEEDED IN THE 2 OUTSIDE AISLES. THE ASSIGNED USHER WILL STAND IN BACK OF THE COMMUNION GLASSES FACING THE CONGREGATION. HE/SHE SHOULD BE ATTENTIVE TO EACH COMMUNICANT PICKING UP A WINE CUP AND REMOVING EMPTY TRAYS. WE STATE “THE USHERS WILL DIRECT YOU”. THE USHER STANDING AT THE WINE CUP TRAY HAS HIS BACK TO THE COMMUNION RAIL. THE USHER AT THE WINE CUP TRAYS COULD SERVE A DUAL ROLE AND BE AWARE OF WHEN TO DIRECT COMMUNICANTS TO THE COMMUNION RAIL. THE PRESIDING PASTOR WILL USUALLY GIVE A SHORT STATEMENT AS TO THE ORDER OF KNEELING AND FLOW OF COMMUNICANTS. HOPEFULLY, A SET PROCEDURE WILL EVOLVE. IF WE HAVE 8 USHERS AVAILABLE, THE EXTRA USHERS SHOULD BE IN FRONT HELPING DIRECT THE CONGREGATION. AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, IF A PASTOR NEEDS TO GO INTO THE CONGREGATION TO OFFER COMMUNION TO A DISABLED WORSHIPPER, THE USHERS SHOULD BE HIGHLY ATTENTIVE AND PROVIDE A WINE GLASS (OR GLASS OF GRAPE JUICE) SO THE PASTOR DOES NOT HAVE TO SEEK ONE OUT FROM THE TABLE. THEY WOULD ALSO ASSIST THOSE IN WHEEL CHAIRS OR USING WALKERS TO THE COMMUNION RAIL.


HIGH ATTENDANCE SERVICES

IF A LARGE CROWD IS ANTICIPATED, MAKE SURE THE SLIDING GLASS OVERFLOW DOORS ARE NOT LOCKED. A KEY SHOULD BE IN THE OFFICE. EXTRA CHAIRS AND HYMNALS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED NEAR BY AND AVAILABLE FOR THE OVERFLOW. THE TEAM CAPTAIN SHOULD CHECK WITH OFFICE/JANITORIAL STAFF WELL AHEAD OF TIME TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WILL BE IN PLACE FOR THAT SERVICE.

CLOSE OF SERVICE:

WHEN THE CLOSING HYMN BEGINS, THIS IS THE SIGNAL FOR THE SANCTUARY DOORS TO BE OPENED, AND THE TEAM CAPTAIN AND HIS APPOINTED ASSISTANT SHOULD PROCEED DOWN THE CENTER AISLE AND STAND AT THE FRONT FACING THE ALTAR UNTIL THE END OF THE CLOSING HYMN. THE OTHER 4 (OR 6) USHERS SHOULD HAVE PROCEEDED DOWN THE OUTSIDE AISLES TO THE FRONT OF THE SANCTUARY AND WAIT FOR THE DISMISSAL OF THE SERVICE.

THE TEAM CAPTAIN AND ASSISTANT WILL PROCEED TO THE ALTAR AND GATHER THE OFFERINGS TO BE TAKEN TO THE OFFICE FOR SAFEKEEPING. THE OTHER 4 (HOPEFULLY 6) USHERS SHOULD THEN PROCEED TO ASSIST ANY WORSHIPPERS IN NEED AND/OR PICK UP BULLETINS, OTHER DEBRIS OR LOST ARTICLES. THEY SHOULD ALSO, TIME PERMITTING; STRAIGHTEN HYMNALS, BIBLES, ETC IN THE PEW RACKS. THIS CAN BE SOMETIMES CHALLENGING BUT IT DOES HELP TO HAVE THE BOOKS PLACED APPROPRIATELY IN THE PEW RACKS SO THE APPEARANCE IS ORDERLY TO THE NEXT WORSHIPPERS. GREEN HYMNALS SHOULD BE UPRIGHT WITH CROSS FACING PEW. BLUE “WOV” BOOKS SHOULD BE HORIZONTAL WITH TOP BINDING UP ON LEFT SIDE IN THE PEW RACK. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN STAY TO ACCOMPLISH THESE TASKS AND NOT LEAVE UNTIL THE SANCTUARY IS READY FOR THE NEXT SERVICE.

TRAINING FOR NEW USHERS:

TEAM CAPTAINS SHOULD MAKE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO CALL NEW USHER VOLUNTEERS TO ANSWER ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. THEY SHOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH THEIR DUTIES AND KNOW WHAT IS EXPECTED. IF POSSIBLE TRY TO REMIND YOUR TEAM BEFORE YOUR ASSIGNED MONTH OR SPECIAL ASSIGNED SERVICES. PLEASE FORWARD YOU’RE EMAIL ADDRESS TO RDURST2000@MSN.COM

OTHER SPECIAL SERVICES

CONSULT WITH PRESIDING PASTORS FOR SPECIAL DIRECTIONS PRIOR TO START OF SERVICE...



PUBLISHED 1/2007