ST. JOHN'S USHERS DUTIES
Description: Ushers offer hospitality and oversee the orderly gathering of GOD'S people for worship. Outreach is part of the Usher's ministry; since many times we are the first members of St. Johns that meet newcomers at our parish. Activities: Ushers greet worshipers and newcomers, provide bulletins, assist newcomers and visitors, outreach, pray for the congregation, flowers for newcomers, presentation of the elements, count attendance, collect the offering, assist communicants at the altar rail, assist Celebrant as directed, maintaining a comfortable environment, clean and order the pews after the Service. Being an usher is a good ministry to learn about St. John's and meet many of the members. Goal: Our goal is to continue to offer the best service to St. John's in 2004 as we have in pervious years.
1. Arrive 20 to 30 minutes before the service starts and be ready to serve. Please wear the usher tags and dress in a manner that demonstrates your pride for St. Johns and the LORD. Please read the bulletin before the service begins, so you are aware of any changes to the service or Sunday school. On occasions, there will be additional items that need to be stuffed into the bulletins. Attempt to have this completed before people begin arriving for the service.
2. Two Ushers should stand just outside the front doors, so that the Narthex (entry to the church buildings) will not become too congested, because people are always coming and going between services. Greet everyone warmly and pass out bulletins to all those arriving for the service.
3*. Ushers ensure that visitors sign the guest register. First time visitors will not be familiar with the location of any of the facilities at St. Johns such as: the Sunday school classrooms, the nursery, the rest rooms or the coffee pot. Please point these out to them on the map or escort them to the facility they request.
4. One usher should do the following inside work: Make sure the offering plates and the Elements* (bread and wine ) are in place on the shelf (remains up at the Altar for the 8:00 A.M. service) if they are missing check the sacristy (the room behind the Altar). the Altar Guild may still cleaning everything. Another Arrange the pews: typically there should be two prayer books, two hymnals, and one praise song book, placed behind the hard bound books in the pews. And two should greet Newcomers and visitors will appreciate being shown to their seats or given a choice of seating. Also fill out the count form which is found on the wall in Narthex
5*. Announcements are made before the service starts, also Rector asks if there are visitors or guests. Ushers should try to remember where these people are sitting.
6. Just prior to the service, offer a short prayer for the Celebrant and the assembled worship leaders. This is done in the rear of the church in a small circle that includes the celebrant and those assisting at the Altar. If you feel uncomfortable with praying, ask a member of the Daughters of the King or the Brotherhood of St. Andrew or the Book of Common Prayer has many prayers that you may use.
The following is a Prayer that can be by the ushers to say at beginning of the all services for altar servers and the service.
FATHER we come to you in your SONs holy name JESUS CHRIST our LORD and SAVIOR and we ask that your HOLY SPIRIT rest upon your people of this congregation, and be with Celebrant and/or Preacher and his words be your words. Open our ears to hear your words, also we ask that you guide your servants who are assisting with the worship service. All this we ask in Jesus' Holy name Amen.
During
the Service:
1. Place yourself next to the door so you can hand out bulletins and keep track of the late comers, and the coming and goings of everyone.
2. THE USHERS ARE TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM ENTERING DURING READINGS AND DURING THE SERMON. YOU CAN LET PEOPLE IN WHEN THE CONGREGATIONS IS STANDING OR SINGING.
3. Be aware of the temperature and air quality in the building at the request of the Priest or Vestry member or using your own judgment. Adjustments may be made by opening the two side doors during moderate weather or with the thermostat during more inclement weather (refer to paragraph 2) after the service section.
4. Be sure to count those every one attending the service as indicated on the count form. One usher should go around to all the school rooms, and enter this count on the attendance form.
5. During the peace tell the Deacon or the celebrating priest the number in attendance.
6*. For the 8:00 service the Elements are at the altar. For the 10:15 service find two people (members of St. Johns) to take the Gifts or Elements (bread and wine ) to the altar. They should be instructed to come to the rear of the church during or right after the birthdays. You may have to go get them.
7. Also during the peace one ushers should go to Johnson hall and the other to Zion hall to tell the Sunday school that communion is about to start.
8. After The Offertory Hymn (8:00), or The Offertory Anthem (10:15) there will be an interlude when the music begins, walk forward behind the people offering the elements, step aside at the altar steps so the presenters of the elements may return down the center aisle, bow to the altar and distribute the offering plates down the side aisles.
9. Collect the plates at the rear of the church, when you are ready to go forward with the offerings press the button to give the Organist the green light to play the Doxology. Then wait for the Doxology to start and the acolyte comes to the altar steps carrying the large metal plate to receive the plates. Walk to the front church bow, place the collection plates in the large plate and return to the rear of the church, via the center aisle.
10. After the LORDS prayer and while the Celebrant the breaks the consecrated Bread or the large Host for all to see during the Celebration of the Eucharist, the ushers will assemble in the rear of the church. When the Celebrant says: [ Alleluia] Chris our Passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore, lets keep the feast. [Alleluia] Then proceed to the front of the church.
11. Then the Fraction Anthem Lamb of God sung by everyone. At this time, some of the praise musicians go forward to receive communion they should be directed to the end of the altar rail. If there are any handicapped members they should be helped to the altar at this time.
12. After the Celebrant says The gifts of GOD for the people of GOD Guide people to and from the altar rail during communion. The 10:15 service usually has one or two added inconveniences. There are always the praise musicians that we must direct people around, and every once in awhile there is a new chalice bearer who will be slow. The head usher should make sure that someone with experience works that corner. Direct the Communicants returning to their pews to the center or far side aisles, not back the aisle where they came.
13. Be sure to count those who don't go forward for Communion, and enter this count on the attendance form as non Communicants.
1. On Sundays that we have a visiting celebrant, the head usher should make certain that the counts are written down on the St. Johns Attendance form and place on Service Register in the Sacristy. Hand This form to Father Phil at the end of the service or leave on the Service Register in the Sacristy. Don't enter the Numbers In the Book!!!
2. At each Sunday Service, there will usually be a greeting host or hostess to help newcomers connect with the If not, an usher should be available to assist anyone needing help.
3. Clean and pickup books and papers in and around the pews and Altar. On special Services like, Easter Eve candle light Service, make sure that all the candles are removed from the pews and are saved. Arrange the pews so that there are two prayer books, two Hymnals, one praise song book, placed behind the hard bound books in the pews. Sometimes, a bulletin or other paper will be stuffed down behind, or under a prayer book or hymnal, so you may wish to check this as you arrange the books.
Special Holy Days
of Worship
