Sharon Lutheran Church: Contemporary Worship Usher Responsibilities

Thanks for agreeing to help with ushering at the Sunday morning/Wednesday evening services. As ushers, you play an essential part in making worshipers feel welcome in our church, and in making them feel welcome in our services again.

Arrive at least 20 minutes prior to worship time. Put a supply of bulletins by both doors. The bulletins are in a box by the south door table in the Fellowship Hall.

Also, you will need to have a "locking" bank deposit bag for the offering immediately following the Sending Song. It works best to bring the bag with you prior to the service. The bags are located in the top drawer of the filing cabinet directly beyond the first desk.

Have one or two ushers stand at the table by each door to give a bulletin to each worshiper (should it appear that your are running short at the 10:30 a.m. service, it may be necessary to recycle the bulletins from the 9:00 a.m. service). Give a greeting with a smile. Assist worshipers by escorting them to available seating, especially as the service begins to fill. Avoid setting up extra chairs in the back as doing so is a safety hazard. Close doors during the opening song. Stay by the closed doors to welcome late arrivals and assist them with finding a seat.

Coordinate candle lighting during the first song. If no 7th grade acolytes are present, an usher will light the candles as follows:

Candle lighters are hanging on the wall in the sacristy (communion preparation room off the traditional worship center). Lighters are in the drawer by the sink.

Light baptismal candle when there is a baptism.

Extinguish candles during the Sending Song.

Use as many plates as manageable, usually eight. Consider the angle of the two outer sections of chairs, it seems to work best to use eight ushers for this task. Recruit extra helpers from the worshipers in attendance (most are more than willing to help with passing the plates). Bring to the altar during the Offering Response. The pastor will direct you when to leave the altar.

Station one person on each section to direct people forward. Please keep the lines moving smoothly and steadily. If anyone is unable to come forward for communion, inform one of the pastors. Ushers take communion after all have been ushered up front.

The 10:30 a.m. service uses three communion stations, and requires three ushers to direct people forward.

Ushering for Communion may be handled successfully in many different ways. The most important thing for your team of ushers to know is which way it will unfold during your time of duty. Find out prior to the beginning of service where the three stations will be starting and plan accordingly. If you have specific suggestions regarding how we may more effectively handle such challenges as the flow of traffic during Communion, please let your thoughts be known to a representative from the Board of Lay Ministry.

Count attendance during the service and write down the number on the tracking form or leave it on a note near the individual service folders on the secretary's desk in the office. Remember to specify the time of the service for which you are reporting.

After the service, remove the sheets from the welcome pads and place them in the appropriate corresponding service time folder on the top of the first desk in the office. Prayer Requests are to be given to the presiding pastor. Also, please remove all trash to prepare for the next service.

Thanks again for agreeing to help with ushering!