1

USHER TRAINING

RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH

2

AGENDA

► Welcome & Session Overview……......... Tom Evans

► Ushering – The Pastors’ Perspectives…..Pastor Jim

► Ushers’ Responsibilities………………………...Denise Guest

► Answering Your Questions……………………............All

3

GUIDE FOR USHERS

Thank you for volunteering to be an

Usher!

You contribute by serving as:

1) hosts for members and visitors—greeting them and attending to their special needs;

2) recorders of essential attendance data;

3) worship guides for the Offering, Holy Communion and other special functions;

4) caregivers if someone becomes ill; &

5) caretakers to ensure that the sanctuary is in order.

4

Before the Worship Service:

Arrive 25-30 minutes before the first service starts — earlier if it’s snowing. Arrive 20 minutes before the late service.

Wear your name tag or the “Usher” tag.

Check-in with the Council Person-of-the-day.

Inspect sidewalks.

Ensure sanctuary is in order.

Place offering plates in back of sanctuary.

5

Before the Worship Service: (Continued)

Check to be sure the communion elements are in the credenza.

Ensure the visitor’s table in the narthex is orderly. The visitor log and prayer list should be available.

Check with Pastors and Council Person-of-the-day for any special instructions.

In the absence of acolytes, light the altar candles 5 minutes prior to start of worship.

Place cup of water at the pulpit.

6

Before the Worship Service: (Continued)

Greet/welcome members and visitors as they enter the sanctuary.

SMILE !!

Invite visitors to sign the guest book

Point out visitor to Council member and/or some other friendly face to be sure they feel welcomed

Be cognizant of any special needs

Assist with seating as necessary. This is especially important when attendance is large.

7

During the Service:

Close doors at beginning of service.

Be alert for late-comers, and greet them with bulletins.

Seat people as necessary. Avoid seating during Confession, Prayers, or reading of Scripture.

Be attentive to possible excess noise in the narthex.

Record attendance during or after the first hymn.

Receive Offering. Using the side aisles, start at front pews and proceed to back.

Present Offering & Communion Elements

8

During the Service: (Continued)

Usher during Communion.

Communion by “Tables”: Communion received around the altar with 2 tables of approximately 10-14 people each. Invite people forward to receive communion using the side aisles. Start at the back, beginning with the center pews, move forward to the front and return back with outside pews. [Note: If there are people sitting along the back wall, invite these people forward first, then proceed to the back center pews.] Try to avoid delays from the dismissal of one table to the arrival of the next. Also, try to avoid separating families by different tables. Be alert to the fact that Choir members typically join their families as they come forward.

9

StartStartEndEnd

10

During the Service: (Continued)

Usher During Communion.

Communion by Intinction: Communion is received as people come forward by the center isle to one or two stations in front of the alter. They return to their pews by way of the side isles. Ushers direct people forward using the center isle, starting at the front, beginning with the center pews. A queue is formed so that there is a continuous flow of people receiving Communion. After people in the center pews have either received Communion, or are in line, those in the side pews are invited to come forward starting at the front. People are directed to go down the side isles to the back of the sanctuary and join the queue in the center isle.

11

StartStart

EndEnd

12

During the Service: (Continued)

Usher During Communion. “Continuous” Communion (Not often used): There

are no separate tables; rather there is a continuous flow of people coming forward to receive Communion at the alter rail, and returning to their pew by the center isle. Ushers invite people forward using the side isles starting at the back, beginning with the center pews. Those coming forward form a queue at the front of the side isle, and come to the alter rail as there is a space.

For all forms of Communion, be attentive to people who may need assistance in walking. Inquire if the person would like to receive communion at the pew. If so, inform the Pastor after others have received Communion.

13

During the Service: (Continued)

Throughout the service, be prepared for any

emergency that may arise. Should there be a

medical emergency, assess the situation, call 911

as necessary. If appropriate, assist the ill or injured

person to the narthex. Know the location of the first

aid kit (kitchen) and fire extinguishers. Having a cell

phone with you when ushering could be helpful in

emergencies. (Turn off ringer).

14

After the Service:

Clean up sanctuary by straightening Hymnals and

Bibles (upright with front (title) visible), collecting

discarded bulletins and inserts, replacing

pens/pencils, and picking up trash. After the late

service, turn off lights, and reset thermostat, if

necessary.

Rejoice! You have served well. Thank you!

15

2

1 3OR

www.resurrectionpeople.org/ministries/worship/ushering/usherguideaugust2006.htm

16

YOUR QUESTIONS ???