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| USHER SCHEDULE
Usher Responsibilities
1. Ushers should arrive at least 20 minutes prior to the beginning of the service. When you know you are ushering, always dress as nicely as possible. Please remember your name tag.
2. Upon arrival, check with the Elder of the Day about any changes in the service. The Elder is listed in the bulletin.
3. Turn on lights, check thermostats for proper heat or open windows as necessary, check that doors are unlocked.
4. Make sure offering plates are on the altar.
5. If there is a baptism scheduled, reserve the front row (or two) for the family.
6. Check the bulletin for who the acolyte is. If that person does not arrive for their service or if there is no acolyte scheduled, try to recruit a youth that is present to fill in for the missing acolyte.
7. Hand out bulletins. Give large print bulletins and hymnals to anyone who requests them.
8. Welcome members and guests. Be prepared to assist guests and answer any questions they may have, especially as to the availability and location of the nursery, the location of the rest rooms, etc. When chairs are partially filled, it would be advisable to have an usher seat members and especially guests.
9. During the liturgy and prayers, attempt to have latecomers wait in the entry area to be seated, then usher them in and help them find a seat.
10. When taking the offering, always face the altar.
11. Take attendance count (don’t forget to count yourself, the Pastor, the organist, and anyone in the nursery), and record this number in the attendance notebook. On communion Sundays, the person doing altar care will count the communion cups and record this number as well.
12. For communion, send no more than twelve persons to each side of the altar, with persons from the left seating section filling the left communion rail section and persons from the right seating section filling the right communion rail section. They should proceed down the center aisle, and fill the altar rail from the outside edges to the center. After communion, they should return to their seats using the outside aisles. It is appropriate to start sending the next group up when the Pastor is almost finished serving wine to the group that is communing, asking them to stand and wait at the front until the current group departs the altar rail. Ordinarily, the Elder, ushers, and acolyte will commune first. There is a chart in the attendance notebook which illustrates communion procedure. Please refer to it or ask an Elder if you have any questions.
13. Be aware of fire extinguisher locations. Be aware at all times for someone becoming ill or fainting, and take the situation in hand. A first aid kit is in the kitchen.
14. After each service, neaten up the sanctuary. Pick up discarded bulletins, crayons, etc. After early worship, collect bulletins from any worshiper who doesn’t want to take theirs home, and then throw away all bulletins from 8:00 a.m. so they won’t be accidentally handed out at 10:30 a.m. After late worship, close windows, turn off lights, lock doors as needed.
15. Help with rearranging the sanctuary as needed.
16. If you have any questions or need help, ask the Elder of the Day or another fellow usher.
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