Worship Service

Usher/Greeter Ministry Team Duties

Hospitality Effort

1. Assign ushers to positions in the center and side aisles for the purposes of greeting and seating the congregants. (See attached). Congeniality will suffice to encourage those “early arrivers” to create seating space for “later arrivers.” Long pews accommodate ten (10) persons and the short ones accommodate eight (8).

2. Insure that an adequate supply of worship service bulletins is placed on the tables in the hallway adjacent to the Senior Minister’s office and in the small narthex adjacent to the chapel.

3. ksure that worship service bulletins and hymnals are placed on chairs for acolytes.

4. As hymnals and bibles accumulate beneath the lectern and pulpit, retrieve all and return them to pew racks or the bookcases in the main narthex.

Attendance Counting

1. Assign ushers to take an attendance count: sanctuary, balcony, chapel, and Fellowship Hall. The crucifer/acolytes/choir/ministers/lay scripture reader, etc. may be counted as they process. Add the organist, musicians, and preacher to that count. Report the attendance on the card, found in the drawer, left side table in narthex. Deposit the completed attendance report card in a collection plate for delivery to the altar along with the offering.

Holy Baptism

1. Reference the worship service bulletin and consult with the “duty secretary” to determine if a baptism is to be conducted during the service. If so:

(A) Insure that “reserved seat” plaques (stored in lower compartment of cabinet on left side of main narthex) are placed at both ends of the “appropriate” number of front left pews. The “appropriate” number of rows so reserved is determined by the number of children to be baptized. One row per family is to be reserved.

(B) Assign an usher to instruct and escort the families to the appropriate spot before the altar rail at the designated time in the order of worship. Prior to the worship service meet with the families in the Senior Minister’s office to provide instruction.

Point out that precise time in the order of worship when baptism is to occur.

Instruct that, in single file, the families are to follow the usher who is to escort the “file” to the appropriate spot before the altar rail. The objective is to escort the “file” to that point which will enable all family members to stand before the altar rail.

Instruct the parent who is to carry the child to do so high above his/her shoulder in order that the congregation might easily see the child. At the conclusion of the baptism ceremony, escort the families from the sanctuary back to the Senior Minister’s office.

 

Collection of Tithes and Offerings

1. Prior to the service, insure that four (4) collection plates are placed behind the altar rail, and six (6) more are placed in the main narthex. Search the “duty secretary’s” office if all ten (10) plates are not at these designated places.

2. Following the distribution of the four (4) collection plates at the altar rail, at the chairman’s nod, each usher is to turn “outboard,” i.e. in the direction of the nearest side aisle.

3. While proceeding to the side aisles, ushers #1 and #2 (reference the sanctuary collection diagram) should offer the collection plate to any congregants seated in folding chairs placed between the first pew row and the altar rail.

4. Having completed the receiving of the collection, offerings are to be consolidated in four (4) plates, which are to be carried to the altar by ushers #1, #2, #3, & #4 for acceptance and consecration by the ministers. At the altar, ushers #1 & #2 simply step to the side so as to provide space for ushers #3 & #4 to step into, thus forming a “four man line abreast” before the altar, facing the ministers.

5. Following the prayer of consecration, all four (4) ushers are to turn “inboard,” and, led by ushers #3 & #4, recess “two abreast” down the center aisle to the main narthex.

Emergencies

1. Take note of where any physicians are seated.

2. Prior to the commencement of the worship service, unlock all exterior narthex doors so as to facilitate rapid egress should emergency evacuation become necessary.

3. At least one (1) usher should remain in the main narthex throughout the service.

4. A cordless telephone is available in the balcony at the audio/sound technician station. Place any necessary emergency 911 calls from the main narthex. Do not call from the audio/sound technician station as wireless transmissions may affect the sanctuary sound system. Notify the “duty secretary” of any emergency, as well.

5. A stretcher, contained in a metal cabinet, is mounted on the hallway wall adjacent to the Senior Minister’s office.

6. Resuscitation equipment, a first aid kit, and a blanket are located in a cabinet on the right side of the main narthex.

7. Fire extinguishers are mounted in the hallway wall adjacent to the Senior Minister’s office and in the main narthex.

Fire Department Regulations

Placing/Removing additional folding chairs:

1. Only one (1) chair may be placed at the end of each pew row in the side aisles.

2. Two (2) rows of chairs may be placed between the first pew row and the altar rail.

3. Chairs may not be placed in the center aisle.

4. One (1) row of chairs may be placed in the main narthex, but not beyond an imaginary line extending across the main narthex from the Queens Rd. doors to the Providence Rd. doors.

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5. During the singing of the final hymn, if there is no introduction of new members, folding chairs (hymnals and bibles) may be removed from the side aisles, folded, and leaned against the wall or removed to the storage areas in the main narthex. Doing so will facilitate congregants’ exit from the sanctuary, but can create distracting noise.

Hospitality Incidentals

1. Hymnals and bibles for congregants seated in folding chairs are stored in the bookcases near the exterior doors of the main narthex. A limited number are in “large print.” Request users to return “large print” hymnals following the service.

2. Hearing Assistance Receivers, alcohol swabs, and Kleenex (to sanitize/dry the earpieces) are stored in a wooden case on the table on the Providence Road side of the main narthex.

3. Children’s “Welcome Worship Bags” (Crayons, coloring books, etc.) are available in wicker baskets in the hallway adjacent to the Senior Minister’s office and in the small narthex adjacent to the chapel.

4. Worship Service Child Care

During the 8:30 and 9:00 services:

Infants and children up to 4 years: Rooms 217 & 218 Snyder Education Bldg (Queens Rd. side)

During the 11:00 service:

Children younger than 2 years: Rooms 217 & 218 Snyder Education Bldg (Queens Rd. side) Children 2, 3, & 4 remain in their Sunday School rooms.

5. Rest Rooms: male, female, unisex, and handicapped facilities are located in the hallway adjacent to the library and office.

6. A water fountain is located in the hall outside of the office.