Summer Usher Instructions              5/24/09

 

                                                                                                                                 

When you arrive…for 10:00 Service 1. You’ll find the Attendance Book( usher’s white 3-ring binder) in the southwest corner of the sanctuary (near the sound cabinet).  The bulletins will be in wire baskets at the sanctuary doors.  A key to the audio cabinet and the church office is clipped inside the Attendance Book.

15 minutes before the service

  At

9:45AM

2.

3.

4.

Find the minister or the worship coordinator (listed in the bulletin), and check to see if they have any special needs or requests for the service.

Take a fresh glass of water up to the pulpit for the minister or the speaker.

Place hymnals on each seat in the sanctuary, including those on the chancel (if they’re not already distributed). Be sure to check the bulletin RE: Which hymnals  to be used.

 

5.

6.

7.

Place the collection plates from the audio cabinet on the ledges at the front of the sanctuary (two on one side and one on the other).

Close the doors into the chancel (on each side wall of the stage).

Light the candles, both large candelabra on either side of the chancel.  Place the candle lighter/snuffer on the altar table with the chalice.
  8.

Stand near the entrance doors to welcome guests and distribute bulletins.  Be alert for any disabled guests who may need special seating or other assistance.  With the regular bulletins are large-print bulletins for people with visual impairments.  The large-print hymnals are beside the bulletins; you must give all three volumes to the person needing a large-print hymnal.  Ask the Audio technician for hearing assistance equipment (PPA receivers) place 1 or 2 at each entrance for those with hearing impairments. 

Also be alert to newcomers to the church.  Welcome them and provide directions when necessary.
  9. Recruit two people to help you collect the offering.  They will stand at the edges of the sanctuary and pass the plate from row to row while you and the other lead usher help from the center aisles.
During the service… 10. Close the sanctuary doors after the worship coordinator has finished announcements.
   

Pass collection plates during the offertory music, working from front to back.  The ushers you recruited in step 9 will handle the outer aisles while you pass from the center aisles.  When finished, place the collection in an envelope from the Ushers’ Box;  place the box on the Audio Cabinet until the end of the service.

While still at the back of the sanctuary, count and record attendance at the service (including everyone - children, babies, the choir and those on the chancel) on the first page in the Attendance Book.
After the service…

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

Open the sanctuary doors when the Postlude begins. 

Direct any guests to the Commons area.

Extinguish all candles after the Postlude.

Straighten up chairs and hymnals. Pick up any bulletins left on chairs and dispose of any waste left in the sanctuary. Hymnals are left on chairs unless otherwise indicated in the bulletin or instructed by the worship coordinator.

Leave empty collection plates on the audio cabinet. Return PPA receivers to Audio technician.

Place Attendance Book (with audio cabinet key and church office key clipped inside) and any extra bulletins in both wire bulletin baskets and return to the church office.

  17. Process the offering following instructions as listed below and on the Ushers’ Box.

 

 Instructions for Counting Money:

  1. After the service, both ushers must take the money to the office and close the door.  Couples should not count money together.   If the ushers are a couple, then ask someone else to help. Several people have indicated a willingness to help with this task on the volunteer survey.  They are:

          Beth Atkinson                 Denise Fogarty                 Ella VanLaningham

          Janet Breitenbach            Judy Kalass

          Polly DeStefano              Sandy Ramage

   

     2.  Together, ushers [or usher and volunteer] count cash and record the amount on the envelope.

     3.  Together, count amount of all checks and record amount and number of checks on the envelope.

     4. Do NOT OPEN SEALED PLEDGE Envelopes, place in envelope with cash and checks.

     5. Record total of cash and checks.

     6. Both ushers [or usher and volunteer] sign the envelope and deposit it in the wall safe (small black safe just past the door out to the courtyard in the office hallway), making sure the envelope goes

          into the safe and doesn’t just sit in the slot.  It can stick.  Sometimes you may need to bend the envelope.

    

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SERVING AS  USHERS!

 

 

 

5/24/09