USHERS
SUNDAY SHARED MINISTRY
Please arrive 30 minutes prior to the service you signed up for and plan to stay for 15
minutes after the service.
Supplies:
 “1st Service Ushers”: Orders of Service, regular and large print versions, are in
the office in the copy room in the offertory baskets. Ushers record forms and
money pouches are available from the Sunday morning Office Assistant.
“2nd Service Ushers”: Orders of Service will be in the baskets outside the
sanctuary doors. Ushers record forms and money pouches are available from the
Sunday morning Office Assistant.
 Two “Quiet Please, Worship Service in Progress” signs are located on tripods in
the chapel hallway storage room.
The Commons Coordinator on duty for the day should check in with you. If you have
any questions or problems, please ask the Commons Coordinator for help.
Duties:
1. “1st Service Ushers”: Go to the office and get both baskets with the Orders of
Service and bring them to the sanctuary.
If they are not already in place, get the “Quiet Please” tripod signs from the
storage room.
“2nd Service Ushers” reassemble the Orders of Service as possible from recycled
copies in the baskets outside of the sanctuary. If you think you don’t have an
adequate supply, check with the Office Assistant or see if the second basket of
Orders of Service was left in the workroom.
2. About 10 minutes before the service begins, check to see if the choir or other
music ensemble is ready to have the sanctuary doors opened. If Keith or
someone else is leading music or singing, wait to open the doors until they have
finished their rehearsal.
3. Hand out the Orders of Service. Note in the Order of Service the order of the
sermon and offertory, as they are not always in the traditional order. Keep a copy
of the large print Order of Service in hand as you pass out the others in case it is
requested.
4. Ushers play a key role in welcoming all who enter. Do what you can to assist
those who are in a wheelchair and may need a chair removed from the sanctuary
to accommodate their chair. Parents with little ones are welcome in the
sanctuary.
5. Close the sanctuary doors after the announcements if temperature permits.
Place the “Quiet Please” tripods outside the sanctuary and in the South
Commons. Allow latecomers in during the hymn singing or between spoken
elements of the service only. Assist latecomers in finding a seat, as needed.
6. Open or close sanctuary windows and blinds, as you deem necessary. Do not
open the cupola windows (someone else will do that as needed). The east
sanctuary door stays closed during services because of sound system issues.
Special Summer Instructions: The evaporative cooler will be on for hot summer
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days. Keep the main sanctuary doors open as much as possible, except during
choir rehearsal, as stated above. The Commons Coordinator will do their best to
keep the commons quiet.
7. A TV with video feed is set up in the south commons. On very high attendance
days, a video feed will be set up in the chapel (Christmas and Easter).
8. At the beginning of the sermon, take an accurate count and record the number of
all people in the sanctuary and those watching the TV monitor. In your count,
include everyone – ministers, choir, babies, and any person present at the
service.
9. Offertory:
 The most experienced usher should take the lead and determine the way the
offertory will be collected and who will do what. The baskets should always
start in the front row and use one basket per section. All of us using the same
pattern for passing the basket will make it easier for the congregation to know
what we expect them to do.
 When the minister announces the offertory (wait 1 minute, the minister should
be seated and the music should have started) and then each usher walks up
the main aisles to begin the collection.
 Collect offertory (including the choir, unless they are performing, and chairs
around the perimeter and any overflow seating).
 After you have finished collecting, gather the baskets (OK to consolidate the
offering) and stand at the back of the sanctuary. When the offertory music
has ended, the minister will stand front and center on the chancel. Once
there, one or both ushers walk up the aisle and hands the minister the
baskets. The minister will say just a couple sentences acknowledging the gifts
and then hand the baskets back to the ushers. Please remain standing during
the minister's words. Walk to the back of the sanctuary. It is OK to stack the
offertory baskets on the usher's cabinet (oak cabinet near sanctuary doors)
and process the offertory after the service so you can hear the sermon.
 When not in use, keep one basket on the oak cabinet just inside the
sanctuary. The choir has requested there be a place for them to place their
donations as it is not possible to pass the basket to them when they are
singing.
 At the completion of the service:
a. Open the sanctuary doors
b. Place a basket outside the sanctuary doors to collect recycled Orders of
Service for the next service or bring them to the office.
c. Two ushers go to the office to count the loose cash. Please count the
money in the office workroom (where the copy machine is) or in one of the
offices as opposed to the surface of the front desk. Do not count checks or
open any envelopes.
d. Fill out the “Ushers Record” for the appropriate service time and be sure to
sign the form. Obtain a form from the Office Assistant.
e. Put the cash, checks and any envelopes inside the plastic bag.
f. Give it to the Office Assistant.
10. Walk through the sanctuary and collect/recycle/collate leftover Orders of Service
for the second service and throw away trash. Lost and found items can go in the
big plastic bin in the storage room next to the kitchen.
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11. After the 11:00 a.m. service, put the “Quiet Please” and Explorations tripods back
into the storage room in the chapel hallway.
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