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Usher Instructions

 Before the Service:

·        Arrive at church 20 minutes before the service begins.

·        Greet and hand bulletins to people as they arrive.  One usher should stand on each side of the aisle.

·        Check to see if nursery attendants are needed (Sunday services – summer; 11:00 service on Sundays rest of year).  If needed, ask for help from congregation – 2 attendants required.  One attendant must be an adult.

·        Watch for arrival of acolytes.  If there are no acolytes 5 minutes before the service, check with the Assisting Minister to ensure that the candles on the altar are lit before service begins.

 Once Service Begins:

·        Close the doors to the sanctuary.

·        Count the congregation and place figures on the attendance sheet located on the usher box in the narthex.    Make sure to check the nursery for numbers.

·        Once service is underway, sit in the back pews and watch for late-comers.  Insure they are provided a bulletin and assistance with seating if needed.

·        Once offering music begins and acolyte or assisting minister walks forward with plates, then walk down aisle and receive offering plates.

·        Turn and walk back up aisle, passing plates to each row.  Both Ushers should move at same pace.

·        When finished, wait together at back of church until offering music finishes, and offertory response music begins. 

·        Walk back down aisle to hand plates to acolyte or assisting minister.

·        Return to back pews.

·        Assistance – You may be asked to provide a large print bulletin or hearing device for someone.  Both are located back on the Narthex table.

 Communion:

·        If Communion Service, after the Lord’s Prayer, proceed to the front of the church.

·        One usher will remain at the right stair railing to assist congregation members as needed.

·        One usher will direct congregation members to form line on the right side of the aisle (facing the altar), starting with the front left pew.

·        Ushers will take note of anyone needing to have communion brought to the pew. 

·        Ushers will take communion last and mention to the assisting minister at that time the numbers of individuals needing communion brought to the pew.

·        Communion via Intinction:  One usher will start to dismiss with the left back pew (facing the altar), moving forward.  Congregation line forms on left and walks back on the right side of the aisle.  When finished with that side, the second usher will dismiss from the back right down the right side of the aisle and congregation will return via the left side of aisle.  Pastor and Assisting Ministers will change sides. (Watch for the Pastor’s lead.  Dismiss from the same side that he stands.)  Ushers will follow and take communion at end.

 After the Service:

·        Open doors to the sanctuary.

·        After congregation has exited, go through the sanctuary row by row.  Straighten hymnals and pick up any bulletins left behind to either save for next service, or put in recycle at the end of second service or Sunday service, if during the summer.  Also, pick up the sheets from the blue sign-in books after the final service and the attendance numbers sheet and place both in the secretary’s basket in the office.

 Thank You for volunteering for this ministry.

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