GUIDELINES FOR HAWLEY LUTHERAN USHERS

Revised 4-6-07

HEAD USHERS FOR THE MONTH (Two assigned per month)

·       Call all your ushers for your month if they have not contacted you to verify coverage for every service Sunday and Wednesday including special services (i.e. Lent, Christmas, summer, etc…).

·       Delegate worship assignments to your crew.

o      Hand out bulletins

o      Count the number of people who attend worship

o      Plate/aisle assignments during offering

o      Monitor sound and lighting

o      Light candles prior to worship if necessary

o      Hallway monitor (one usher only)

 

USHER ASSIGNMENTS

PRIOR TO WORSHIP

·       6 ushers are required per service for full coverage

·       Contact your head usher to let them know which service you will be assisting with (Sunday or Wednesday)

·       Contact your head usher if you are unable to attend

·       Arrive at the church 1/2 hour prior to worship

·       Start coffee if necessary

·       Wear your “Usher” name tag

·       Welcome the greeters and provide their name tags which are located in the guest book podium

·       Check service bulletins,  inserts, and usher attendance sheets

o      These are located in the office work room

o      Check for any special needs (baptisms, communion, special offerings, reserved seats for baptisms, etc…)

o      You may have to ‘stuff’ the bulletins

·       Hand out bulletins

·       Assist people to their pews if necessary

·       Light candles 15 minutes prior to worship if no acolytes arrive for processional

·       Monitor sound system if no student arrives

o      Sit in the balcony during the entire service if no student is available

o      Become familiar with the sound system and turn it on

o      Microphone settings are posted

o      Sound check microphones

o      Adjust sound levels as necessary during the service

o      Coordinate with the contemporary worship team

·       Monitor lighting system

o      Check for special lighting requirements during the service

o      This may be handled by the sound system person

o      Coordinate with the contemporary worship team

·       Reserve seating if necessary with ropes and clip on signs located under the stairs on the west side

DURING WORSHIP

·       Shut all doors to the sanctuary except one to allow people to leave if necessary

·       Dim entryway sanctuary lighting if no one is seated in this area.

·       Sit in the back of the sanctuary during the service to be available to help in emergencies and to direct people who come in late or need to leave during the service.

·       A wheelchair is available and is stored in the office.

·       Assign one usher to monitor hallways for children, nursery, fellowship hall, sound system and other needs.

·       Count carefully; include adults and all children, choir, and other participants including the ushers. Record the count on the attendance slip and turn in to the office with the other attendance sheets.

·       Communion will be served at the altar on the first Sunday of the month. Place cushion and center railing after bringing offering forward on those Sundays. Communion will be served by “stations” on the fourth Sunday.  No communion on the fifth Sunday.

·       Communion for WOW services will be held on the second and fourth Wednesdays and always by “stations”.

·       Baptisms

o      Reserve seating for the family as necessary

o      Bring the hot water in during the hymn prior to the baptism

o      The water needs to be hot out of the tap and brought directly in

·       Offering

o      You need 6 ushers for full coverage (solicit volunteers if necessary)

o      Assign positions to walk down the aisles

o      Center plates are up front, bring the others with you

o      Don’t forget the balcony (this may require an additional usher)

·       The defibulator is located on the wall just outside the office.

AFTER WORSHIP

·       Turn up entryway lighting

·       Open all doors in the rear of the sanctuary

·       Extinguish altar and back wall candles (do not extinguish the eternal flame)

·       Clean and straighten out pews

o      Pick up bulletins and deposit in the recycle box in the office.

o      Arrange hymnals (red = binder left, blue = binder down)

o      Arrange attendance books

§       Remove sheets after the service and turn in with your usher’s attendance sheet to the secretary’s desk

§       Refill as necessary (refills in the workroom)

§       Make sure there is a pen/pencil that works in each book

§       Attendance books are placed binder left and to the center of the sanctuary at the end of each pew (west side to the left, east side to the right)

o      Don’t forget the balcony (only one attendance book is required in the balcony)

·       Return all service materials to their rightful spot

o      Reserved signs and ropes under the west staircase cabinet

o      Offering plates

§       Center aisle plates on the altar

§       Side aisle plates to respective stair cases (east/west)

§       Balcony wood plate and wicker baskets to the west stair case cabinet

o      Return “Usher” name tag

·       Empty the baptismal  font

·       Remove both the kneeling cushion and center railing

·       Turn off the power to the sound system (main red button only), Pastors will put away cordless microphones and the contemporary service team will handle their equipment

·       Turn off the lights if there is no other activity in the sanctuary.