Ushering this Sunday

For those of you who missed the usher training, here are some things to remember for this Sunday morning:

1. People are more important than things. Focus on the people arriving for worship and be helpful and courteous toward them. Anticipate their needs and seek to meet those needs. Smile and make them feel welcome. Make sure to find out from a first time worshipper their name and try to remember it. You may use a statement like this, “Share with me your name please.” Help late arriving people to find a suitable seat in the congregation especially when we have a large crowd.

2. Give out bulletins with a smile. Call as many people by name as you can. People enjoy knowing you know them. If you do not know them make a simple statement, “Help me to remember your name.”

3. Help folks to find restrooms and nursery when needed and to find their way to the fellowship hall.

4. Be sure to get an accurate count for the day and put this slip of paper in the offering plate at the end of the service.

5. Before leaving the late service, make sure to pull all the attendance pad sheets off and put them in the offering plates or in the slot on Elaine’s door just inside the receptionist’s office.

6. As the prelude begins close to the doors to the narthex and to the hallway going toward the Sunday school wing. This insures that worshipers are able to get into a worshipful mood.

7. When the service is over, open the two center doors into the Narthex before the pastor arrives at the back to give the benediction.

8. Help people with special needs like wheel chairs to find a suitable seat and the recover their wheel chair at the end of the service.

9. If persons come into the Narthex during the service who need financial assistance, invite them into worship so the pastor may speak to them following the service.

10. If there is a crisis, respond appropriately; dial 911. Be helpful, not a hero. If there is a fire, help people out, orderly, and maintain your cool. Make sure all outside doors are opened.

11. As folks are leaving, invite them to return with a smile. “Come worship with us again.” “I look forward to seeing you next week.”