Grace Church Usher Guide

Thank you for being an usher at Grace Church. Yours is a very important role in making our worship a good experience, especially for newcomers. Think of yourself as the host/hostess for the service.

1. Obviously, it’s important that you be at church on your assigned Sunday or make arrangements for a substitute. Make sure the office knows about a change. (You can see a list of ushers on the Grace website.)
2. Make sure you have a key to the lower Belmont door in case the church isn’t open.
3. Arrive no later than 20 minutes before the service.

Before people arrive:

re: Fans

1. In the summer, turn on the big exhaust fan in the hallway behind the altar using the switch just underneath the fan, and open the narthex doors (back/Hamilton Ave. doors) to allow air to flow through the church.
2. Turn on the ceiling fans using the switch on the wall to the right of the narthex.

re: Lights

Turn on the lights - see check list on switch box near sacristy (through door next to Peace Chapel).

re: Doors

Make sure the doors are unlocked: the narthex door, the upper Belmont door and the lower Belmont door. (Use the chains on the Belmont doors so people can get in.)

re: Audio

Make sure that the audio is turned on in two places:

1. i. In the audio room just outside the office. All the switches on the left side of the audio cabinet should be up. There are keys to this room in the office, either on the big key ring in the secretary’s middle right desk drawer or among all the keys hanging on the wall in the closet next to the office door. The code for the key box on the office door is JIM.
2. ii. In the choir area, turn on the control panel.  Make sure the power strip is turned on and that the unit itself is turned on.

re: Microphones

Make sure the mikes are in place and working. If the volume is wrong, work with someone to adjust the volume settings on the control panel.

1. On the pulpit.
2. On the lectern.
3. On the stand in the middle aisle (Every Sunday, replace the 9v battery in this mike with one from the battery charger on the power strip next to the choir.)
4. The lapel mike (see above comments re: battery).

Make sure there are bulletins out on tables at the back of the church (the Hamilton Ave. entrance) and on the table near the Upper Belmont sanctuary entrance.

Neaten up the various tables and throw away outdated stuff.

re: Pews

Check that all pews have

1. i. Red Prayer Books (Book of Common Prayer – BCP)
2. ii. Blue 1982 Hymnals
3. iii. Green “Wonder Love & Praise” (WLP)
4. iv. Black and red “Lift Every Voice & Sing” (LEVAS)
5. v. Black and White “My Heart Sings Out” (MHSO)
6. vi. “View from the pew” (yellow index cards) and writing instruments on hooks.

As people arrive:

1. Make sure everyone has a bulletin.
2. Greet visitors (everyone that you don’t know) and offer help as appropriate:
1. Point them to the nursery/church school room(s).
2. Offer to have someone sit with them to help with the service.
3. Tell them that everyone is welcome to take communion or receive a blessing.
4. Tell them that Healing Prayers are also offered at the side altar (Peace Chapel) after receiving communion/blessing, as well as after service, if requested.

During the Service:

1. Be alert to people needing help/things needing attention.
2. Count attendance, as well as those who go for healing, record on attendance slip, and put into offering plate.
3. Take up offering.

After the service:

re: Visitors

1. Request that visitors sign our guest book and complete a Visitor Information Sheet (on the podium at the rear of the church).
2. Invite visitors to join us for refreshments (when available).
3. Let visitors know we’re glad they came to worship with us today and that we hope to see them again soon.

re: Housekeeping

1. Collect leftover bulletins & put in recycle box in office.
2. Turn off sound system.
3. Turn off fans.
4. Turn off lights
5. Lock doors

8/25/2010 first draft - Ken Lyon

9/16/2010 edited - Judy Handy

7/09/2011 edited - Judy Handy
7/22/2011 edited – Ken Lyon, changed microphone battery instructions.