Saturday, January 24, 2015

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.

Before Your Scheduled Day:

If you can't make your scheduled day, make arrangements for a substitute. Make sure the office knows about a change. (You can see a list of ushers on the Grace website.)
Make sure you have a key to the lower Belmont door in case the church isn’t open.

On Your Scheduled Day:

Arrive no later than 20 minutes before the service.
Before people arrive:
Fans
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.
Turn on the ceiling fans using the switch on the wall to the right of the narthex.
Lights
Turn on the lights - see check list on switch box near sacristy (through door next to Peace Chapel). Don’t forget the light over the cross on the high altar and the three spotlights in the chancel area.
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.)
Audio
Make sure that the audio is turned on in two places:
    • In the audio room just outside the office. All the switches on the left side of the audio cabinet should be up. If you don’t have a key, there are keys in a locked closet in the office. 
    • 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.
    • Be sure the mikes are in place and working. There are written instructions next to the control panel.

Bulletins and Grace Notes

  • 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.  Usually, there will be an issue of Grace Notes as well. 
  • Neaten up the various tables and throw away outdated stuff.

Books in the Pews

  • Check that all pews have
    • i. Red Prayer Books (Book of Common Prayer – BCP)
    • ii. Blue 1982 Hymnals
    • iii. Green “Wonder Love & Praise” (WLP)
    • iv. Black and red “Lift Every Voice & Sing” (LEVAS)
    • v. Black and White “My Heart Sings Out” (MHSO)
    • vi. “View from the pew” (yellow index cards) and writing instruments on hooks.
As people arrive:
Make sure everyone has a bulletin and a copy of Grace Notes
Greet visitors (everyone that you don’t know) and offer help as appropriate:
    • Point them to the nursery/church school room(s).
    • Offer to have someone sit with them to help with the service.
    • Tell them that everyone is welcome to take communion or receive a blessing.
    • 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:
Be alert to people needing help/things needing attention.
Count attendance, as well as those who go for healing, record on attendance slip, and put into offering plate.
Take up offering.   If there are young people present, invite them to help.
Direct people to communion.
After the service:
re: Visitors
Request that visitors complete a Visitor Information Sheet (on the podium at the rear of the church).
Invite visitors to join us for refreshments (when available).
Let visitors know we’re glad they came to worship with us today and that we hope to see them again soon.
re: Housekeeping
Collect leftover bulletins and Grace Notes and put in the office.
Turn off sound system.
Turn off fans.
Turn off lights
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.
3/3/2013 edited - Ken Lyon changed disposition of bulletins & Grace Notes
1/24/2015 edited – Ken Lyon did general updates