Dayspring United Methodist Church

Handbook for Ushers

November 2012

Welcome to the Ministry of the Usher!

When Saint Benedict penned his famous “rule,” instructing those living in monasteries on how to welcome guests and travelers, he defined the idea of Christian Hospitality. Stated simply, each guest should be treated as if they were Christ, coming to dwell among us. In today’s church, this hospitality can be most often visible in the ministry of the usher. Many times the first person to welcome those attending worship, the usher becomes the “face” of Dayspring to our members and guests alike.

But while friendliness is certainly a prerequisite for ushering, it is also necessary for the usher to have a working knowledge of worship and how to keep things running smoothly. The ushers make things like the offering and Holy Communion seem effortless and unobtrusive, executing them efficiently, yet never detracting from the mood and spirit of worship.

It is the purpose of this handbook to prepare you for your ministry as an usher of Dayspring. It will help you prepare for both weekly services of worship, as well as special services such as Easter Sunday and Christmas Eve. We thank you for answering this unique call to the ministry of hospitality. We pray that you might experience the living presence of God in the face and/or handshake of those you greet, becoming for them also, the personification of the church, Dayspring, and the Body of Christ. Rev. L. Michael Kelley Minister of Music

Preparation Ushers are assigned to teams of 8 to 10 persons. There are five teams per service (9:00 and 10:30) allowing each team to usher one month at a time for either 2 or 3 times each calendar year. Scheduling is done years ahead, making it possible for the ushering teams to plan their personal travel schedules around their ushering commitment. Schedules and phone contact sheets are always available in the wall-mounted envelope at the south end of the Narthex. 1. The Team Captain(s) should email (or call) all Ushers on your team

two (2) weeks before your assigned month. 2. The Team Captain(s) arrives at Dayspring at least twenty (20)

minutes prior to the start of the service. 3. The Team Captain(s) checks to see if the appropriate name badges

are out and correct. Blank badges are in the Usher’s Room. 4. Make sure hearing assist devices are available. Following the 10:30

service, check that they are all turned off. Replace batteries as needed.

5. Prepare “Count Sheet.” These can be found in the Usher’s Room. 6. Make sure candle lighter is working properly and locate matches.

Additional matches are in one of the drawers in the Usher’s Room. 7. The Team Captain(s) assign Ushers to specific sections and/or pews

for offering and Holy Communion (when applicable). 8. The Team Captain(s) or an assigned Usher should remain in the

Narthex during the service to help in case of an emergency or problem.

9. 9:00 a.m. Team Captain gets the defibrillator from the church office

and the 10:30 Team Captain returns it.

During the Service 1. After Pastors process down center aisle, close all Sanctuary

doors.

2. The Acolyte is sent down center aisle during the first hymn, after the Invocation. The Usher should assist in lighting the candle lighter. If no Acolyte is present, and another trained acolyte is not available, send an usher to light candles and then leave worship (if necessary) through the side entrance.

3. Those in attendance at worship (adults and children) must be counted before Children’s Time, and the count placed on the form. Completed form should be placed in the 10:30 offering.

4. Following the offering, the Ushers assigned to the center sections take the collection down the center aisle during the singing of the Doxology. Wait as the Pastor takes the collection, offers the Prayer of Dedication, and returns it to the Ushers. Return to the Narthex, and you will be escorted to the Counter’s Room.

5. During June, July and August, the southernmost section of pews may be roped off. Ropes can be found in the second drawer in the Usher’s Room.

6. During the singing of the final hymn, all Sanctuary doors must be opened allowing the Acolyte, Pastors and worshipers unfettered exit.

7. Please clean pews for the next service. Place registration pads on the left side of the pew. South section goes on the right.

8. Enjoy a cup of coffee and a smile on the Patio. Dayspring thanks you for your service, and looks forward to seeing you next week.

The Offering 1. The offering is taken from front to back. Two Ushers should be

assigned to each section, one in each adjacent aisle. Offering plates are passed down alternating pews, retrieved by the other Usher, returned via the next pew.

2. The offering plates can be found at each aisle, on the floor under the pew.

Holy Communion 1. Please refer to adjoining diagram for flow of worshipers and

placement of Ushers. Six ushers will be needed for communion. When only 6 ushers are available, the Gatekeeper Usher needs to be the Catcher as well. If there are 8 ushers available, Catchers can be assigned.

2. The Gatekeeper “G” and Catcher “C” ushers will perform two duties; The Gatekeeper directs the congregation to the open areas of the kneeling rail. The Catcher helps direct the congregation to the open areas at the kneeling rail and assists anyone at the rail that might need help.

3. The Releaser “R” usher invites the congregation to the communion

rail alternating the right pew, then the left pew, maintaining the flow from front to back of each section. The releaser must keep the aisle full at all times to prevent delays. The choir is released last.

4. Begin filling the rail when Pastors hand elements to the communion servers.

5. Working as a team, the Releaser and Gatekeeper Ushers should take note of those in the pews unable to go to the rail, and desire to have Communion brought to them. The Releaser should wait at the pew after the section has been released. When a serving team becomes available, the Gatekeeper should personally escort them to that (those) person(s).

6. Team Captains, please collect the special donations left under the communion rail immediately following the service. In the diagram below, please note the recommended flow of worshipers, and the optimum placement of Ushers for Holy Communion.

Special Services

Ash Wednesday

1. Two (2) Ushers needed for emergencies only. No offering is traditionally taken.

Maundy Thursday - 7:00 p.m.

1. As the remembrance of our Lord’s Last Supper is part of our Maundy Thursday worship, it is possible that up to eight (8) or ten (10) Ushers may be required. Actual need may be confirmed by either a Pastor or the Minister of Music.

2. At least two (2) Ushers needed for emergencies only.

Good Friday - 7:00 p.m.

1. Two (2) Ushers needed for emergencies only. No offering is traditionally taken.

Easter Sunday

1. Worship Services are held at 6:00, 7:45, 9:00 and 10:30 a.m.

2. A full complement of Ushers (10) is required at 7:45, 9:00 and 10:30.

3. Ushers at the 7:45 Service may be called upon to help return hymnals and some chairs to the Sanctuary following the 6:00 a.m. Sunrise Service.

Christmas Eve

1. Services of Worship at 6:00, 8:00 and 11:00 p.m.

2. A full complement of Ushers (10) are required at all services. Holy Communion is served at 8:00 and 11:00. Usher volunteers should begin recruiting teams for Christmas Eve approximately one (1) month prior. Teams should be in place no later than December 10.

3. 2,000 Candles and protectors need to be prepared for these services: 6:00 - 750 candles 8:00 - 750 candles 11:00 - 500 candles

4. Candles are distributed to worshipers as they leave the Sanctuary at 6:00 and 8:00 Services. At 11:00, they are distributed as worshipers enter the Sanctuary. Used candles may be collected as worshipers leave the Service.

5. Clean pews following each service. Assist in replacing poinsettias around Chancel if necessary.

6. Candles for Christmas should be ordered approximately November 1. Usher Coordinator should follow-up with church office to verify that this is done.

Additional Information

1. Large print bulletins are available on the lecturn/stand in the Narthex.

2. First Aid Kit is on top of cabinet in Usher’s Room. A blood pressure cuff is in the far drawer. A wheelchair is kept there as well.

3. The Defibrillator is to be used only by those who have been trained.

4. A fire extinguisher is located by the bulletin board at the south end of the Narthex.

5. Usher name badges are in baskets located in the usher room. Each team has a separate bag of badges.

6. Cushions on Narthex window seats can be used on floor to make someone comfortable in the event of an emergency.

7. Attendance pads are removed from the pews for weddings in the Sanctuary. Please check to insure that they were returned to the south end of each pew following a weekend wedding.

The church and its ministries are its people. We welcome any suggestions you might have as to

how we can better serve the needs of the people of Dayspring. Please feel free to contact your Team Leader, the Usher Coordinator, or Carol Coleman, Minister of Spiritual Formation, with any ideas for how we can better become the welcoming hand of Christ, as the people of

Dayspring gather to worship.

Dayspring United Methodist Church 1365 East Elliot Road • Tempe, Arizona 85284

480-838-1446 www.dayspring-umc.org