Worship Ministry: Greeter/Usher

As most of you know we have sign-up sheets at church for people who want to help with worship.  I figured it'd be a good idea to publish broadly what those positions entail.  We've always passed instructions through word of mouth but that makes it harder to sign up sometimes, as you don't know exactly what you're signing up for!  Over the next few weeks we'll run down the various worship ministries so everybody can start on level ground when considering serving in this way.

We're going to begin with the most detailed position, Usher/Greeter.  Our greeter/ushers have by far the most to remember of anybody helping on Sunday outside of the Pastor.  But even then, I think you'll see it's not too hard.

Greeter/Usher


You'll need to arrive 25 minutes before the service during the school year, maybe 15 minutes before in the summer.

Step 1:  Pre-Worship Check

Look around and make sure the following have happened:

1. Lights are on.
2. Front door is unlocked.
3. Bulletins are sitting on the counter and are folded.
4. Offering plates are where you can reach them.
5. Candle lighting material is out and ready to go.  The butane lighter is in the top drawer of the cupboards at St. John's. The candle lighters themselves are above the coat rack.  At the Valley the lighter is behind the altar and matches are on the table in back.
6. The hymn reader board has the correct hymn numbers as printed in the bulletin.  This is usually done before the greeters arrive but if it isn't, the number box is in the drawer at the back of the sanctuary at St. John's or behind the altar at the Valley.

Step 2:  Greet People!

You are the first face people see at church.  Smile!  Make them feel welcome and comfortable.  If someone's new make sure they know they can sit anywhere.  Say hello and assure them they're not going to get jumped on the moment they step in our doors.  Let them go at their own pace.  Just make sure someone has said, "Hello" to them and given them a smile.

Hand out bulletins as people enter.  Also watch for people (especially young people) to help light candles, take offering, and ring the bell.

Step 3:  Worship Duties

You have a couple of tasks at the beginning of the service and a couple at the end.

• Gather your candle lighting people in back.  Light them up and send them as the organist plays the prelude.  If it's a special Sunday and instructions are different, the pastor will let you know.
• Ring the bell following the organist's prelude.
• You get to relax until it's time to take the offering.  Collect it with help from your friends and then send or bring it forward.
• If we're having communion at the altar you may usher people forward.  Start on one side of the church then progress to the other.  Keep people moving with each group filling the altar rail.  It's OK to have people standing in front waiting to go up.  Just keep the line manageable.

Step 4:  After Service

Make sure the lights are turned off when everybody leaves and that the front door is locked if we're at St. John's.


And that's all there is to it!  It seems like a lot at first but really the duties are spread out enough that you're never in a time crunch to do the next thing.  Of all of them, greeting people warmly is the central task.  That's the only one we can't make up for if you forget!

I hope this makes greeting and ushering more comfortable for those already doing it and encourages others to give it a try!

--Pastor Dave (pastordave@geneseelutheranparish.org)