First United Methodist Church Orange Texas; Usher Responsibilities

First United Methodist Church
502 Sixth Street; Orange, TX 77630

March 7, 2007

Dear Usher,

Your service as usher at First United Methodist Church is appreciated. First impressions are sometimes the cause for a long period of church fellowship and worship, and your job as usher is of importance to all. While it may seem that the service of an usher is “business as usual,” it fits in with everyone as a part of being in the church.

A copy of the new schedule starting in April 2007 is enclosed for you, along with information on usher responsibilities. I ask that you be at your station 15-20 minutes prior to that service. If you cannot attend as scheduled, you will need to call on one another for assistance.

A note of special importance: Children’s bulletins for two age groups (note the two different colors of the bulletins) are printed and made available for the children. Please hand them out to all children (age appropriate by the color of the paper) as they enter the church.

If you no longer wish to serve as an usher, please call the church office at 886-7466 or John Hanes at 883-8651 . We are in need of ushers, so we solicit your help if you know of someone who wants to join our usher team.

Thank you for your job in God’s kingdom.

See ya’ Sunday,

John Hanes
Usher Chairperson

USHER RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Ushers for the 8:15 a.m. service arrive SMILING at 8:00 a.m. wear name tag. Ushers for the 10:50 service arrive SMILING at 10:30 a.m. Wear name tag.

2. Bulletins for the service are on the table in the narthex or in the chapel on table at entrance door. Children’s bulletins for two age groups (note the two different colors) are printed and made available for the children as are crayons.

3. Stand in the narthex to welcome each person arriving, calling them by name when possible or introducing yourself if comfortable doing this. Remain in narthex until ‘Greeting’ time in service.

4. Give each person or family a bulletin.

5. Any guest or visitor should be taken inside Chapel/Sanctuary and introduced to someone already in the Chapel/Sanctuary hopefully, someone about their age group.

6. Return to narthex to continue.

7. After service begins close the doors into the chapel/sanctuary with one usher in sanctuary remaining in each narthex and one just inside of sanctuary. In chapel, ushers remain at the back watchful of people still coming in. In both the sanctuary and the chapel ushers be aware of any needs anyone in congregation might have.

8. When it is time to take the offering, go to front and get collection plates from minister. One usher is on each aisle to help get the plates passed as needed. When all plates have been passed, ushers take them back to the front to the minister. After the prayer, ushers are seated.

9. During the last hymn, one usher on each side should open the doors at the back of the sanctuary/chapel and remain until all have gone.

10. If we have a visitor or guest, the ushers should make it a point to say something to that person and invite them to return.