This lesson is to provide adult ushers in a Christian setting information on their duties and responsibilities. I will serve as a introduction for new ushers and a refresher for the experienced usher. Note to Maryanne 2/21/2019

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Applications of Multimedia and Web Design God's Doorkeeper Training for Christian Ushers © 2005 Beverly H. Mayweather. All rights reserved. Beverly H. Mayweather Applications of Multimedia and Web Design EDTC/560 Maryanne Urey Mills July 11, 2005 Welcome to the information lesson on becoming a Christian usher. If you have questions as we go along, please write them down and you can ask during the feedback if it is not answered during the lesson. Now lets begin. 2/21/2019

Introduction This training is designed to help you decide if being a church ushers is for you. For existing ushers, it will be a refresher of what your roles and duties are. Some of you are here because you are curious about what it take to be an usher in the church. Some of you are here because your head usher has requested that you take this lesson. No matter what the reason, I hope that each of you will gain something from the lesson.

Objectives You will identify the duties and responsibilities of an usher You will be able to list the characteristics of a good usher. You will identify why team work is involved as an usher. You will identify the preparation steps needed to usher. You will identify what is expected of an usher during church service. This lesson will take the mystery out of the position of church usher. We will look at the duties, responsibilities and characteristics of an usher.

Agenda The Role of a Church Usher The People that Chose to Usher There’s no “I” in Usher Preparation The Church Service The topics that we will cover are; the role of the usher, the type people that are ushers, the team work involved, preparation of the sanctuary and duties during the church service.

Overview The biblical reference for ushers is God’s doorkeeper. Psalms 84:10 - For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Ushers are servants of God. They are responsible for keeping order in God’s sanctuary during service. Service Timely Dedicated Friendly

The Role of the Usher Ushers are different from ushers at other venues because they are rendering service to God. They are the first impression that parishioners have. They offer seating to parishioners as they enter the sanctuary. Ushers welcome people to God’s house. They want to seat you and make you feel at home. Think of places of worship that you have visited. Did the usher make you feel welcome?

The Role of the Usher Ushers are different from ushers at other venues because they are rendering service to God. The church usher takes on the role as a servant of God. They must remember that they are God’s ambassador while they are ushering.

The Role of the Usher They are the first impression that parishioners have. The usher is the first person that most people meet as they enter the sanctuary. How they are greeted may set their mood for the remainder of the service.

The Role of the Usher They offer seating to parishioners as they enter the sanctuary. Making sure that parishioners can find seats without disrupting other parishioners. They should make special arrangements for large groups of visitors.

The People that Chose to Usher Christian Prayerful Alert Decisive Respectful Outgoing Personality

The People that Chose to Usher Christian = a follower of Christ and his teachings. The first requirement for being an usher is that you must be a follower of Christ. Nothing else in the lesson will make sense if is not true. Most churches also require that you be a member of the church.

The People that Chose to Usher Prayer + Faith = Power Not everyone you meet will be a Christian as you render service, so you need to be enter each service with am attitude of prayerfulness.

The People that Chose to Usher Alert to your surroundings. Not a person that is busy daydreaming. Everything does not always go according to plan, therefore ushers must always be alert. They should see things as they happen and not be caught unaware of what is going on around them.

The People that Chose to Usher Decisive and ready to take action. An usher must be able to make a decision in a hurry so that bad situations don’t get worse.

The People that Chose to Usher Respectful of all that enter the sanctuary. All worshipers deserve to be treated with respect. Even those that we would not invite into our homes, are welcome in the house of God. We can not be a servant in house and tell Him that his guest are not welcomed.

The People that Chose to Usher Outgoing Personality and willing to reach out to people. You must be willing to be approachable. Parishioners should not be afraid to ask you a question or ask for a program.

There’s no “I” in Usher Work Together Dress in uniform Attend meetings regularly/Rehearsal Team work is key to making the ushers board work well. They must be willing to follow the leadership and guidance of the head usher.

There’s no “I” in Usher Work Together as a team. An usher’s board is a team of individuals, working in service to God. To appear as a unified unit, ushers must work together for a common cause.

There’s no “I” in Usher Dress in uniform of the season and look like a cohesive unit. Ushers should be dressed in the same uniform. Their attire and appearance should not draw attention. They should refrain from wearing flashy jewelry or hair styles.

There’s no “I” in Usher Attend meetings regularly and rehearsal regularly. An usher must rehearse at different positions so that they may serve at any position in the church. They must also attend meetings. Position assignments are often given during meetings.

Preparation Arrive 20 minutes prior to service Assure that all supplies are ready and available Verify that the sanctuary is in order Consecration Know your assigned post

Preparation Arrive 20 minutes prior to service. Arriving early helps the ushers know that the sanctuary is prepared for worship.

Preparation Assure that all supplies are ready and available. Make sure that the program, bibles and offering plates are ready for service.

Preparation Verify that the sanctuary is neat and in order. Make sure that the sanctuary has been left in good order from any previous services.

Preparation Consecration prior to the beginning of service. A prayer of consecration to ask God’s blessing as you serve.

Preparation Know your assigned post and going to it. Know your assign location (post) and get there before service begins. The other members are depending on you to do your part.

The Church Service Friendly but not jovial. Anticipate the needs of the congregation. Collection of the offering. Now we will look at what is expected of you during the church service.

The Church Service Be friendly but not jovial. An usher should not draw attention to himself with loud laughter or talking. Be cordial but not overly friendly.

The Church Service Anticipate the needs of the congregation. If there is a need in the sanctuary, either a fan or glass of water or directions to the nursery, it is the responsibility of the usher to anticipate the need.

The Church Service Collection of the offering. The usher is collect the offering in the manner determined by the church. They are to insure that all parishioners have an opportunity to give.

Summary This concludes the lesson. You are now better equipped to decide if you have what it takes to be an usher. Please take a short quiz to test what you have learned. Give yourself a hand. This concludes the lesson. Now let’s take a short quiz. Take out you pen and the answer sheet that was provided when you signed up for this lesson.

Quiz Question 1 Which of these people has what it takes to be a good church usher? A person that never smiles. A friendly, outgoing person. A person that is not willing to help.

Quiz Answer 1 Which of these people has what it takes to be a good church usher? b) A friendly, outgoing person.

Quiz Question 2 This is a service that the usher renders during church service. a) Collecting the offering. b) Seating the parishioners. c) Anticipate the needs of the congregation. d) All of the above.

Quiz Answers 2 This is a service that the usher renders during church service. d) All of the above. Seating the parishioners and anticipating their needs along with the collection of the offering are the ushers major duting during the church service.

Quiz Question 3 The church usher is just like an usher in any other venue? True False

Quiz Answer 3 The church usher is just like an usher in any other venue? False

Quiz Question 4 Quality Usher Not an Friendly Deceitful Respectful Cheater Prayerful Outgoing Identify the qualities of an usher in the correct box. The usher is collect the offering in the manner determined by the church. They are to insure that all parishioners have an opportunity to give.

Quiz Answer 4 Quality Usher Not an Friendly X Deceitful Respectful Cheater Prayerful Outgoing Identify the qualities of an usher in the correct box. There are certain qualities that make a good usher. Not all ushers display all of the qualities, but they should be display as many of these qualities as they have.

Quiz Question 5 Teamwork is important if you are an usher? True False

Quiz Question 5 Teamwork is important if you are an usher? True Ushers must work together to insure that all of their duties are done as professionally as possible.

Where to Get More Information The best source of training are head ushers in your home church and other tenured ushers. There are books available at LifeWay Christian Store or http://lifewaystore.com

References Johnson, A. D. (1966). The work of the usher. Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press. End