1.  Overview of Ministry and Responsibilities  Questions  Input and Ideas  What is going well  What can be improved  What can be added  What resources would increase effectiveness

2.  Focus upon auditorium and worship service  Usher Ministry Team  Team Leaders  Ushers  Usher assistants

3.  Team Priorities: Comfort and Care ▪ Assist people in the auditorium, care for need, seat people ▪ Take offering ▪ Monitor service, assist in emergencies  Periodically check the parking lots and facilities ▪ For people who need assistance ▪ For security of people and the property  Team Composition  5 Members: 1 Lead Usher, 5 Ushers

4.  Lead Usher – one per service  Arrive 25 minutes before the start of the service  Stay active and accessible during the service  Usher  Arrive at least 15 minutes before the service starts  Continue at least 5 minutes after the service starts  Be alert to needs throughout the service  Greet, assist others 15 minutes after service ends

5.  Scan the bulletin, learn about special events  Where and when, who can attend, how to get further information  Review Sunday School class locations  Especially children’s classes  Review Ushers Responsibilities Card  Check with lead usher for instructions, special needs, etc  Find out when the offering will be taken during the service  Put on name tag, positive attitude and a smile!

6.  Give Newcomers TOP priority  Answer their questions  Assist them  Direct them to the Guest Center  Request they fill out a Connections Card  Offer to collect their Connection Card after the service  If possible, seat them and introduce them BY NAME to regular attendees seated around them  Try to find them after the service to offer further assistance and to thank them for attending

7.  Welcome people, offer to seat them  Offer assistance to people who look like they need help  Assist late arrivals, offer them a bulletin, help seat them  Help set up extra chairs  Help with offering and counting people in attendance  When seated during the service  Be alert to needs, distractions or special situations around you  Seek help immediately if there is a medical emergency  Be available and willing if the lead usher needs help during the service  After the service  Greet at least one person you do not know or do not know well  Encourage, compliment and thank people for attending

8.  Don’t Panic – people need you to stay calm  Render any immediate help or aid you can  Instruct others who come to help  Instruction Guidelines  1 st usher/person: Provide immediate assistance  2 nd usher/person: Locate onsite medical people  3 rd usher/person: Call 911 if instructed, relay information from attending medical people  4 th usher: Clear chairs from the immediate area, open up aisle for emergency medical crew, get supplies requested by attending medical people  5 th usher: Go outside of front entry to meet emergency crew and escort them to the person needing medical attention

9.  Before first service - check through facilities. Make sure doors are unlocked, lights are on, fans are on, remove litter  Get pager from the nursery  Make sure necessary supplies for usher ministry are in place and adequate  Assign areas of service and responsibilities to usher team, make sure team is functioning  Find Usher Assistants to help with the offering, make sure they are prepared to serve when called upon  Monitor the service – look for needs or emergencies  Monitor the building and parking lot during the service, answer the phone, offer assistance to people in the halls  Thank people for coming, notify office if anything “odd” occurred

10.  Informal relationship to usher ministry  Filled on a need basis on Sunday mornings  Assist in collecting the offering  Assist in setting up chairs and other irregular types of tasks or needs for the service

11.  Do you have questions or desire any clarifications regarding the Usher ministry?  How can the Usher ministry be improved?  What is going well  What can be improved  What can be added  What resources would increase effectiveness