How often will I do this?

A: As an Usher you will be in one of 2 Ushering teams which are on a week on week off basis.

How much of the service will I miss?

A: As an Usher your main duties are to show people to vacant seats as they walk in, give out offering buckets and communion and reset the auditorium after the service. Therefore it works out that you will miss the worship, but you will need to stand at your assign spot to continue to usher the late arrivals. Also you will be required to do offering which will mean missing the announcements and communion which will mean you will be standing ready to hand out the emblems during the communion message. So realistically you won’t ‘miss out’ on much, but you will have to be aware of your duties during some of the service.

Will I still hear the message?

A: Yes, as by the time the message starts almost all the attending people have arrived and offering, more often then not, been done; the only reason you may miss a couple minutes of the message is to do communion which is normally no longer than five minutes.

What happens if I can’t do a rostered weekend?

A: If you are unable to make it to a service you are rostered on to, all you have to do is let us know by the Friday before the service and we will look after the rest.

Do I wear a T-Shirt or a nametag?

As an Usher we need you to wear a volunteer T-shirt so people can recognise that you are there to assist and direct them.

Will I get any training before I start?

A: Before you start as an Usher you will be given all the information and instruction you need to feel comfortable and sure in what you need to do.

Am I required to minister to people spiritually?

A: As an Usher one of the most important responsibilities is to follow up people who have responded to a message. This does not mean you are required to counsel them through the early stages of faith, what you need to do is approach them straight after the message and mention there response, give them a Bible (found at the connect desk) and offer to take them to a pastor.

What do I need to do when I arrive before a service?

A: Find the head usher to find out what aisle or duty you are allocated to.

When ushering before a service what do I need to do?

A: Firstly stand at the front of the aisles and encourage people to sit as far forward and as central as possible. Try to leave gaps on the edges of the rows, rather than the middle, by asking people to move towards the centre taking up all the spaces before the get comfortable. Also, try to keep a mental note of where there are empty seats so that in worship you can direct people straight to seats so they are not left wandering up and down the aisles trying to find empty seats.

Is there anyone that I should be especially watching out for?

A: Yes, while ushering you should give extra assistance to any who are disabled, aged or any who are emotionally distressed while they find a seat. Also, keep a look out for mothers with prams or babies and single mothers so that you can offer assistance by directing them to the pram section of the church and pointing out the mothers rooms and kids church facilities.

What do I need to do if I am allocated to a door duty?

A: In short your role is to prevent people from entering the auditorium before the doors are opened. If anyone tries to enter asked if the must be in there, if they are not on the band or a service team they probably don’t need to get in. Explain politely that it is easier for the ushers to set up without people in the auditorium. If they become difficult call the head usher for assistance.

How do I pass out the offering buckets?

A: The buckets are past out, down every row, in the direction of the mother’s room. They are then received on the other side of the section, by the same usher who just passed out to the other section of that aisle.

How do I pass out the Communion?

A: Communion is slightly different to offering as it is not allocated by aisles but by sections. There are two people assigned to one section and starting from the front pass the emblems to alternating rows as the work their way to the back. An important factor to note it that the bread is always passed first so it is easier to pick up both emblems.

Do I do anything to help people who respond to the minister, if so what is that?

A: Yes, this is the most important task of an usher. During the response, scan your sections for responding hands. After the service immediately go and give them a bible, which are found at the connect desk. Simply get them to fill out a connect card so that we can get in contact with them to help them on the journey, then ask if the would like to talk to a pastor; if yes, just walk them up to a gender appropriate pastor and introduce them explaining to the pastor that they have just made the decision to follow Christ.

What do I need to do before I leave?

A: Before you go there are a couple things that need to be done. For both morning services the ushers must rest the cards by refilling and replacing the appropriate cards. For the evening service the ushers must pull out all cards from the floor and balcony seats taking them back to the connect desk. Also, rubbish needs to be picked up and chairs straightened. Then talk to the head usher and if everything is done they will let you go.

What do I do in any form of emergency?

A: In all forms of emergencies the most important thing is to remain calm. Different steps are required in different situations:

Disturbance – Ask the party/parties involved to stop as they are disturbing other guests. If they persist promptly call the head usher.

Illness/Medical – Take the person to the connect desk, if they are unable to move promptly consult the head usher.

Evacuation – In the event of an evacuation, ushers must go to the outside of the appropriate dor and direct everyone to go straight to the oval