Usher Guidelines
USHER CHECKLIST
8:30 Service
General Information:
A. Head usher is responsible to obtain three other persons to serve for the month.
B. Turn in names of ushers to church secretary by Tuesday of the week before they serve so she can print them in the bulletin.
C. Report for duty no later than 8:00a.m.
When you first arrive:
a. all ushers should wear usher emblems
b. check to see that all outside doors have been opened. (a special wrench for locking glass doors is in cabinet by office door. Be sure to return it there following use. )
c. take bulletins to early arrivals who are already seated
d. welcome worshipers, give them bulletins— regular, children’s and/or large print.
e. accompany them to end of pew— asking those seated to make room if necessary
When service begins:
a. shut doors to sanctuary when service begins.
b. seat latecomers during hymns or other appropriate times.
c. head usher should count the number of persons attending service (including choir and balcony) and leave a note with this information on the secretary’s desk calendar.
d. after Scripture reading, dim the lights under the balcony (halfway) and return them to normal following the sermon.
e. Open doors to sanctuary during the last hymn.
After service:
a. The head usher should place offering in money bag marked “8:30 and 11:00 Offering” in the bottom drawer of the file cabinet behind secretary’s desk in church office. If “2 Cents” or other special offering is taken, place in bag marked “Special Offering”.
b. return hearing devices to usher cabinet
c. pick up used bulletins left in pews and straighten up the usher cabinet for next service.
11:00 Service
General Information:
A. Head usher needs to get 3 other persons to serve for the month. Ask persons in the balcony to take up offering and count the number of worshipers present there.
B. Turn in names of ushers to church secretary by Tuesday of the week before they serve so she can print them in the bulletin.
C. Pick up Usher keys prior to Sunday and return on Monday following last Sunday of your month. (a special wrench for locking glass doors is in cabinet by office door. Be sure to return it there following the service)
D. Report for duty no later than 10:30a.m.
When you first arrive:
a. all ushers should wear usher emblems
b. take bulletins to early arrivals who are already seated
c. welcome worshipers, give them bulletins (on usher cabinet) regular, children’s and/or large print.
d. accompany them to end of pew and asking those seated to make room if necessary.
When service begins:
a. shut doors to sanctuary when service begins.
b. seat latecomers during hymns or other appropriate times.
c. after Gloria Patri, send one usher to secure west wing of building:
(1.) Check gym and recreation room
(a) send anyone found over to worship
(b) turn out lights, check outside doors, turn back thermostats (75 summer; 70 winter)
(2.) Turn off lights in all classrooms and restrooms
(3) Turn back thermostats by Session room door (75 summer; 70 winter)
(4) turn off coffee maker and pick up money
(5) turn back thermostat in Fellowship Hall (75 summer; 70 winter)
(6) turn out lights in Fellowship Hall and Kitchen and lock kitchen door.
(7) Turn out lights on first and second floor of Education Building except in the nursery and pre-school area.
(8) turn off coffee urns in breezeway and pick up coffee money. (Place coffee money in the beige bank bag marked “coffee money” in the bottom drawer of the file cabinet behind secretary’s desk in church office.)
d. head usher should count the number of persons attending service (including choir and balcony) and leave a note with this information on the secretary’s desk calendar.
e. after Scripture reading, dim the lights under the balcony (halfway) and return them to normal following the sermon.
f. Open doors to sanctuary during the last hymn
After service:
a. The head usher should place offering in money bag marked “8:30 and 11:00 Offering” in the bottom drawer of the file cabinet behind secretary’s desk in church office, and take both bags ( Sunday School and Offering) to night deposit box at Bancorp South,1 Mississippi Plaza (Main Bank, Downtown, (night deposit box on North side of Main Building – not drive-thru). If “2 Cents” or other special offering is taken, put it in bag marked “Special Offering” and take to bank with other bags. Be sure all bags are locked before taking them to bank. The keys to bags and to night deposit box are on the usher key ring.
b. Check to be sure p.a. system has been turned off in sanctuary.
c. check and lock the outside door behind choir loft.
d. return hearing devices to usher cabinet
e. turn off lights in choir area, sanctuary, narthex, McFadden Hall, balcony, upstairs hall, downstairs hall, basement, stairways, breezeway, nursery and pre-school.
f. turn off thermostat in balcony
g. lock outside doors in breezeway, pre-school (2), basement, and tower entrance. Please use breaker box to turn off sanctuary lights.