Instructions for Ushers

(Rev. September 2026)

1.   Arrive at the church 20-30 (closer to 30 is better) minutes BEFORE THE SERVICE at which you are to usher. Check the sanctuary to make sure it is set up properly:

·         Sanctuary neat and orderly and all doors to the sanctuary closed

·         Bulletin and liturgy pew insert on Acolyte’s seat; if not, put them there

·         Position of offering plates:  one on each of the right and left offering tables in the narthex, and two on the center table

·         Altar prepared for communion with bread and wine on credence table; communion rail across front opening of the altar; communion glasses on the tables at the front of the sanctuary (this is all altar guild responsibility)

·         “Reserve” signs are in usher credenza if you want to reserve a seat in the sanctuary

·         PA system should already be turned on (system is on when red light to the left of the sacristy door is on; if not check with Livestream Technician, Worship Captain, or Janet Weber); microphone at the lectern should already be on for the lector

·         Since there is generally not an Acolyte for the 8:00 AM service, the Pastor lights the candles on the altar and by the lectern.  Used communion cups are collected in baskets on each of the altar tables in front of the pews. 

2.   It is imperative that the doors from the narthex into the sanctuary are closed 20 minutes PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SERVICE.   Ushers should be positioned outside the first two sets of doors to hand out the bulletins, or outside the first door if only one usher at the 8:00 service.  If there is something else to be handed out, in addition to the bulletin, it will be on the credenza in the narthex with the bulletins. Liturgy Inserts will be in a basket on the table in the narthex. You can take the time to put the Liturgy Inserts in the bulletins (just be sure they are pulled out of unused bulletins), or hand them out separately.  If worshippers are loitering in the narthex, it may be necessary to flip the lights in the narthex to encourage them to enter the sanctuary.  The switches are by the coffee area and the front door. 

3.  At least one of the ushers should stay in the narthex until AFTER THE SERVICE BEGINS to make sure latecomers are greeted and given a bulletin.  You should allow no one to enter the sanctuary during the Confession and Forgiveness.  Stay with them in the narthex until the first hymn begins, at which time they can enter the sanctuary. 

4.  At the beginning of the service, you should COUNT the number attending (a good time to do this is during the readings at the 8:00 service and during the children’s sermon at 10:00) also counting the children, choir, Music Director, and Pastor).  At the first service (or only service), count the Pastor and Music Director (do not count them at the second service if there are two or more services.  If the Bells ring, they usually ring at both services. Count them only at the first service (or only service). The Choir will generally sing at the second service, so count them then.  If they sing at both services, again count them at the first service.  Record that number on the form found on the credenza near the bulletins, or in the cabinet beneath.  Do not forget to count the nursery.  Place the completed form back on the credenza after the 8:00 service, and in the Church Administrator’s mailbox in the hallway (bottom row, all the way to the right) after the 10:00 service.

5.  OFFERING:  Sometime prior to The Offertory Response, all the offering from the three entrances to the sanctuary should be collected and placed in the top plate outside the center doors.  Whenever the acolyte or Assisting Minister (or the Pastor at the 8:00 service when there is no acolyte) walks to the front of the altar, one usher should be ready to take the one plate forward and hand to the acolyte, Assisting Minister, or Pastor.  The usher should stay in place facing the altar until the person taking the plate turns around facing the altar, and then the usher can return to the back of the sanctuary.  The second plate remains on the table in the narthex in case any worshippers did not put their offering in a plate prior to the start of the service.  Note:  The only times the offering plates are passed among the congregation are Easter and Christmas Eve, and instructions will be provided by the Worship Captain.

6.  COMMUNION:  Two ushers are needed.  One distributes the communion cups and one directs the congregation to the communion rail in an orderly manner (Note: At 8:00 service, if there is only one usher, one usher can do both, moving down the aisle holding the tray of glasses, as each row is directed to go forward for communion).   As soon as the Lamb of God starts, the ushers, communion server, and acolyte can assume their positions at the altar or at the front pew.  The first to be communed are the congregational members, who can be ushered forward as soon as the Pastor and Communion Server seem to be ready (do not wait for a nod or any other signal from the Pastor, and do not wait for the entire Lamb of God to be sung.  Just get moving….  Another Note: The grape juice is already poured and in 4 -5 glasses,  in each tray of the otherwise empty glasses.  When someone wants grape juice rather than wine, he/she will take the glass of juice with them to the altar as they are ushered up for communion.  Referring to the diagram on the last page of these instructions, begin at the right front of the Sanctuary (section 1), having the communicants come out of the section into aisle B; then go to section 2, having communicants come out of aisle C; then 3, then 4.  Those communing should be directed to fill in at the communion rail from the right (pulpit) side.  The communion rail will accommodate 28-30 people at one time.  The flow should be continuous, not in tables.  Try to keep a short line waiting in the aisle so there is always a continuous flow to the altar with no gaps.  The usher who is holding the communion glasses stays in the Chancel at the head of each aisle (B, C, D) on the left-hand side, and moves to each section as needed. If there is not sufficient room in aisle E, it is okay to usher section 4 out into aisle D.  The person ushering people forward should keep an eye on the communion rail and advise people on whether they should go to the right or the left of the rail when it may not be apparent.  The choir will commune after the four sections of the congregation.  The acolyte will collect the used communion cups at the altar before the communicants leave the rail.  Note:  Since there is generally no acolyte at the 8:00 service, the Altar Guild will place a small basket on each of the tables holding the communion cups, and each worshipper will drop their used cup in the basket after communing.  If there is no Acolyte present for the 10:00 service (or 9:30 in the summer) the Assisting Minister can collect the used communion cups in the trays on the bottom shelf of the credence table.  The communicants should return to their pews in the aisle opposite the one they took to the altar.  

7.   GETTING CHILDREN TO COMMUNION WHEN SUNDAY SCHOOL IS RUNNING CONCURRENT WITH WORSHIP SERVICE AT 10:00 AM:

·         An usher, or preferably the Worship Captain, needs to go to all classrooms, currently 3,  when the Lord’s Prayer begins to announce it is time for them to go to the sanctuary for communion.  It is not necessary to wait for the kids, but rather tell them and move on to the next classroom.  They may be able to leave right away, or they may have to wait a couple minutes (if a kid is in the bathroom, for example).  The teacher and all kids in their classroom need to go together. 

·         The person who went to the classrooms to alert the kids, should then return to the far door leading into the sanctuary in order to serve as the door person to allow the kids to enter. When all the kids are gathered in the narthex and are ready to go in, they can be worked into the line when it works best.  They may go first, if they get to the narthex quickly, or they may be a bit slower and worked into the line ASAP, with teachers leading them to the altar.  Note:  The top tray of cups nearest the pulpit will be set up with several more cups of grape juice to accommodate the Sunday School. 

·         If there is room at the altar for more people after the kids are in place, the ushers should send up more adults.

·         Ushers need not worry about the kids leaving the sanctuary; the teachers will lead them out, taking the path of least resistance. 

8.  COMMUNION FOR THOSE IN CONGREGATION WHO CANNOT GO FORWARD TO ALTAR:  After all those in the congregation have been served, those who cannot walk up to the altar are served. 

   a.  Usher who has been ushering congregation up to the altar leads others to those people who are being served in their pews. 

   b.  Usher with empty cups takes tray of cups and grape juice (in case someone wants grape juice).

   c.  Pastor serves the bread.

   d.  Communion Server serves the wine (or grape juice).

   e.  Acolyte (or the usher with the tray of empty cups and grape juice) takes the empty cup(s).

   f.  They all move on to the next person in the congregation. 

9.  COMMUNION FOR ALL ASSISTANTS:  After all in the congregation have been served, Ushers, Communion Server, and Acolyte go to the altar to be served by the Pastor.  The usher holding the tray of cups should take the cups for all assistants, generally 3 or 4.

10.  Open the doors into the narthex during the final hymn.  AFTER THE SERVICE, do the following: 

• Go through the pews, removing any trash that has been left and collecting bulletins left behind  

• Straighten up and organize anything on the back of the pews

• Close all doors to the sanctuary

Please keep in mind that the job of the ushers is to see to it that things run smoothly.  Try to anticipate problems, such as the need for extra chairs if it is a special service that will fill the sanctuary.  Be aware that there are emergency first aid kits located in the usher’s credenza, in the kitchen, and in the nursery.  The emergency number is 911; there are phones in the choir office and in the conference room.