Usher Duties and Hospitality Hosts
Check List
Christ the King Lutheran Church
Worship Ministry
March 2006
Hospitality is rooted in Near Eastern culture, and has a rich biblical foundation. Remember Abraham entertaining the strangers at the Oak Tree in Mamre, who announced that in the spring Sarah would give birth to a son (Genesis 18)?
See also Romans 12:13: Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Hebrews 31:2: Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Our weekly Eucharist is a public event, and as such usher and hospitality hosts must be most aware of providing a welcoming space.
BEGIN WITH THE BUILDING
See the Document Sunday Morning Checklist at Christ the King.
CONTINUE WITH WELCOMING
Go out of your way to greet those whom you do not know. Even if you ask someone if they're visiting and they say they're members, you are signaling them that you are interested in welcoming them. Apologize, and strike up a conversation.
If they are visiting, introduce them to others who are around. Encourage them to sign our guest book. Show an interest in them and how we might help them with the resources we have for our worship, by pointing out the bulletin and the hymnals. If they sit alone, encourage someone from CtK to sit next to them.
Make sure that everyone who wants one receive a liturgy leaflet and a copy of Christ the King News. Children can receive Children's bulletins. Young Children can find coloring books and soft toys in Noah's Ark. If someone inquires about a nursery, point the way to ours just beyond the bathroom and our staff (currently Bryn Farrington and Mel Graves).
Keep an eye out for late arrivals once the service begins. Allow some time into the service before counting those who are attending, and noting it on the sheet provided. Any other special instructions are included each week.
THE LITURGY
As we are using homemade bread, please be sure to take the bread out of its bag prior to worship. If we are using our ceramic ware, you will also need to uncover the flagon (pitcher) wrapped in aluminum foil and if necessary cover it with a purificator to ward off flies.
OFFERTORY
Come down the center aisle once the acolyte retrieves the offering bags. Bow at the altar, receive the bags, and bow again. Turn toward the inside to distribute the bags. At least two ushers need to receive the offering, or three, or four.
As the music to the Offertory begins and the pastor and assisting minister come to the center, begin down the center aisle with the gifts of money, bread and wine (now uncovered). Offer money on the left side to the assisting minister. Offer the wine first and then the bread to pastor. Once all has been handed over, bow, and turn toward the inside.
COMMUNION
After the Lamb of God is sung and the Invitation to Communion extended, invite by gesture those to commune beginning at the rear pews. There are two stations to receive bread and wine, standing or kneeling, depending on the time of year. Ushers are the last to commune.
ü Be sure to let Pastor know if there are people unable to
come forward who need communion at their seats.
ü At 8:00 am, wait for Judy Greenhill (organist) to come
down to receive communion first.
ü Be aware of the choir. If they are singing during communion,
they may need to commune first or last.
GO IN PEACE
After the dismissal, ushers will retrieve any reusable liturgy leaflets. There are occasional handouts at that time.
Hospitality Hosts and Ushers can introduce visitors to others and the pastor, and have them sign our guest book. You may offer them a current newsletter, or other leaflets in the rack above our welcome desk. Inviting them for further conversation, food, and fellowship are also signs of hospitality. In the shelf under the guest book, there is a visitor contact form to return to pastor and visitor contacts for follow-up. You may fill one out and put in pastor's box before leaving that morning!
Ushers should go through the pews and the seats in the chancel to clean up any leftover paper or trash.
FIRST AID
There is an orange-colored first-aid kit in the closet at the base of the balcony stairs, where acolyte and assisting minister robes are kept.
See Sunday Morning Checklist to follow through on securing our building.
Just as we pay attention to the ministry that happens in the front of the congregation, your ministry of hospitality at the back is often the "front line" for visitors and members alike.
May your welcoming in Christ's name be a blessing to others!
Christ the King's Contacts for Ushers
8 am Millie Bauer 882-6142 e-mail: webmaster@ctknashua.org
10:30 am Jim Whalen 672-5197 e-mail: jim.whalen@adelphia.net
Christ the King's Contact for Hospitality Hosts
Jennifer Driscoll 672-8358 e-mail: jenjoe2@charter.net
Judi Deltano 880-7277 e-mail: deltano@hughes.net
Resource: Ushers and Greeters, by Gerald Spice, Augsburg Fortress © 2002.
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