Ushering Duties for Eucharist Services
General notes:
Please confirm that you will serve as scheduled, using the email or Planning Center app when you receive the email from the Rev. Mike.
Please find a replacement or contact John Perry, if you must cancel. (See info below.)
Arrive for the prayer at 9:15 am with everyone serving at that service.
Roles you will play during the Eucharist (Communion) Service as an usher:
Prior to the service: Decide which of you will process with the cross and which will process with the Bible. Also decide which side each of you will cover for the offering.
Procession: You and your co-usher will process with the cross and Bible during the opening hymn. Here are the major points:
Be ready just in front of the Baptismal Font with the cross and Bible and await the opening sentences from the clergy leading worship.
The person carrying the cross should look up and be sure it is straight and wait for the singing to start before processing. Walk at a slow and deliberate pace, such as a bride going down the aisle. Step up and place the cross into the holder by the altar, making sure it is straight.
The person carrying the Bible should hold it up with both hands in front of themselves and follow the person carrying the cross. When the person carrying the cross places it in the holder, you should place the Bible on the left front section of the altar where the Gospel reader will retrieve it from.
Both ushers should walk back down the step from the altar, face it and bow at the waist together, then return to your seats using the side aisles.
Offering: After the Passing of the Peace, a member of the clergy will ask everyone to be seated and start
announcements.
At this time, retrieve the offering basket from the rear of the church (behind the AV area on the left side and where the prayer ministry occurs on the right) and stand at the rear of your assigned side of the church.
When the member of the clergy concludes announcements, they will start the offering and the music team will begin the offertory hymn.
Walk with your basket down the side aisle (not the middle) of your side and start passing the basket to the front row.
The last person in each row should pass the basket to the row behind them, so that you receive it back in the side aisle at every other row.
When you receive the basket between rows, offer it to the small pews on the far side.
When you have completed your side, go to the large pew in the rear of the church (unless your co-usher has already reached them).
Whoever is serving on the left-hand side of the church (as you face the altar) needs to look up to see if there is anyone in the balcony. If so, go up the stairs and offer the basket to them.
Meet your co-usher at the center rear of the church and stack the baskets together.
The usher who is not also the reader that week should take both baskets stacked together and process down the aisle when the singing of the Doxology begins (“Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below…)
Hand the two baskets to the clergy member and bow slightly at the waist. Then return to your seat using the side aisle.
Serving the Wine at Communion: When the prayer of consecration is complete and the Priest celebrating
holds up the bread and wine and says, “these are the gifts of God for the People of God…”, use the hand
sanitizer in your pew or in the rear of the church to sanitize your hands.
After the priest explains that communion is open to all baptized people and shares how to come to the altar, they will say, “servers.” That is your cue to walk up to the altar and stan around. Stand in front of the altar on the side where you will be serving the chalice.
The priest will offer you communion and then give you the chalice and small white cloth. Hold the chalice in one hand and hold the cloth slightly in front of it with the other, so that any drips are caught on the cloth and not the floor.
The gluten-free communion server (who also served as a greeter earlier) will not take communion at this time to avoid cross contamination. They will receive two small trays with the gluten-free wafers and grape juice stacked on each other.
You will all walk down in front of the altar rail with the gluten-free server going first on the left, followed by the chalice and then the clergy member with the wafers.
When the priest says to come forward, the congregation will start approaching the altar. When each approaches you and dips their wafer in the chalice you say, “The blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.”
The gluten-free server says, “the Body of Christ, the bread of heaven; the Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.”
You may be asked by a clergy member to follow them to take communion to someone who is unable to walk to the front or who is running slides or sound. Follow the clergy member, offer the chalice and then return with them to the altar.
At the conclusion, the priest will nod and ask everyone to move back to the altar. Place your chalice on the altar in front of you on the side you served from. Place the small cloth next to it.
The clergy members and the gluten-free server will then receive communion.
When the priest nods, return to your seat.
Counting and recording the offering:
After the service, one of the ushers retrieves the offering baskets from the altar and brings them back to the area behind the AV area on the left.
The two of you then count and confirm the amount in the baskets in cash and checks.
Open the zippered bank bag and record the amount in cash and checks next to the date of the service. Then each of you signs your name to verify the amounts. (Do not put a date in the far right column. That is for the person making the bank deposit.)
Place any connect cards or other items in the baskets with the offering in the bag.
Close the zippered bag and place it in the sacristy on the table. (The sacristy is the room through the double doors to the left of the altar.)
Thank you for your participation to share the gifts of God with our congregation!