Scarsdale Congregational Church

Guidelines for Ushers

Our Governance, How To..

Ushering is a wonderful opportunity to serve our fellowship. These guidelines, prepared by the Worship and Music Committee, will help you feel comfortable in this role. Thank you for volunteering for this important work. If you are the Head Usher, you have a significant list of Check Steps for which you may seek help from your companion ushers.

Before The Service

Please be at your post at least 20 minutes before the start of the service.
The Head Usher for the day is the source of answers to your questions.
Wear a boutonniere and name tag, both of which are in the "Sunday Box" which you'll find to the left in the narthex.
Practice your collection-taking process and procedures (see below) before others come to worship.
Light the altar candles. Lighters are in both pulpits.
Take a handful of Orders of Worship and station yourselves - two at the center aisle doors, one each at the side aisle doors.
Be helpful, but it is usually not necessary to take people to their seats.

Before The Offering

One usher should remain in the narthex to help late comers. The other three ushers may take their seats until the hymn before the offering.
The usher remaining in the narthex should close the outside and aisle doors after the children leave for Church School.
Late comers should be seated from the side aisles, not the center aisle. They may enter the sanctuary during announcements, the Time With Children and hymns. They should not enter the sanctuary during prayers, readings, organ interludes or anthems.
The Head Usher should take attendance during announcements; use the form from the Sunday Box. Place the completed form in one of the collection plates.

Taking the Offering

During the hymn, before the announcement of the offering, line up in the narthex by height, shorter persons in the lead. Open the center aisle doors.
At the beginning of the announcement of the offering, walk quickly toward the Chancel.
The two lead ushers stop directly in front of the ministers; the two following ushers split to either side.
Receive the plates from the Ministers.
Lead ushers take the center aisle; following ushers take the side aisles.
Pass the plates. Use common sense and eye contact to make this process as smooth as possible. Generally don't pass the plate from aisle to aisle if there are fewer than six people seated closely together in the row.
Two ushers should take the offering in the balcony; one should go to the Archibald Room, below the sanctuary, where there may be parents with young children.

Bringing the Offering Forward

When you have completed taking the offering, line up in the narthex as you did earlier.
When the Ministers rise from their seats to receive the offering, walk quickly toward the chancel. Do not wait for the Ministers to get to their places in front of the altar.
As soon as the Ministers take the plates, immediately turn inward and walk quickly down the aisle to the narthex. From the narthex, return to your seats using the side aisles.

After the Service

At the start of the last hymn, the Head Usher opens the center aisle doors for the recessional of the choir and Ministers.
All ushers assist in cleaning up the pews. Return the Bibles and hymnals to the racks. Remove orders of worship and other items. Check and replace pew cards on which children may have written.
Extinquish the candles in the chancel.
Close the windows.

Thank you for your help in making worship a welcoming experience.