How to Usher in a Church

Preparing yourself for ushering

Have a close relationship with God. Seek to be anointed as the usher is the first contact of the people. Pray, fast and meet regularly. This is one step closer to getting to the Lord.

Dress appropriately for ushering. Be professional, but comfortable. You are part of a team; communicate with each other.

Remember you are on the "front line". Therefore, you will be one of the first impressions of this ministry. Warmly welcome guests and regular attendees.

Be a team player. Always be willing to work with others. Know how to find a replacement if you're not able to usher when scheduled. Advise your team captain if you need to do this Cover for your fellow usher when needed.

Ensuring comfort and safety

Provide a safe and healthy environment.

Provide directions to rest rooms and other facilities as may be needed. Know where all of the restrooms are in the church and associated buildings. If they need to be unlocked, ensure that the keys are available.

Provide a comfortable temperature in the church. If you are head usher, this will likely be your responsibility.

Make regular checks throughout building facilities to make sure no one is wandering around in halls.

Keep the sanctuary doors closed during service time. Control incoming and outgoing crowds.

Be alert at all times. Ushers need to be ready at all times to respond as directed when there is a disturbance, illness, or other situation that requires special attention.

During a church service

Be in the church venue at least 30 minutes but preferably one hour before the event to ascertain that the venue is ready to host the service. Also to allow members have time for prayers before service. Never be late to service.

Make the people, members and guests, feel welcomed and important.

Assist visitors to their seats. Never leave them looking for a place to sit. Know where available seats are when the church is filling up.

Assist special needs persons to enter and leave the church.

Be conversant with order of service to ensure a smooth flow of late members without interfering with the service.

Always leave one person on the door to guard against movement coming in or leaving out. There should be no movement at all.

Starting from the back, have one usher on each outside aisle, and two ushers coming down the middle. Outside ushers pass the collection plate, towards the inside to the center ushers. The center ushers move to the next row, and passes toward the outside ushers. This presumes you have enough ushers.

When you get to the front, the ushers that are on post on the side doors meet in the middle for prayer. Place your right hand over your heart.

After prayer, have everyone return to their position in twos. Ushers should go to the back, and the side ushers return to their position.

After the pastor gives the instructions, outside ushers walk behind each other until they get to the front of the church. Then get in line and go to the middle of the front row on each side, standing in line until after the prayer.

After prayer, ushers go down the middle aisle in twos. Keep in step with each other and return to your position. Side door ushers return to their position.