Who We Are - PCUSA

I learned about this document today in a class about valuing and supporting volunteers and found it positively inspirational. It seemed to be describing so many of you!

LIFE TOGETHER IN THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH:
STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR
EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (U.S.A.)

As an employee or volunteer in an entity, governing body, or congregation associated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), I commit myself to the following standards of ethical conduct.

I will conduct my life in a manner that will support the ministry of my workplace. Therefore I will:
1. Be honest and truthful in my relationships with others;
2. Treat all persons with equal respect and concern;
3. Maintain a healthy balance among the responsibilities of my position, my commitments to family and other primary relationships, and my need for spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual renewal;
4. Refrain from abusive, addictive, or exploitative behavior and seek help to overcome such behavior if it occurs; and
5. Refrain from gossip and abusive speech.


I will conduct myself at my workplace in a manner that will support its ministry. Therefore I will:
1. Honor relationships within the workplace and observe appropriate boundaries;
2. Be judicious in the exercise of the power and privileges of my position;
3. Avoid conflicts of interest that might compromise the effectiveness of my work;
4. Refrain from exploiting relationships within the workplace for personal gain or gratification, including sexual harassment and misconduct as defined by Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) policy;
5. Respect the privacy of individuals and not divulge information obtained in confidence without express permission unless an individual is a danger to self or others;
6. Recognize the limits of my own gifts and training, and refer persons and tasks to others as appropriate;
7. Claim only those qualifications actually attained, give appropriate credit for all sources used in papers, music, and presentations, and observe copyrights;
8. Observe limits set by the appropriate governing body for honoraria;
9. Deal honorably with the record of my predecessor and, upon leaving a position, speak and act in ways that support the work of my successor;
10. Be a faithful steward of and fully account for funds and property entrusted to me;
11. Accept the appropriate guidance of those to whom I am accountable;
12. Participate in continuing education and seek the counsel of mentors and professional advisors;
13. Show respect and provide encouragement for colleagues; and
14. Cooperate with persons of other faith traditions.

FPCB website has some cool stuff that you can use!

Did you know that the church is becoming MUCH more proactive in making the tasks of volunteers easier? It's simple, really - we realize more and more the invaluable contribution of volunteers in making the church the place where people can truly experience the love of God in their own lives.

Here is a link to information you might like to know about volunteer resources at FPCB. And thank you!

http://www.fpcbellevue.org/About/churchleadership/vol_leader_faq.ashx?p=1878

GREAT INPUT FROM BOB WILSON RE: CHRISTMAS TASKS

Bob sent me a great info sheet with ideas and comments from last season. Here are a few pertinent ones - if you have any other ideas or comments, please let us know so that when I meet with the captains we take all that input and make this the easiest and best Christmas eve ever!

Christmas Eve Ushering Suggestions
by Bob Wilson
Ushers needed per service
Captain 1
Sanctuary 6
Balcony 3
Narthex 4
Community Center 2
total per service 16

More difficult positions like #3 and #5 could be filled by regulars – was very helpful last year.

Making sure we all know when to arrive, distribution of the candles, overflow standing room, how the offering will be picked up, candle lighting, where will the count sheets be located, where are worshipers to wait that arrive early for the next service, where is the medical team located… is important.

So - do you have other ideas for the ushers? I have a list of to-dos, which i didn't list here, but if you have one for me, email me - otherwise, you can list helpful hints for each other in the comments section below this post! :-) Karen

CHRISTMAS?!?!? AUGHGHGHGHH!

Yep, we're already looking ahead to the Christmas season.

SCARY!!!

In the usher's closet on the first floor of the sanctuary, there is a sign up sheet for those of you brave enough to volunteer to usher a Christmas eve service.

I am moving early on this for three reasons:

1. Like pulling off a bandaid, it's good to get tough stuff done as quickly as possible.

2. This gives us plenty of time to get the team captains' heads together to determine how many ushers we need at each service and communicate the detailed tasks in advance.

3. We can carefully look at what the tasks are for each service, outline how we should train the "one-night-volunteers" we get from sign ups in the narthex, and make sure that everyone knows when & where to check in, and what they are to do once they get there.

So check out the sign-up sheet and think about when you might be able to serve.

And - shoot me a note on how we can make this season even easier than any other we've done before! Comments and suggestions are MOST welcome!!

Next Up - Training!

If you are interested in getting training on emergency procedures in the church, as well as CPR training, please shoot me an email at knelson@fpcbellevue.org so I can do a head count and get a class scheduled.

Thanks!

Dangerous Ushers at the BBQ

This is what happens when you give an usher a hamburger and a squirt gun. Or when you serve them tea. No alcohol, just tea. Or basically, just get them together for an afternoon of fun and hot dogs. You better run for cover.

Drinks?????

Hi all – I received a call saying that someone said that there was a sign in the sanctuary saying that it was now permissible to have drinks in the sanctuary.

Actually, there IS indeed a slide running in the sanctuary and narthex up to ten minutes before worship letting people know that there is an 11:00 modern service and that in THAT modern service in the community center it is permissible to bring drinks. They are still NOT permitted in the sanctuary.

I can see how it could be misconstrued that drinks are now ok in the sanctuary since the slide is running there and someone may glance up and misinterpret it – I will ask communications if there is some way to clarify this slide, or to remove it so that congregants don’t get a mixed message, nor the ushers the idea that we are now asking them to clean up! We don’t want to put you in a position of conflict.

Just as an FYI, the drinks are ok in the community center because the floor is modular carpet and easily cleaned – the sanctuary carpet is another matter altogether.

So – for the record – NO, we are NOT changing policy, and there are NO drinks or food in the sanctuary. Thank you all for being sensitive and kind as you remind folks to please leave there cups outside.

Thanks to all of you for your vigilance and care!

Communion Runners

Well, this past Sunday we served communion again, and the ushers tried something new.
About 10 minutes before each service, we asked the servers to go sit in the front rows, and then stand up and make eye contact with an usher. The ushers were to choose which server was "it" and then to keep an eye on their respective server if they needed juice. The servers, on their part, were instructed to raise their hand and wait if they ran low.

Most responses so far have been positive. By focusing on a face or an individual instead of a position, it made it easier for some to keep track of their servers.

The most important aspect of it was simply to be ready, with a tray of juice in hand, watching for the signal of a raised hand.

If you participated in that process, please feel free to make notes here. By getting feedback, both positive and negative, we find out what works best and make adjustments to the things needing improvement.

Thank you to all of you as we work on streamlining and refining our processes!

Is Our Church Like This?

When you are with people on a Sunday morning, does it feel like this to you? If so, why? If not, why?

Who's on First?

Abbott and Costello have a famous comedy sketch in which they talk about the members of a baseball team, and get hopelessly confused in the process. It's funny because not only is it a sketch of masterful comedic timing, but it's often true.

I say one thing, you hear another. You say something back, and I interpret it completely differently. Communication, even between the best of teammates and the closest of friends, can occasionally get tangled.

Can you remember a time when you got in the "Abbott and Costello" pickle with another person? Tell us about it!

The Ministry of Ushering

The following excerpt is from the book, "Serving as a Church Usher" by Leslie Parrott, through Zondovan Press....

PREACHING, TEACHING, MUSIC, AND USHERING
Any act of Christian service that helps direct people into fellowship with Jesus Christ is a ministry. The most prominent ministry in the church is PREACHING. Paul wrote to the Romans, “How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14).

The next prominent ministry is TEACHING. Next to the preaching of the gospel, Martin Luther believed that teaching was the highest calling of humankind. The pastor who preaches without teaching, or the church that evangelizes without instructing, is not only obscuring the cross of Christ but failing to provide the Holy Spirit with opportunity to carry out one of his most important functions. Jesus told his disciples, “The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26).

The third great ministry in the church is MUSIC. According to Paul, music is at least on a par with teaching as a ministry in the church: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” (Colossians 3:16).

The fourth great ministry of the church is USHERING. Paul, who believed in the power of preaching, the importance of teaching, and the ministry of music, also wrote, “Everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way” (1 Corinthians 14:40). Ushers are given the responsibility of tending to the details of each service so that it is conducted in an orderly fashion.

SO - WHAT MAKES A GOOD USHER?

The three qualities of Christlike people expounded by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount are exemplified in the ministry of church ushers. First, the ministry of ushering is like salt that makes everything more palatable and serves as a general preservative against deterioration. Jesus did not say, “You ought to be the salt of the earth”; he said, “You are the salt of the earth”(Matthew 5:13, emphasis added). And Paul said, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6). A good usher adds a tang of joy rather than a tinge of drabness to a churchgoer’s Sunday worship experience.

Also, the ministry of an usher is like salt because salt can never do its work until it is brought into close contact with the substance on which it is to make its influence. The church ushers, pastors, musicians, and teachers come into direct contact with more people in a given service than anyone else who ministers to them. The ministry of salt is silent, inconspicuous, and sometimes completely unnoticed. But it is there—in a powerful and useful way.


AND NOW - THE QUESTION - in what way have you been "salt" for someone specific? In what way has someone been "salt" for you? Was it what you expected, or did it surprise you?

Think About It......Click on the picture to read the scripture....

Why did the writer of this passage think it was important to tell you there were 12 baskets left over?

What is Team Building?

Here is a list of what some organizations, both corporate and non-profit, have said about what team building is. Add your opinion - positive or negative - does this have relevance for our usher teams? Why or why not?

• team building is...an ongoing process that helps a work group evolve into a cohesive unit
• team building is...an effort in which a team studies its process of working together
• team building is...designed to improve productivity and enjoy doing it
• team building is...to help your team be more effective
• team building is...to increase the ability of a group to work together as a team by identifying strengths and areas for improvement
• team building is...a process in which a work group examines how it is currently operating
• team building is...a proven way to help develop or strengthen your biggest asset
• team building is...the ability to create a sense of belonging and ownership among team members
• team building is...a group process
• team building is...not just teaching a group of people to cooperate
• team building is...clear when individuals are involved in the decision to proceed
• team building is...an essential component for organizational success

Fill in the Blank

When I look at the faces of the people coming into church on Sunday, I see......

Thank you for responding! Keep it coming!

I am so happy to see that some of you are comfortable with the blogspace and have been commenting so we can start gathering up our thoughts and get closer to creating the mission statement that will keep us centered as well as encourage new folks coming to join us.

I have an idea - to keep the creative juices flowing, could you please respond with three words that sum up ushering for you? One an adjective, one a verb, and one an adverb.

Here's my example: Enthusiastic, welcoming, prayerfully

These might not be your idea for describing ushering - they are just an adj,verb and adverb so you can see what I mean.

Any ideas? Comments?

Let the Mission Statement Ideas begin!

Our first entry in the blogs is the creation of a ministry mission statement. A mission statement not only allows us to really think about the ways we serve and open our hearts, but also allows us to define those aspects of our service that are unique and life-giving.

Here are the questions to consider when defining who we are:

1. If you had to explain what ushering is in just one word, what would that word be?

2. If you had to describe ushering to someone who had never heard of it, what would you tell them?

3. What is it about ushering that connects you either to the people around you, and/or to Jesus?

Let your thoughts fly, and have fun!