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!
This is a test comment to see if this works, and it does! When it asks you to "comment as" you have the option to either be anonymous, or choose "name/url" and there leave your name. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteOaky, this is just a stream of thoughts. It may not ring everyone's bell, but it's a start:
ReplyDelete1) God's servant; friendly face of FPCB; Sunday morning utility player; host/hostess in God's house
2) locate/escort people to seats; tally attendance; collect oferings; flex with or adapt to ebb & flow of service; dispense information before, after and during service.
3) personal friendly 'one on one' contact with everyone who walks through my door; make people feel welcome; make the Sunday morning experience as positive as possible for everyione.
"Service" is the one word I would use to describe ushering.
ReplyDeleteIn telling someone about ushering who had never heard of it, I would tell them ushering at church is an important service opportunity to those who attend worship.
What connects us to the people and/or Jesus? Ushers can be a worshiper's first welcoming presence into the sanctuary. We try to make their visit to our worship service a positive one; we greet them, present a bulletin of our worship service, offer to escort them to a seat where they want to be whether it is early or late in the service, collect their prayer cards and offering and during the service ushers have an overview of the sancturary and can spot anyone needing attention. Like my boss used to say in the business world, do everything you can to make them want to come back. We serve.
It is all of the above. A positive,caring greeting and settling of worshippers. I do think we need to be considerate of the service participants and the people who come on time for the service. For example, seating people in the middle of that wonderful choir presentation last Sunday was not appropriate as it interferred with the enjoyment of all. Ushers need to be courteous and concerned for all attendees.
ReplyDeleteService is a great word! It seems to keep coming back, and I think might definitely be part of the mission statement as we go....just bouncing around the idea here - does it feel more like serving guests or family? Would that make a difference? Do the two ideas create the same or different images in your mind?
ReplyDelete"Welcoming" is the one word we would use to describe ushering.
ReplyDeleteSome of the duties of an usher are warmly greeting and finding seating for those attending church, providing them with bulletins of the order of worship and also providing the children with an age appropriate bulletin and crayons, being responsible for collecting the
offering and the prayer cards, doing an attendance count, assisting the various needs of the congregation as the need arises and returning the sanctuary to its original order at the end of the service.
We feel as if we are the "hands of Jesus" by assisting the congregation in their worship experience. Many wonderful friendships have been formed with fellow christian ushers.
This is great! I really appreciate all the clarity and insight! I'd love to hear some deeper personal stories, too - moving from the "we" as an usher team to the "me" as - what has moved YOU, brought YOU to a deeper understanding of your relationships here, or your place in the larger community. Anyone?
ReplyDelete