The Ministry Of Ushering
Roots of Ushering
Church ushers may be surprised to learn that theirs is a ministry that has very ancient roots. The Old Testament contains several references to ushers, though the title used then was Agatekeeper@ or Akeeper of the threshold@. Their ministry was so important and so demanding that they were assigned living quarters at the Jerusalem Temple. According to I Chronicles 9, their duties included the opening of the temple every morning, the care and protection of all the precious vessels used during the temple liturgy and the preparation of the various food items used during the ritual sacrifices. They also had the responsibility of Awatching@ the temple, a form of guard duty. Through the centuries, the temple ushers acquired a military character. By the time of Christ, they had become known as the ATemple Guard@, and had assignments that bear little resemblance to tasks usually given today to ushers.
Obviously, there are significant differences between the tasks of the Temple usher, the early Church usher, and the usher in the Church today. The need for ushers at worship has persisted through all of these centuries because these Aunique ministers@ enhance the worship experience by enabling the congregation to worship in peace, order, reverence and safety. Ushers are ministers of hospitality. They are usually the first official representative of the Church that people meet upon arrival at Church for worship. The ushers= appearance and dress, their attitude, their words, their demeanor, their body language, their motions and conduct all shout clear messages to the arriving worshipers about what to expect inside. Ushers are an extension of the pastor.
Ushers could be responsible for the final outcome of someone=s relationship with Christ, therefore, the usher must treat people the way God would. Ushers should operate in the supernatural and act naturally with the Supernatural. Ushers serve to help people receive what God has for them.
What Makes A Good Usher
The three qualities of good men explained by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount could not be more applicable than they are to the ministry of Church ushers. First, the ministry of ushering is like salt which makes everything more palatable and which serves as a general preservative against deterioration. Jesus said in Matthew 5:13; AYe are the salt of the earth.@ Ushers enjoy the ministry of a constructive influence. Paul said in Colossians 4:6: ALet your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt@ A good usher adds a tang of joy to a churchgoer=s Sunday morning worship experience. 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 ministry of salt is silent, inconspicuous, and sometimes completely unnoticed. But it is there - in a powerful and useful way.
Secondly, a good usher is like Aa city set upon a hill@ (Matthew 5:14). While ushers are like inconspicuous salt, they become landmarks to churchgoers who learn to depend upon them. The first glimpse of an usher, on whom a churchgoer has come to depend, brings an internal sense of welcome repose; someone who is on hand and who is interested in the churchgoer.
Third, a good usher is like a lamp on a stand, not put Aunder a bushel but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.@ Matthew 5:15. A lamp brings warmth and welcome to all who are in the room. One flickering candle can brighten the conversation in a room and bring an inner feeling of warmth and joy. As a lamp dispels the darkness and brings emotional warmth to a room, so the ministry of an usher can make a similar intangible contribution to all who experience the inner light of pleasure in people which he/she allows to shine through himself/herself.
Finally, a good usher is a forerunner. As John the Baptist was a forerunner for the ministry of Jesus Christ, the Church usher is a forerunner for all the other ministries in the congregation. The ushers are the first official representative of Jesus Christ seen by people entering God=s house. As an official representative of the Church and Jesus Christ, the usher has an enormous obligation in helping lead people into readiness for learning, worshiping and evangelism. It is the nature of Christian character to radiate, it cannot help but shine. The ministry of an usher is not intended to bring glory to him or her self but to God. Just as a pastor preaches in the Spirit, the musician sings in the Spirit, the usher must do his/her work in the power of the Holy Spirit - bringing glory to God in the Lord=s house.
Why Ushers Are Important
- To greet and seat the worshiper
- To assist and promote the worship of God
- To maintain reverence, order, and a prayerful atmosphere
- To attract a soul to Christ by your spirit and witness, and to lead him/her into His presence
- To create spiritual dignity for the services
- To represent the Pastor in the first greeting
- To care for and comfort the worshiper
Qualifications
The qualifications of the ushers should be spiritual. The well being of the Church should be the main factor.
- Christianity - To be a good Church usher, you must be a Christian. Unless the ushers possess that true doctrine taught by our Savior and are filled with the true love of God in their hearts, they are out of harmony with what Christianity stands for.
- Courtesy - The one outstanding trait of an usher is to be courteous. Courtesy is the watch word at all services. If we fail to be courteous to all guests, we have failed Christ. The word courteous should become second nature and the frown will be unknown.
- Alertness - The word alert means to always be on the watch - quick to act. To be a good usher, you must be on the look out for the crippled, the sick, fires or any other emergency that may arise. You should be alert to keep down evil or confusion you may sense arising in the body.
- Promptness - To be prompt means to be quick to as the occasion demands. An usher that is prompt is an asset to the ministry. Promptness in an usher can manifest itself intelligently in a crucial moment. Promptness in an usher is essential.
- Courageousness - A courageous usher is one who can face life with a smile when things are not so pleasant, can meet his/her obligations, sorrows, and joys, half-way. The courageous usher will never give up, no matter how badly wounded. For one to be a courageous usher, one must have faith in God, for only faith in God and in His way of life, can give us the courage we need to face the test of life.
- Discipline - The one great factor of success in any usher=s ministry is the discipline with which it is controlled. The guidance of the usher must come from within, motivated by our love for God and for our work.
- Read the Bible - Every usher should own, read, and study the Bible. Usher guides and other good reading materials should be read also, but the Bible should come before any other book. The Bible should be read prayerfully and should be a part of our daily reading. In the Bible, we find all the answers to life=s many problems.
- Prayer Meeting/Bible Study - Every usher should be a regular attendee at prayer meeting and Bible Study. Every usher should have a desire to grow in the Word. As a good steward the usher will be faithful to prayer meeting and Bible Study.
- Tithes - Should the usher tithe? Yes, if you wish to be obedient to the Word of God. To tithe is to give the ten per cent of our income which already belongs to God. Every usher should be a tither and give as the Lord has instructed us to give. I Corinthians 16:2
Uniforms:
Senior Ushers
The colors of the uniforms for this ministry are as follows:
Women
- Spring/Summer - White suits, closed in white shoes, white panty hose, and white gloves. Skirts should be at least 1"(one inch) below the knee. Small pearl, diamond or gold posts earrings.
- Fall/Winter - Black suits, closed-in black shoes, black panty hose, and white gloves. Skirts should be at least 1"(one inch) below the knee. Small pearl, diamond or gold posts earrings.
Men
- Spring/Summer - White suits, white shoes, black tie and white gloves.
- Fall/Winter - Navy blue suits, black shoes, blue ties and white gloves.
Male Ushers:
Winter: Black suits, white shirts, black ties, and white gloves.
Spring: Black suits, colored shirts/ties, and white gloves.
Young People=s Ushers: (year round)
Boys - Black pants, white shirts, black ties and white gloves
Girls - Black skirts (1 inch below the knee, white blouses, black closed-in shoes and white gloves.
The Ushers of the Church are those who have chosen to honor God with their time, personality, and strength. In acceptance of this position of service, the usher immediately becomes a symbol of the:
Hands of God
Love of the Savior
Presence of the Spirit
Spirit of the Church
Heart of the people
Smile of the pastor
Eyes of the Church=s ministry
Arms of fellowship
Ushers are, in a true sense,
Keepers of the doors
Breakers of barriers
Bearers of good news
Friends to strangers
Hosts of the family
Leaders of worship
Examples of reverence
Guides to comfort.
Emergency Procedures
In case of an emergency, the primary responsibility of the Ushers Ministry is crowd control. Evacuation routes and safety procedures should be known by all the members of the Ushers ministry.
The Usher at the Pastor=s door should know who is the assigned Health Care Ministry member. If there is a medical emergency, the following procedures should be followed:
a. Assess the situation - THINK
(be proactive not reactive)
b. Make contact with the assigned Health Care Ministry member.
c. If necessary, facilitate proper movement of the people.
d. If the medical emergency involves the Pastor, only the assigned Health Care Ministry member in charge for that day should aid the Pastor.
e. Always remember to maintain the dignity of the worship experience. |
