Fellowship Hour Instructions

Thank you for serving as Fellowship Hour Host! 

Everything must be set up before the 8:00 a.m. service.  The easiest way to do this for most people is to set up on Saturday.  Please check with the church office to schedule a good time to do this.

The two long tables are always set up for serving and 3 or 4 round tables with chairs are set up for those who wish to sit during fellowship time.  Tablecloths and centerpieces are in the closet across from the restroom by the kitchen.  The glass cups, paper napkins, spoons, sugar and creamers, carafes, tea pots and paper juice cups are all in the cupboard in the kitchenette area of Fellowship Hall.  The coffee, tea and lemonade are also in that area. If you are short of supplies, look in the Closet at the top of the stairs in the library.  The key for this closet is in the southwest corner of the kitchen, hanging on a nail inside the cupboard. If you use the last of any item, please notify the church office as soon as possible.

You will need to prepare: (Check the chart for the preceding week, on the inside cabinet door of supplies, to see if amounts made should be adjusted.)

1. 4 pitchers of instant lemonade
2. 1 pot of hot tea: You will need two tea bags. Heat the water on the kitchen stove.
3. 60 cups of regular coffee: Using the hose from under the sink, fill the large coffee pot with cold water to the 60 cup mark on the side of the pot.  Pour 6 cups of regular coffee grounds in the basket.
4. 10 cups of decaf coffee: Using the small 10 cup coffee pot, fill the carafe with water but do not put in pot. Put filter in the basket and add 1 cup of decaf coffee.

The wake-up-the-church volunteer will plug in the coffee pots on Sunday morning.  To prevent stained carpeting, please put a foil pan or dish on the floor under the spout.  You do not need to serve any food, but you may if you wish. 

In the summer, prepare less coffee and iced tea can be made if desired.

Please be at church by 8:45 a.m. to serve those who attend the 8:00 service.  You can start pouring a few minutes before service lets out. After the 9:30 service, stand by the tables to serve the coffee, tea and lemonade.  When everyone is finished, throw away the leftovers, leave nothing in the refrigerator.  Please fill out the chart on the upper cabinet door and let us know how much coffee was made and served that day.

Please leave the kitchen area clean.  Wash and replace the cups and silverware adding one capful of bleach to the water.  Take the towels home and wash them and return them before the next Sunday if possible.    

Thank you for serving! 

Greeter Instructions

Please arrive about 20 minutes before the Service of Worship is to begin. Fill out a nametag so everyone will know who you are.  Weather permitting, one of you is asked to stand outside to greet people as they arrive. If a car stops under the covered entry to let out a passenger, you may open the car door and assist them.  Certainly, open the church door for all guests as they arrive. Other greeters will be located inside the main entrance by the bell tower so you may greet people immediately as they walk in.

Greet worshipers with a smile and a handshake. You never have a second chance to make a good first impression.  You are the first persons that our guests will meet and you can make a lasting impression by the way that you express yourself.  Our goal is to offer “aggressive hospitality”.  (Aggressive is a strong word to indicate our determination to actively greet everyone who comes in our doors in the name and spirit of Jesus.  All are welcomed with warmth and smiles – even when they aren’t warm or smiling in return!)

You are not expected to know every member or to be able to discern who are guests and who are not. However, you can greet those you don’t know with the same enthusiasm with which you greet your friends.  “How do you do. I’m so glad you are worshiping with us today. Welcome. I don’t know if I’ve met you before, my name is _______________.” Then actively listen for their response.

You may encourage them to hang their coats in the coat racks in the entryway.  Invite them to enter the Gathering Space to fill out a nametag if they do not do so automatically.  Please direct anyone who identifies himself or herself as first time guests to the Welcome Center where the Welcomers have maps and other information for those not familiar with our facility. 

Be alert for any guests who may need special assistance. This might include wheelchairs or walkers, or sharing information about the location of the Nursery, Restrooms, Family Room or Sunday school classrooms. 

As the Service of Worship begins, you may take your seat in the sanctuary. At the end of the Service, try to invite any guests that you’ve met to join you in Fellowship and introduce them to other members.  In this way, everyone who enters our building feels welcomed and included.

Thank you for serving!

Usher Instructions

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USHERS FOR 9:30 WORSHIP SERVICE

The duties listed below are to enable you to be comfortable as an usher and for you to assist all worshipers to feel at home.

1. Please arrive by 9:10 a.m. Put on a nametag that identifies you by name and with the word “Usher”. Confer with the other ushers to go over the various responsibilities and to assign tasks.
2. The Bulletins will be on the bookcase along the North wall of the Gathering Space. There will be some Large Print Copies available for anyone who wishes one. Double Check whether the bulletins from the 8:00 a.m. Service of Worship are different from the 9:30 Service. If not the same, make sure the 8:00 Bulletins are discarded.
3. Open all three of the double doors leading into the Sanctuary. One Usher should be stationed at each door, and at the entrance to the “Family Room”. (down the corridor that goes past the coat racks and past the staircase leading to the lower level.)
4. Greet worshipers cordially but quietly and give them bulletins. Please stay alert for those who need assistance, directions or other help. Guests may be directed to the Welcome Center for guidance from the Welcomers. Take the time to introduce guests and new members to others.
5. Help the acolyte prepare to light the candles, holding the candle lighter high in front of him or her and with the flame up and the extinguisher held down. When the musician begins the prelude, the acolyte starts down the aisle. If there is no acolyte assigned, you light the candles. Matches are in blue plastic container in the bookcase in the Gathering Space.
6. One of you will Ring the Bell, located inside the front door. Have all of the doors open between the sanctuary and the bell so the ringing can be heard. As soon as the prelude is finished, ring the bell about 10 times.
7. After Worship begins please watch for and greet any latecomers and those who may need assistance, directions or other help. Since the Welcome Center is not “staffed” during worship, please be attentive to anyone in the Gathering Area who is seeking help. Do not seat latecomers during the prayers.)
8. After the Opening Hymn and prayer, the Lord’s Prayer and the Gloria Patri, pass the black friendship folders (or as directed in the Sunday bulletin for the day).
9. After the service has begun take a count of the attendance and record the number on the small blue sheet found in the bookcase in the Gathering Space.
10. Take the offering. When the Sanctuary has few people seated in one or both of the side sections of pews, use 4 Ushers for the Offering. All 4 ushers come forward with 2 in the front and 2 in back. When you come up to the front of the aisle, the two in front step to either side and the 2 in back step up between them to form a straight line. The Liturgist will hand one offering plate to each usher. Remain in place during the Offertory Prayer. At the end of the prayer, each usher turns and proceeds to take the Offering. The two inside ushers will go to the center aisle and the two outside ushers will proceed to the aisle to the left and to the right of the center one. Pass the plate to the first person on the end, who will pass the plate down. You step to the next row to receive the plate that has been passed from the usher opposite you. When all the rows have received the plates, then 2 of the ushers take the plates and stand in the back until the organist begins playing the Doxology. As everyone starts to sing, you both come forward down the center aisle. The Liturgist will take the plates and put them on the Communion Table. Remain standing in the front until the singing is completed. Then turn and walk down the aisle to the back of the sanctuary. On Food Pantry Sundays, as 2 ushers bring the plates forward the other 2 ushers carry forward the baskets of food to the front of the sanctuary.
11. On Sundays when all four sections of pews are well occupied, use 5 Ushers to receive the Offering. Come forward with 2 in front and 3 behind. When you come up to the front of the aisle, the two in front step to either side and the 3 in back step up between them to form a straight line. The center person will not receive an Offering Plate. After the Offertory Prayer, all the Ushers will turn and each one will go to one of the aisles and begin to pass the Offering Plate as described above. In this scenario, the Ushers standing in one of the three inner aisles will need to pass plates on both sides. The rest of the instructions are as listed above.)
12. Help the Acolyte prepare to extinguish the candles. If there is no acolyte, one of you will perform this job. The acolyte should start forward during the next to last verse of the final hymn. The acolyte should relight the candle lighter before extinguishing the candles. Then the Acolyte recesses with the lighted candle lighter Held High as a symbol of the “Light going forth into the World”. Once the acolyte has recessed, the candle lighter is extinguished.
13. After the service, try to greet any visitors and introduce them to others. Collect old bulletins and pick up. Collect the signed sheets from the friendship folders and leave them in the bookcase in the Gathering Space.)
14. When everyone has exited the sanctuary, please turn off the lights and fans.
15. Thank you for your leadership in ministry. You have participated in a Very meaningful and vital way.

Note: Fire extinguishers are located: