As an usher at Calvary Chapel, you are serving Jesus Christ and everyone who will walk through the door of the church. Since ushers carry a title, you will be perceived by the congregation as a leader in the church. Thus, a person attending Calvary Chapel for the first time most often generates their first impression of the church, the leadership, and in some cases, of the Lord Himself from the ushers. It is vital they receive an impression of Jesus Christ and His love and grace, as well as that of initiative and knowledge of your duties and responsibilities.

The central task of an usher is to represent Jesus Christ to the people, and to bless and serve them. The general duty of the ushers is to manage everything in the sanctuary building (atmosphere, lighting, neatness, directing of people, etc., all things pertaining to the facility before, during, and after any service) except for what happens on the stage.

Responsibilities:

• Arrive at church a half an hour before the service begins. Always be on time! IMPORTANT: Let the head usher know as far in advance as possible when you will not be able to be in attendance.
• All ushers assist in set up and preparation for the service. Everything should be arranged as neatly as possible (remember: first impressions count!). Be ready and available to help with anything: setting up and taking down chairs and tables, setting up/cleaning up for communion, shoveling snow, mopping up puddles (and sometimes worse!), vacuuming, pulling gum out of carpets, picking up trash and cigarette butts in the parking lot, changing light bulbs, straightening out info cards in chair pockets, etc.
• Meet for prayer and any special instructions from the head usher about ten minutes before the service begins.
• After prayer, station yourself at your designated area and begin to help people find their seats. Encourage people to fill up the center section first.  Late comers should follow you to the seats you have selected for them.  No one coming late into the service should ever enter without being warmly greeted and assisted in finding a seat.
• When the ushers are called forward to receive the offering, proceed down your assigned aisle (assigned by the head usher) and begin passing the offering bags across the rows. Be cheerful and efficient and don’t worry about hurrying, as the worship leader is instructed to watch your progress and gauge the song length with respect to your duties. When complete, give all the bags to the ushers who will take them forward for prayer.
• Babies and small children should not be in the sanctuary during regular services. This is important due to the many distractions that children can incur during a service. Children’s Ministry is available to minister to them at each child’s level of understanding. Ushers need to be alert to parents bringing small children into the service before the service begins and should share with them with the various options available to both them and their children. If you see someone with a baby or small child, respectfully share with them about the toddler room, primary Sunday School classes, or the nursery/nursing mom’s room (where the service can be viewed by moms on closed circuit TV. Sorry, no men permitted).  Be sure to thank them for their understanding and help them in any way necessary. We always welcome children and they are gladly received, but we also desire for them to be ministered to at a level they can relate. When a child begins to fuss or becomes bored during the service, it is not only a distraction to others, but an embarrassing situation to the parents. Thus, we are not here to keep children out of the service, but simply to make the worship and peaceful and distraction free as possible.
• After the break, enjoy the service, while remaining alert to anything that might be disruptive. Note: Ushers are not to meet outside with other ushers or anyone else during the time of teaching unless it is an emergency.
• After the service, police the facility for trash or bulletins. Be available to help with anything needed.
• Refill the water dispenser and replenish cups for the people attending other services during the week
• Be sensitive about the way you dress. Always dress neatly: shorts, thongs and tee-shirts are taboo. Hawaiian shirts are encouraged...!
• There should always be one usher present at the main entrance door in the foyer during any regular service. This usher greets late-comers and assists them in finding their seats, prevents the door from slamming, and minimizes other distractions when someone enters or exits during the service.

Also…

• Do not let anyone come in and stand at the back of the church; courteously ask to seat them. Exception: some people with back problems find sitting at length very uncomfortable. If this is the case, blessed are the flexible…!
• Seat any late arrivals in the back rows to avoid distractions as they enter.
• Be able to direct people to the various Children’s Ministry classes. If you do not know where they meet, contact the Children’s Ministry leaders.
• Direct people to the Pastors or other church leaders as necessary.
• Don’t be afraid to greet with a hug, but be sensitive to those who do not want one.
• Be prepared to deal with people who are out of order, sick people, etc.
• ONLY USHERS are to locate people during the service, and only in an emergency.
• All ushers must know how to lead someone to Jesus Christ and follow them up.
• All ushers must be enthusiastic about praying with people who have needs.
• All ushers are to participate in any ministry training seminars taught at the church.
• All ushers are to be familiar with Calvary Chapel’s statement of faith (on reverse side of bulletin, in part) in order to accurately share details about the church.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Jesus Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23,24