The Training Process

The process of training you is simple. At the bottom of each page you will find a next session link. Click on this link. You can also click on the session you want from the table of contents. Each session has short videos, pictures and instructions about each section of the service. At the end of the three sessions. we have a special, "What do I do Now?" that informs you about how to begin this ministry. It also has a short assessment that will help us in improving our training and give you feedback on how well you are doing.

Introduction to Ushering

An ushering story

Imagine one Sunday morning in August, a young family new to the area wakes up and decides to check out one of the local churches. The husband and wife had grown up in the church, but had drifted away during their college years and the hustle and bustle of starting careers and a family. They look on the web for area congregations and find our “Welcome to Hosanna” web site. On the site they find an easy to read map, times of services and these words, “At Hosanna you will find a joyful, welcoming community. There is plenty of parking and lots of hot coffee. We eagerly await your arrival”. They find this attractive. They want, like everyone, to be welcomed. So they get themselves and kids dressed and drive to Hosanna. When they arrive, they follow the movement of people to our front doors. They enter the building looking for the friendly greeting they were promised and meet two smiling greeters at the door. They declare that they are here to worship and the greeters direct them to our sanctuary. As they approach the entrance to the worship space, they see two ushers standing next to two hymn book racks handing out hymnals with papers stuck in them. They are uncertain about what they are to do and where they are to sit. They have normal “stranger anxiety” about fitting in and not seeming out of place. The bulletin and the hymnal are unfamiliar to them. They don’t know the purpose of this book and these papers. They are unsure of where they are to sit. They have questions about the location of the nursery and whether children are allowed in worship. They don’t know if they can take communion or how they are to participate in worship. They wonder about the motivations and the intentions of these strangers. Are they genuine in their greeting or are they just trying to get something from them?

The importance of ushering

Here lies the beginning of the usher ministry of hospitality. The ushers are there to alleviate this stranger anxiety and insure that both new and regular worshippers feel welcome and orientated to worship. Their smiles and their sense of hospitality will play a crucial role in helping others to experience the hospitality of Jesus Christ and power of gathering and worshiping in His name. Ushers will help people find their way in worship. They will be gracious and genuine. They will introduce themselves. They will be open to questions and they will listen for concerns. In short, ushers will welcome, accept, care for and affirm all those who come to gather for the great reading of the word, the preaching about the power of God and the sharing in the meal that welcomes all. Therefore, ushers need to understand the importance of their role and their duties. This training seeks to teach you to perform usher these duties before, during and after services. Hopefully, by the end of these sessions, you will be vitalized for this important ministry and knowledgeable of your responsibilities.

Thank you again for sharing in this ministry and we look forward to your service.

As you go through these sessions, you will have an opportunity for self-evaluation. The quiz link will take you to quia.com, an assessment site. It is completely safe to use.

Important: To return from each of the quizzes, USE THE BACK BUTTON OF YOUR BROWSER. When you click "done" you will be taken to the Quia homepage. Return to your session with the back buttons. Remember: click back to go home.

Click here for a pre-assessment of your ushering skills and knowledge

Part 2 of "Introduction to Ushering": Worship and Building Terms