Calling all Ushers and Readers
Please contact us if you would be willing to usher or read one Sunday a month. Let us know and we will add you to the calendar below.
What does a Reader do?
At St. Stephen's, we use one Lay Reader per service. They read the Old Testament lesson, the Psalm, and the New Testament lesson. The Readers are chosen from a list of volunteers who have expressed a desire to contribute to the service in that way. They are scheduled quarterly.
The readings for any given Sunday will be emailed to the scheduled reader no later than the previous Wednesday.
At the appropriate time for the Old Testament lesson, the reader approach the altar down the center aisle, pausing to reverence the altar, (that is stop and bow briefly), proceed to the lectern and read the selections from a printed copy on the Lectern. And the end of the reading is said, "The Word of the Lord," and the congregation will answer, "Thanks be to God."
After the Old Testament lesson, the reader announces the number of the Psalm. The Psalm is read according to how the printed copy on the Lectern. The Psalm may be read in one of three ways: in unison, responsively by whole verse or responsively by half-verse.
After the Psalm, the reading from the New Testament lesson. The reading once again closes with "The Word of the Lord." Upon leaving the lectern, reverence is given at the altar. (Never pass before the altar without reverencing it.)
We welcome everyone in the congregation to become Lay Reader. Training can be provided and rehearsed. Contact Vera Aikman, Parish Administrator, in the Parish Office if you would like to serve in this ministry. Remember: if you are unable to read when you are scheduled, it is up to you to find a substitute from among the other Lay Readers. Please notify the Parish Office by Tuesday of your scheduled week if you have a conflict.
At St. Stephen's, we use one Lay Reader per service. They read the Old Testament lesson, the Psalm, and the New Testament lesson. The Readers are chosen from a list of volunteers who have expressed a desire to contribute to the service in that way. They are scheduled quarterly.
The readings for any given Sunday will be emailed to the scheduled reader no later than the previous Wednesday.
At the appropriate time for the Old Testament lesson, the reader approach the altar down the center aisle, pausing to reverence the altar, (that is stop and bow briefly), proceed to the lectern and read the selections from a printed copy on the Lectern. And the end of the reading is said, "The Word of the Lord," and the congregation will answer, "Thanks be to God."
After the Old Testament lesson, the reader announces the number of the Psalm. The Psalm is read according to how the printed copy on the Lectern. The Psalm may be read in one of three ways: in unison, responsively by whole verse or responsively by half-verse.
After the Psalm, the reading from the New Testament lesson. The reading once again closes with "The Word of the Lord." Upon leaving the lectern, reverence is given at the altar. (Never pass before the altar without reverencing it.)
We welcome everyone in the congregation to become Lay Reader. Training can be provided and rehearsed. Contact Vera Aikman, Parish Administrator, in the Parish Office if you would like to serve in this ministry. Remember: if you are unable to read when you are scheduled, it is up to you to find a substitute from among the other Lay Readers. Please notify the Parish Office by Tuesday of your scheduled week if you have a conflict.
What does an Usher do?
A church usher, male or female, is a person who helps ensure a smoothly running church service and who ministers to people in a variety of practical ways. The specific responsibilities include greeting people as they arrive for the service, assisting people with special needs, and collecting the offering and assist in communion.
Before the church service starts the ushers prepare the bulletins for distribution. As the churchgoers arrive, the ushers will act as doorkeepers, greeting each person with a smile, shaking hands, and handing out bulletins. They are also available to answer visitors’ questions and extend extra help in seating those who need the assistance. Often, the ushers will escort people to the proper nursery or Sunday school classroom. They can also assist in assisting in parking for those who need assistance.
During the church service, the ushers take part in many ways. They are responsible for taking church attendance. They take up the communion and wine to the alter. After that they pass the offering basin to the parishioners and then present it to the alter. Ushers have a goal of minimizing distractions during the music and sermon. Ushers stand ready to assist anyone in the congregation who might need help, to aid latecomers in finding a seat, and to inform those in the sanctuary of any urgent matters. There are two ushers to monitor the facility, including the parking lot, to prevent vandalism, theft, or other wrongdoing.
Church ushers are well versed in emergency procedures. In case of an emergency, the ushers will take the lead in getting people to safety in an orderly manner.
After the service the ushers will then make sure that the sanctuary is tidy, greeting cards are in each pew, and tabulating the alms in the sacristy.
Although the position of “usher” is not mentioned in the Bible, ushers today provide an invaluable service to the church body. In many ways, the ushers are the “face” of the church, the first ones that people see when they arrive and the last ones they see as they leave. It is important that an usher be friendly, honest, and willing to serve. It is an honorable position in the church, requiring integrity, cordiality, and wisdom.
The heart of an usher is the heart of a servant, and does the work for the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:24). A church usher has a true love for the people of the church and a desire to promote an atmosphere of reverence and worship in the house of God. An usher’s theme verse could very well be Psalm 84:10, “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”
A church usher, male or female, is a person who helps ensure a smoothly running church service and who ministers to people in a variety of practical ways. The specific responsibilities include greeting people as they arrive for the service, assisting people with special needs, and collecting the offering and assist in communion.
Before the church service starts the ushers prepare the bulletins for distribution. As the churchgoers arrive, the ushers will act as doorkeepers, greeting each person with a smile, shaking hands, and handing out bulletins. They are also available to answer visitors’ questions and extend extra help in seating those who need the assistance. Often, the ushers will escort people to the proper nursery or Sunday school classroom. They can also assist in assisting in parking for those who need assistance.
During the church service, the ushers take part in many ways. They are responsible for taking church attendance. They take up the communion and wine to the alter. After that they pass the offering basin to the parishioners and then present it to the alter. Ushers have a goal of minimizing distractions during the music and sermon. Ushers stand ready to assist anyone in the congregation who might need help, to aid latecomers in finding a seat, and to inform those in the sanctuary of any urgent matters. There are two ushers to monitor the facility, including the parking lot, to prevent vandalism, theft, or other wrongdoing.
Church ushers are well versed in emergency procedures. In case of an emergency, the ushers will take the lead in getting people to safety in an orderly manner.
After the service the ushers will then make sure that the sanctuary is tidy, greeting cards are in each pew, and tabulating the alms in the sacristy.
Although the position of “usher” is not mentioned in the Bible, ushers today provide an invaluable service to the church body. In many ways, the ushers are the “face” of the church, the first ones that people see when they arrive and the last ones they see as they leave. It is important that an usher be friendly, honest, and willing to serve. It is an honorable position in the church, requiring integrity, cordiality, and wisdom.
The heart of an usher is the heart of a servant, and does the work for the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:24). A church usher has a true love for the people of the church and a desire to promote an atmosphere of reverence and worship in the house of God. An usher’s theme verse could very well be Psalm 84:10, “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”
"Football, or no football, that's not how we pass the plate!"