December 7th – Communion Sunday – Brandon, Buddy, Russ
December 14th – Lee, Russ
December 21st – Brandon, Buddy
December 28th – Lee, Russ
Over the last several days I have been putting together a handbook for the ushers and greeters of Legacy. I have two thoughts right now: 1) this is a much larger undertaking than I first thought it would be and 2) should I be twittering this? Isn’t that the cool thing now?
September
21st…Russ
28th…Brandon
October
5th (Communion)….Buddy, Brandon and Russ
12th…Lee
19th…Russ
26th…Brandon
I read yesterday that being an usher is like being the salt of a meal. We as ushers are not the main course, we season it. We are there to enhance the experience of those attending the service and to make the Lead Pastor’s job easier.
Not only do we add flavor to the service, we are essential to it. Salt is a dietary mineral that is essential to animal life. So, though our impact might not always be prevalent, our impression does certainly make an impression towards someone’s experience with the church.
Colossians 4:5-6
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
The first Sunday of the month is Communion Sunday at Legacy Fellowship. Communion falls under the responsibility of my team, Team UGH and it was the first time we have done it since I have been the responsible party. Man, did my team ever step up. I scheduled just one person, Buddy, to serve as usher today. I totally forgot about communion. Thanks to Brandon and Russ for stepping up and helping out and communion went off without a hitch.
We have a great group of guys at Legacy, especially on Team UGH. Thank you. Guys like you all make my job look unnecessary.
I finished the schedule for the ushers today. I hate scheduling but it has to be done. People like a little structure and that is exactly what I provide; a little. Because of my experience with schedules (mostly me loosing my own) I used Google Calendar as a back-up. I signed up for Google Calendar once long ago but I never used it. I think is will prove to be a handy tool now. Regardless, I printed hard copies and did the online thing. Back-up is good.
I have been thinking about the UGH ministry and how it relates to life in general. I liken the ministry to someone that is opening their home for guests. There are always expectations when you have been invited to someone’s home. There are expectations of the guest and of the host.
As years go by, it seems that people have become less formal and, in many cases, less hospitable as a guest or host. I was raised by parents that weren’t exactly formal but they were very concerned about being courteous, hospitable and all-around considerate. I am a freak about people being inconsiderate. I hate it. It is my number one pet peeve.
So, what are some of my expectations when I am invited to someone’s home?
1. I expect to be greeted at the door.
2. I expect to be greeted with a smile.
3. I expect the host to make me comfortable in their home.
When I ring the doorbell at someone’s home, I expect it to be answered by my host. It irks me when I hear, “Come in” from beyond the door; I just won’t do it. (Confession, I have rather poor hearing so I always blame my not coming in on that fact, even if I did hear them.) This is not my home; I want to be welcomed in.
Is there anything worse than being greeted at the door and the host looks as if you are the very last person they wanted to see? “Oh hey, come on in,” they say as they are walking away from the door. I think to myself, “Yippee! I am glad to be here! This is going to be a lot of fun” and I get the door behind me. The next thing you know you are fixing yourself a drink, opening Junior’s door looking for the loo and, more than likely, checking your watch every couple of minutes.
I am clearly not comfortable in a situation such as this and I don’t want to be in it any longer than I have to be. I didn’t enjoy myself a whole lot and guess what else, I ain’t coming back.
We want the guests of Legacy go away refreshed from the delicious Krisy Kreme donuts and coffee, a great worship service, great sermon, and the great people that have welcomed them to our home. We want them to know they are welcome to come back, but more so that we want them to come back. We also want them to know where the loo is.
When a guest leaves having had an experience such as this, they will be our guest again.
So, what are your expectations when you go to someone’s home or to church?
It’s probably a terrible idea for me to start a new blog when I can hardly keep up with the first one. However, I feel it could be a good tool to have for me and for those of you that may stop in from time to time. I will do my best to provide as much information as I can find to help the Usher/Greeter/Hospitality team at Legacy Fellowship (affectionately known as Team UGH) be the best first contact team we can be. I will also try to keep the schedule posted here for the team.
This is not a new team. We have had a couple of great guys in place for a while. One of the men has served in the Usher position for close to two years. I am the rookie but I am going to do everything I can to be the best leader I can possibly be. I have been given a great opportunity, a second chance if you will, to serve among a great group of men. I am extremely excited and honored to be a part of this team. I can’t wait for the months and years to come.
Keep checking back for updates. I will do my best to post on a regular(ish) basis.
