A church usher 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 of an usher vary with the church, but their duties usually include greeting people as they arrive for the service, assisting people with special needs, and receiving the offering. Some churches provide a pin or name tag of some kind to easily identify their ushers.
An usher is a spiritual ambassador for the local church – God’s ordained and organized body of believers. The usher serves as a “first representative” of Jesus Christ for a worship service. From the tabernacle in the Old Testament to the temple and synagogue in the New Testament, God’s presence and the teaching of His word is of supreme importance.
An usher is a spiritual ambassador for the local church – God’s ordained and organized body of believers. The usher serves as a “first representative” of Jesus Christ for a worship service. From the tabernacle in the Old Testament to the temple and synagogue in the New Testament, God’s presence and the teaching of His word is of supreme importance.
Ushers in the tabernacle and temple were called doorkeepers. The psalmist understood the importance of ushers when he said, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”
One of the purposes of doorkeepers was to receive offerings from the people. The Bible says in II Kings chapter 22, “Go up to the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people.”
Jeremiah refers to one doorkeeper as a “man of God.” He said in chapter 35, “And I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, a man of God, the keeper of the door”.
In the New Testament, Temple ushers were given unusual authority as uniformed guards. In Acts the “captain of the temple” is referred to in connection with arrests and general handling of crowds. It was these ushers who carried out the orders of the high priests to persecute the apostles.
The disciples acted as ushers on many occasions. They directed people who came to hear Jesus speak or be touched by His healing hands. On one occasion Jesus gave a sharp warning to the disciples who tried to keep children away from Him. On another occasion, Jesus told the disciples to organize a large group of over 5,000. Jesus supplied the unending loaves and fishes, but the disciples served the hungry multitude as ushers.
The character of these first deacons was clearly spelled out. They were men of good or honest report, full of the Holy Spirit, full of wisdom, and full of faith. Stephen, the first Christian martyr on record, was both a deacon and an usher.
Preachers, teachers and musicians minister to people in groups while ushers minister to people as individuals. A word of encouragement or kindness may be the most significant ministry some people receive. Only a few people get to meet the pastor, ask questions, or talk with musicians, but everyone can have an encounter with a good usher.
When you serve as an usher, you set the stage for the worship experience. You are literally part of the continuing story of God’s redemption. Your spiritual readiness and act of service plays a huge role in the life-change that takes place that day.
Before the church service starts, the ushers will often have the responsibility to check the thermostat, check the restrooms, and prepare the bulletins for distribution. As 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 assistance.
During the church service, the ushers usually take part in some way. They are responsible to take up the church offering and make sure it is put in the proper place. In some churches, ushers also help with the Lord’s Supper or Communion. 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.
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, ushers will again be at the door to greet the congregation as they leave and provide assistance as needed. In many churches, the ushers will then make sure that the sanctuary is tidy, the thermostat is adjusted, and the lights are shut off.
Ushers in church aren’t just door holders and plate-passers. They serve in a spiritual role and therefore should exhibit some spiritual characteristics. The qualifications of an usher aren’t clear in the Bible, but there are some qualities that great ushers will have.
When you serve at church, you’re not “just” a volunteer. You’re given responsibilities and expectations beyond performing basic tasks. We’re going to look at a few responsibilities of ushers that may be a little unexpected.
A good usher comes prepared mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. This is not to be seen as a duty, but a privilege to connect with God as part of your preparation. Don’t feel like this requires an hour of Bible study before you show up. God is far more interested in the commitment of your heart than the amount of your time. Take a few moments at home to connect with God and ask Him to use you as a representative of his love and an agent of His redemptive plan.
This is huge. The cardinal sin of an usher is to not pay attention. At all times watch what is going on in your section and jump in to handle it. If you aren’t sure what to do, ask your ministry leader. The only wrong choice is to do nothing. Never assume someone else is taking care of the need. Pay attention, take initiative, make it happen!