“These things I have spoken to you in parables, but the hour is coming when I will no more speak to you in proverbs, but will announce to you plainly concerning the Father.” - John 16:25
Kempton New Church

Church Setup and Ushering:

SETTING UP for a 10:00 A.M. OUTDOOR SERVICE on the BACK LAWN of the CHURCH

(instituted during the COVID pandemic)

When you arrive, please connect with the minister who is preaching to see if he has any special requests, but in general, plan to do the following:

ARRIVAL: Most Sundays, there will have already been a 9:00 A.M. indoor service, for which service we have been doing without ushers. You should arrive around 9:30 A.M. as the earlier service is wrapping up, to set up for 10:00 A.M. If people are still sitting in the sanctuary, please be respectful and patient. Once they have departed, you may begin.

CHAIRS: You are likely to find a row of pavilions sitting on the north side of the Society Room. Please set up two rows of chairs underneath them. The front row should be as close to the front of the shade as conveniently possible. The second row should be close to six feet behind that, toward the back of the pavilion.

TABLES, SONG BOOKS, and OFFERTORY BOWL: Take one or two tables from the seating area in the Society Room and place outside near the west end of the pavilion (on the kitchen end). There should be several boxes of song books in the Society Room (or possibly in the vestry) for you to set on the tables. Please also bring the small table and the offertory bowl from near the entrance to the sanctuary and place them near the song book tables. (The offertory bowl may still be on the chancel from the previous service).

NUMBER BOARDS: Check with the minister about setting up number boards outside. They may or not be the same as they were at the 9:00 A.M. service.

COUNTING PEOPLE: See “COUNTING PEOPLE” under “Duties”.

LATE ARRIVALS (during the end of the opening hymn): Quietly try to keep people from entering the pavilion (or from crossing in front of it) during the opening of the Word and the saying of the Prayer. They should find a seat after worshippers have risen from kneeling.

BRINGING THE OFFERTORY FORWARD: These outdoor services have typically had three hymns. The usher is asked to bring the offertory forward during the second hymn. (He may ask another usher to bring the offertory forward, if desired.) Please hand the bowl to the minister and bow your head until he has set the bowl down.

AFTER THE SERVICE: People will help with folding up the chairs and returning them to the carts. Please supervise as needed and see to whatever else is to be brought back into the building. Again, you can check with the minister about other things that might also need to be done.