A person who does the work of an usher may go by various titles, depending on the venue they are working in and the functions they are performing. I have been married to my wonderful husband for over 41 years, and believe it or not, he often watches, what some might refer to as, ‘chick flicks’ with me. Until he becomes over saturated with them and must have a change. Then he will say, “Let’s find a ‘shoot ‘em up, bang, bang movie, why don’t we. We need to see someone get shot!” So, we will hunt and peck around to try to find something worth watching, where there might be a few car chases, a bit of blood and guts and the good guys catching the bad guys. It is in some of these movies that I have seen what they call ‘bouncers’, that greet people going into certain types of establishments. This I do not have firsthand knowledge of, thankfully. They are a type of usher, and though they do not greet you with a smile, they are taking money from the patrons or checking their tickets or the guest reservation list, before they allow anyone in. One of the most important aspects of their job is to ‘usher’ you out willingly or by force, if you do not have a ticket, or if you are up to no good and making trouble in their place of business. I guess they could also literally bounce someone out physically, hence the name.
Depending on where you live, many towns have those they would call ‘greeters’ at the front of their stores. They may do more than one job, like checking and stocking merchandise on the shelves, or cashiering, but when they are at the door they smile and say hi and bye to folks coming in and out, watch the flow of traffic, watch for shoplifters and ne’er-do-wells. Many Walmart stores have these, but a lot of department store clerks are instructed to shout out a greeting to the customers as they enter the store to make them feel welcome.
You may have been to a very large gathering, such as a conference with your organization, a ballgame, a concert or even a large theme park. They will have ‘parking lot attendants’. They will usher you to the first available parking spot, so that they can fill in all the places from the front to the back. They will guide you to the area they want you in, though you might have preferred to park elsewhere. This is their job, so most people will comply, even if it is inconvenient. They may also be looking at your window sill to make sure you have paid for a parking pass. They are often very sullen and take their jobs very seriously, not saying this is a bad thing. Once you get into the park or convention center, you will have ushers that may help you find your seat, to keep order and expedite the effort of getting everyone situated before the event begins. They may also have other duties of watching to make sure order is maintained throughout the event.
There may be personnel in a museum, amusement park or even a store, who are acting as tourists, but who work for the place as security guards or watchmen. They are incognito, while other attendants there may have a name tag on, so that the customers can tell they are ushers, and are available to answer their questions. They can answer most questions or at least point you in the right direction to where you might be able to find your answer. My first question when I go into a building, you can probably guess it, is, “Where is the restroom”. At that point, their job is very vital in my opinion.
Unfortunately, as our society becomes more and more technologically based, customer service is fading out and suffering. The job of an usher, no matter what the label they wear or their specific job description, is supposed to make people feel welcomed, special, appreciated, wanted, and needed, but a computer cannot quite get that job done in the same manner. Some places have realized that though we could go all computerized, there is still a human element that is involved in making their business a success, therefore, they are once again trying to train their staff to focus on customer service. Without the customer, there are no sales and no jobs for those employees. A simple greeting and smile can go a long way in making someone feel comfortable.
Funeral homes are a prime example. Funeral homes have ushers, because this is such an uncomfortable setting, they want to put everyone at ease and let everyone know where they need to be and when, so that no mishaps occur in an already awkward situation. Weddings, though on a lighter note and a happy occasion, can make people very nervous and they can feel lost. Ushers will not only help with parking, showing people where to sit and where to sign the guest books, but also to literally be a part of the ceremony to walk the bride and groom’s specified special family members, most often the grandparents and parents, down the aisle to a specifically saved seat. This is a sign of honor and respect and allowing all the attendees to see that these are the most important people in the bride and groom’s lives.
As we contemplate these, and so many more, we can see the job of an usher is very important. We cannot cover them all in this article, but finally, the one that comes to mind readily for me, and your mind may have already gone there, are the ushers at church. They may also have varying functions. We recently visited a church where the ushers or greeters were holding the door open for us as we approached, but because of this, the doorway was almost blocked. They did not have much to say, but were friendly, and because we are outgoing and familiar with the church setting, we initiated the good morning greetings, made it over the threshold and found our way inside. I just wondered at the time though, what a poor unsuspecting visitor would have done. We asked one of them where we might find the pastor, and he was very helpful. This was impressive and appreciated. He also showed us where we could sit. Though everyone has a different personality and demeanor, faithfulness is to be admired and goes a long way. Part of their job description could also be to let you know what will be taking place in the service, if you are a first time visitor, or where the Sunday School classes and restrooms are. They may give you a visitor’s card and gift. Some churches, especially now, have coffee and donuts served in the front foyer, or possibly in the fellowship hall before church, which someone would have to let the visitors know about, which is usually the ushers. The ushers are often used to pass the plate for the tithes and offerings as well. They can be used as parking attendants at a larger church and for security purposes these days. Their job is very important. A short story, our family walked into a church a couple of years ago, looking to attend their service for the first time, the doors were opened, and the lights were on, but there was not a soul around. We knew nothing of the service times or details except what the sign stated on the outside. We looked around, peaked our head into the sanctuary, and after waiting a few minutes, we just left, because we did not feel welcome or even comfortable staying.
God’s house should be the prime example of things being done right! 1 Corinthians 14:40 says, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” Having a well trained staff is one of the ways we can fulfill this. Using precious saints to minister in this manner is a wonderful way to get people involved in the house of God. David said in Psalm 84:10, “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Hebrews 10:25 tells us, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” God promises us, in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
With all these things being said about ushers or those who do the work of an usher, I have noticed over the last few years that there is a ‘missing usher’. A job opportunity that goes unfilled, and the position that he or she would fill is of utmost importance. More so than any other position in the house of God, including the pastor. There is no shortage of singers these days; a choir, soloists and ensembles can readily be found in short order. Whether they can carry a tune in a bucket or not. There is nothing wrong with this, because in Psalm 98:4 we are called to, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” We also have some of the most eloquent teachers and speakers in our churches, ready to feed us and challenge our hearts and minds. This is a beautiful thing, however without the missing usher, these will come to naught and be of no effect.
We come into the house of the Lord in a rush, or scatter brained because we have not been able to slow down all week. We are trying desperately to catch up with everyone, find out what the latest is with the Joneses, all before church starts, because as soon as possible after the service is dismissed, or possibly even before, we are going to make a mad dash run to our favorite restaurant for lunch. Not to say that there is anything wrong with meeting, greeting, or eating. They are all a part of life. However, here is a scenario we caught on video a few weeks ago in a service we attended. The people were talking and milling about, the praise singers began to sing on the platform out of the blue, no warning, and the people just continued to speak to one another well into the third song, and that is being kind. Sometimes people do not sing because they do not know the song, however, often it is just because they have not engaged their hearts and minds yet. This is where the missing link, the missing piece to the puzzle, the missing usher’s critical job comes into play.
The missing usher that I am referring to is the service leader who has a personal relationship with God and can ‘usher’ others into His presence. He will bridge the gap, connect the disconnected fragments between the platform and the pew and bring everyone’s minds into one accord. Acts 2:1 says, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” Acts 2:46 tells us, “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.” Acts 4:24, “And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is.” Supernatural things happened and lives were changed when people came together in one mind and for one purpose. The usher, aka service leader is there to remind the congregation of this purpose. Get them to come in from the foyer and take their seats, give people a chance to give their last greetings out for a few moments, and focus on entertaining the Spirit of the Lord. People are compared to sheep in the scriptures because they need a shepherd or leader. Nothing wrong with that either, just the facts.
Having a dynamic service leader can drastically change the outcome of a service. It will change how the singers sing, how the songs are received, how the preacher preaches and how the Word is received. He can make the visitors feel welcome and help them navigate the new waters they find themselves treading. This usher is not there to give announcements, although he could, but his main purpose is to make the Spirit feel welcome in the midst of His people. God promises us, as we read in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” However, he wants to be invited to move amongst us and work for us and in us. He will not force Himself upon anyone, he will wait for an invitation. In Revelation 3:20 he said, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” This important usher helps to facilitate this dinner date.
We must not come to church to be entertained, or to entertain, but to worship our King of kings and Lord of lords. Philippians 2:2 says, “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord of one mind.” Ushering in His presence and having that rendezvous with Jesus Christ should be before the singers sing, the announcer gives prayer requests or announcements, and before the word is preached, if not, the singers will only be going through the motions, the announcements and prayer requests will not be heard, and neither will the word of God be absorbed and digested as the bread of life should be.
We must become serious about fixing the disconnect that has come between the platform and the pew, by once again making sure we have the most important position filled. You may call him or her an usher, a service leader, an MC, a saint, or he or she may have no official title at all, they do not have to have frills or bows, wear the latest fashions or be able to sing, however, if they can reach the throne of grace with their prayerful worship, they are qualified for the job. Leaving this position void and trying to pretend that was for the olden days, will be to the demise of our congregations. To get everyone going in the same direction, we need a leader, whether it is physically, emotionally, spiritually, or mentally, we must be in one accord. A church congregation and the meetings we hold, should not be a one man show. Find the talent, skills and those called in your midst and use them for the kingdom of God. This will increase your growth in maturity, and numbers.
Let us not endeavor to become so modern and hip, that we emulate the programs around us at the expense of having the Living Savior moving in our midst. We must not forget the basics or exchange His presence for a cup of coffee and a donut or a compliment about the new outfit we are wearing. Church should not be reduced, yes, I say reduced to being a social club. Though it is nice to see our friends and family there, we are not there for that reason. It is not a place to come because there is free babysitting, though nursery workers and Sunday school teachers certainly deserve a double decker crown on that day! It should be a place where we come to engage in corporate worship unto our king, find rest for our souls and answers from the Word of God to life’s questions. We bring ourselves as a living sacrifice unto God in appreciation for all He has done and continues to do for us, and we act as a mother to the newborn babes in Christ. We need to bring back the ushers’ aka service leaders who can usher us into the throne room after which, we will never be the same again.