Matthews Presbyterian Church

Offering Process

April 2005

The following describes the process of collecting the Offering. Each Usher is given a designated position by the Usher Captain. See the Offering Diagram A. Positions are L1 – L4 (L=Left line) and R1 – R4 (R=Right line).

1. Before the service starts, you should know in which position you will lineup and in which aisle you’ll be serving from the Usher Captain.

2. Please sit somewhere near the back of the sanctuary (to prevent a lot of movement when the Tithes & Offering time comes).

3. During the Hymn or Response just prior to the Tithes & Offerings, move to your designated position at the doors of the sanctuary as quietly as possible. Bring your bulletin (the Offertory Response is read/sung from bulletin usually).

4. The Acolytes will position themselves in front of the communion table. When they are in place, process forward in your lineup. Pick up a Collection plate from the stack held by the Acolyte. If this is a summer month with no Acolytes, just pickup a Collection plate from the table.

5. Go to your designated aisle. You will start the collection plate down one row and move to the next row. The usher at the other end of that section will start their plate down that next row, which you will pick up when it gets to you. You’ll alternate rows with the usher on the other end of that section – sending or receiving the collection plates. Sometimes it may make more sense to not pass the plate if there are only 2 people in the row at your end. Use your best judgement on that.

6. When you’re finished with the section, proceed to the back doors and lineup in original position. Check for Prayer Requests (white cards). If any, give them to the lead Usher.

7. The Organist will start playing the Offertory Response when she sees everyone is ready. The Acolytes will move to front of communion table. THIS IS YOUR QUEUE to start processing forward. If this is a summer month with no Acolytes, your QUEUE would be when the Organist starts playing the Offertory Response. Lead Ushers on either line should give the minister at the front any Prayer Requests (and if no Acolytes, they should pick up the extra plate and turn around at the Communion Table). Put your plate in the stack held by the Acolyte (or Leader Usher) in front of you, then fan out around the Communion table as shown in diagram B.

8. Remain standing during the prayer that follows the Offertory Response. When the prayer ends, process down the center aisle in your same lineups starting with the last person in line (positions L4 & R4 go first).

9. When you reach the back of the sanctuary, you’re DONE!