Sunday Hospitality
Sunday morning worship is for many the core of
our congregational life, a time we share in reverence, love, and
contemplation of ultimate things. Sustaining each service is
a group of volunteers who perform hospitality duties to make the
service comfortable and pleasing for our congregation.
Who Provides Hospitality?
Everyone is encouraged to participate. As a congregation we
all share in the
responsibilities of welcoming and hosting each other and our
guests. Newcomers are also invited to participate, as helping
with hospitality is a great way to feel a part of our community.
It
takes ten volunteers to support Sunday services.
When
everyone volunteers four times during the church year, we
should
cover every task.
How Do I Sign Up?
Volunteers can signup by placing a name tile
on the hospitality board in the vestry. The board lists tasks
by
week for the church year. Pre-made tiles are available for
members and those who attend service regularly. Blank tiles
are
available for write-ins. Write-ins are welcomed.
Ushers
Every
Sunday two ushers are needed to distribute the order of service to
people upon their arrival and assist people in finding a seat when the
sanctuary is crowded. Ushers should arrive approximately 25
minutes before the service begins and spend 5 minutes after the service
refreshing the sanctuary (neatening up and recycling orders
of
service). The full range of usher duties is listed on a sheet
of
paper hung at the back of the church near the usher’s pew.
Detailed ushering duties are provided online at ushering_duties.html.
Ushering is a joyous way to greet old friends and meet newcomers.
Announcements
Announcements
precede each worship service and inform the congregation of
upcoming events. The Church Office Administrator prepares the
announcements and provides a copy to the announcer about 10 minutes
before the service is to begin. Visit the Church office to
receive the list of announcements. It is helpful to read the announcements through
yourself before reading them in front of the congregation. The announcer should step
up
to the microphone in the pulpit and begin the announcements on the turn
of the hour.
Flowers
Each
week, a congregant provides flowers for the Sunday Service.
The
arrangement need not be formal - in fact, it need not always be flowers
- we have had some beautiful arrangements of autumn leaves as well as
other kinds of dried arrangements. If you have signed up to
provide flowers, please make sure that they get to the church by 8:00
a.m. on Sunday. If you choose to order from Webber Florists
in
Littleton, they will be delivered (they have a key). If you
wish
to donate flowers in memory of a relative or friend, or in celebration
of an event, please note this when you sign up by writing your
description on a blank tile which you can place below your name on the
hospitality board.
Refreshment Hosts
After the service, all
are welcome to gather in the vestry for refreshments and
conversation. Each Sunday volunteers setup coffee
hour
before the first service coffee hour or cleanup after the second
service coffee hour. Usually hosts pour the coffee for people
as
they enter the vestry. The full range of duties is listed on
a
sheet of paper hung on the wall in the kitchen. Detailed
refreshment host duties are provided online at refreshment_duties.html.
Setup Hosts
The
first service hosts should arrive approximately an hour before the
service to setup the coffee pot and cups, fill the tea urn, and to
set out sugar, cream, snacks, apple juice, tea bags, etc. for
coffee hour. As setup host, it is your responsibility to plug
in
the coffee pot and tea urn before the service begins. Setup
hosts
should replenish supplies after the first service coffee hour winds
down.
Cleanup Hosts
The second service cleanup hosts are
responsible for monitoring supplies during the second service coffee
hour and cleaning up after coffee hour is finished. Duties
include putting cups in the dishwasher and overall general cleanup.
Hospitality Coordinator
Each
month a hospitality coordinator is responsible for ensuring that all
hospitality positions are filled and sending out weekly
reminders. The coordinator will answer questions
and assist
during an emergency when a volunteer is unable to keep a commitment,
though most often individuals should find their own replacement.
Questions?
If
you have general questions regarding how you can support hospitality
for our worship experience please contact one of the hospitality
coordinators. Reach the coordinators by email at hospitality@fculittle.org.
Last
Updated: September 2008