Ministry Spotlight – Ushers & Greeters

All summer we have noted and appreciated some of those who help to make our parish what it is and in doing so compared our parish to a family or household.  When we have guests to our home, often their first impression is how welcomed they feel, and if they bring a gift, how that is received; this sets the tone for the visit, and will often determine if they come back for another visits. 

“When you’re here you’re family” – far more true about St. Bart’s than the Olive Garden.  Often when asked what people like about St. Bart’s, it’s that they feel “at home”.  Greeters are people, or families of any age, who arrive a few minutes early to stand at the doors and welcome people to our parish, whether for the first time or the millionth time.  Greeting takes different forms, it can be simply a warm smile and hello, a helping hand on the stairs, a high five for a toddler, or directions to the restroom.  It is most people’s first experience of Church of the day, and what creates our sense of community more than any program we run or how many donuts we serve.   More importantly, it is the unspoken reflection of the Lord’s hospitality to His home.  Greeting is one portion of our parish hospitality ministry which will be covered in future Highlights.

Come as you are, you are always welcome  in our parish.  It can be a challenge for staff members to be outside right before Mass as there are often last moment tasks to be attended to, any parishioner with a smile can be a greeter, no special skills needed!

The Ushers are seen before the beginning of Mass often with mechanical counters, but for most, the first time the Ushers are noticed is at the time of the offertory when they pass the baskets for the collection.  The offertory is when we offer all that we have and all that we are to the service of God symbolized by a financial contribution.  This is combined with the gift of bread and wine as a sign that we bring the best we have to God.  Even as parishioners move to monthly electronic giving, the offertory is still an important liturgical moment; what do you bring to the service of God this week? Together, we lay it before the Altar. 

Thank you to our greeters & ushers, your service is more than practical, it is a reminder that it is our human gifts that make a parish prosperous, rich not in the bank but in the service of the Lord in all it’s forms.

If your family could come 10 or 15 minutes early to a Mass you are already attending even once in a while, you could be a greeter.  We need people at every Mass to welcome others as they enter.  Try it next Sunday, you will get to know many new people, and any smiles you give away, will quickly be returned a hundredfold! 

To be an usher, you must be at least 18 years of age, and there is training.  Speak to one of the ushers if you have questions about what’s involved.  If it might be for you, contact the parish.