Sidesperson

Sides-persons are ushers. They welcome people to St. Stephen’s, hand out a service bulletin, assist people as required, and for visitors, orient them to the building.

If you are interested in becoming a sides-person, speak with the Sides-person Coordinator (listed in the bulletin) or the Pastor.

Before the Worship Service Begins

  • Arrive ½ hour before the service starts:
    • turn the lights on,
    • on the main door, set the panic bar open (key on bulletin board), and
    • set the thermostat to 20°C in the winter or 22°C in the summer.
  • In warm weather, door can be left open; and if it is too noisy close it.
  • If steps have snow or ice on them, remove it.
  • Put your name tag on; tag is in the Narthex cupboard.
  • Familiarize yourself with the locations of the fire extinguishers, in case you need to use them.
  • Hand out the service bulletin and welcome people as they arrive:
    • invite people new to St. Stephen’s to coffee hour after worship service,
    • for families with children, talk about: Sunday School, changing diapers (upstairs washroom), and
    • invite visitors to sign the guest book.
  • Someone in a wheelchair may require direction to find a place to park and he or she may require a service book and hymnbook.
  • Be aware of the locations of large print BAS and hymnbooks in the pews, in case someone has need of them.
  • If there is a mailing, hand out as much as possible; and during announcements ask people to pick up their envelope.
  • 5 minutes prior to the service starting invite a youngster to ring the bell; the bell can be rung approximately 6 times.

Parishioner Response Card

  • This card, found on the narthex cupboard, can be used for an individual/family to put their name on the parish list, or request offering envelopes.

During the Worship Service

  • Congregants may advise a sides-person before the Eucharist begins if they would like a gluten-free wafer, and the sides-person lets the Presider know. For those known to the Presider, this is not necessary.
  • Prior to the offertory, count the congregation (include children and clergy) and display the number using the cards at the back of the nave.

At all times, keep an eye open for people needing assistance.

  • At the offertory:
    • pick up offertory plates from the back of the nave, proceed down the aisle to front pew, and collect offering moving towards the back;
    • bring the gifts to the sanctuary rail and pass to the server/deacon:
      • for Eucharist, bread and wine,
      • money, and
      • on the 3rd Sunday, bring an item from the food hamper;
    • wait at the sanctuary rail for the officiant to offer the Prayer over the Gifts; and
    • bow, turn toward the center and walk back to your seat.
  • For Eucharist/Communion, at the “Our Father”, a sides-person goes downstairs and invites the Sunday School teacher to bring the children upstairs. Return to the nave without waiting for them.
    • For Morning Prayer, the children do not come back upstairs.
  • Communion:
    • as the choir is receiving communion go to the front pew,
    • once the choir has received, invite people to go forward to receive communion, ensuring that there are few delays,
    • follow the last communicant up to the sanctuary rail and receive communion,
    • open the rail and move the kneeler over, and
    • if anyone can’t come for communion, advise the presider so that communion may be brought to them.
  • During the recessional hymn, in warm weather, open the doors.

After the Worship Service is Over

  • Straighten up the books in the pews, collect bulletins and put them on the table at the back of the nave, turn the thermostat down, set the panic bar closed, and turn the lights off.

If the Building is Evacuated (Fire)

  • Open both main doors of the church building and assist people to exit.
  • Assemble people at the Muster Point (Arundel St. boulevard between the fence and the street) and count them; the count should match the count of people in church. Before they leave the muster point, record their names.

Other Emergencies

  • Someone locked in the upstairs washroom; key is in the narthex cabinet.
  • Someone locked in the downstairs washroom, use a coin to open it.
  • First Aid kit is in the kitchen.
  • Jumper cables and blanket in ‘Emergency Bin’ on the stairway shelves.