Sidesperson

A sides-person is an usher, and normally two sides-people are scheduled for a service. 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
- ensure that the thermostat is set to 20°C in the winter or 22°C in the summer.
Familiarize yourself with the locations of the fire extinguishers, in case you need to use them.
In warm weather, the main door can be left open; and if it is too noisy close it.
If steps have snow or ice on them, remove it or ask someone to remove it.
Put your name tag on; tag is in the narthex cupboard.
Welcome people as they arrive and hand out the service bulletin:
- 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.
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.
Someone in a wheelchair may require assistance 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 narthex cupboard or 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

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, bring the gifts to the sanctuary rail and pass to the server/deacon:
- for Eucharist, bread and wine,
- offertory plate with money, and
- on the 3^rd Sunday or Reverse Offering Sunday, bring an item from the food hamper;
wait at the sanctuary rail for the presider/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:
- If the congregation is larger than 35 people, assist people going forward to receive communion:
  - as the choir is receiving communion go to the front pew,
  - once the choir has received, as you move toward the back of the nave, 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, 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.

Fire Evacuation Plan: Sunday Worship Service, Wedding or Funeral

When a fire is discovered, someone shall shout ‘Fire, Fire, Fire’.

Determine where the fire is and advise the person-in-charge.

The Pastor shall be the person-in-charge, and if he is not there, the officiant shall be the person-in-charge. The person-in-charge shall:

announce to the congregation to leave, direct people to go to the muster point at the entrance on Leslie Ave. and wait there;
ensure that 911 has been called;
ensure that everyone is out of the building, assisting the sides-persons as needed;
identify who is unaccounted for and who is unable to leave the building; and
pass this information to the Fire Department and liaise with the Fire Department.

Sides-persons shall:

Open the front doors, assist with evacuation, direct people go to the muster point by the entrance on Leslie Ave and tell them to wait there.
Go into the Parish Hall, verify whether anyone is there, and if someone is there, tell them to leave and direct them to meet at the muster point by the entrance on Leslie Ave. and wait there.

If possible, check the washroom.
If the nave is full, they can exit the building by the back stairway.

Get the notebook from the Emergency Bin on the stairway shelves, bring it to the muster point, record the names of people present and give this information to the person-in-charge.

No one may leave until released by the Fire Department.

People may not be able to remove their vehicle from the parking lot.

Other Situations

If there is a person who is difficult to deal with, get a Church Warden or the Pastor involved; see Policy B1: Responding to Difficult People.
Someone locked in the upstairs washroom; key is in the narthex cabinet.
Someone locked in the downstairs washroom, use a coin to open it.
Jumper cables and a blanket are in an ‘Emergency Bin’ on the stairway shelves.
First Aid kit is in the kitchen.