Saturday of Lazarus
10 AM Divine Liturgy
Followed by Sunday School Confessional retreat.
Arrive at Church at 9:30 AM. Pick up "usher" badges from the candle stations in the Narthex (inside the cabinet). One usher at each candle station. Greet parishioners as they enter the Narthex.
It is important that proper decorum be maintained in the Narthex area. It is not a lobby, but is the entrance to our spiritual home. Therefore, there should be minimal talking and commotion. Do no douse candles or sort money while parishioners are entering the Church. Also, if parishioners arrive after the beginning of the Liturgy, be sure they do not enter the Church when Father is delivering his sermon, when the Lord's Prayer or Creed is being recited, or during kneeling. The ushers should not move around the Narthex during these times but maintain a benevolent posture.
Father has advised that if just a couple of people arrive during his sermon, they may be directed to stand at the rear of the Church. However, if there are many people arriving late at one time, please have them stay in the Narthex.
There is a small notebook at right candle station. When there is a request for a memorial candle to be lit in from of either the Icons of the Panayia or Cristos, enter the request into the notebook at the station. Light candles such that you do not have to light candles one at a time. (3 or more requests) After the Divine Liturgy has begun, do not light candles during: the reading of the Epistle or Gospel, during the sermon, during the reciting of the Creed or the Lord's Prayer, when the parishioners are kneeling, or whenever Father is outside of the Altar. If anyone asks how much the memorial candles are, tell them it is a "free will" donation but that the usual donation is $5.
At least two Parish Council members will be in the Narthex as they may need to set up the Sunday School partitions and set up tables and chairs in the Hall. They will also be on hand to bring the Sunday School children into the Church to hear the Bible readings and sermon. If a council member is at the candle stations, the ushers should stand by the doors into the main Church.
During Communion, two Parish Council members will stand at the Soleas to help anyone needing assistance.
Upon conclusion of the Liturgy, proceed together with the two Parish Council members to receive the blessing from Father and then pass the offering baskets. If four Parish Council members are available and wish to pass the offering baskets, the users need not perform this service.
The Parish Council members will take the offering baskets and count the money in the office.
Following the announcements by Father, go immediately to the front rows on each side to usher out the parishioners aisle by aisle to proceed to receive their antidiron (blessed bread). You can slowly move toward the first aisles as he is speaking so that you are in place when he announces to proceed to receive the antidiron.
Return the badges to the candle station before leaving Church.
Interested in Ushering?
Our Ministries are always in need of volunteers. Our volunteers are what makes our Ministries and the activities done by the Ministries successful.
Holy Week Ushering Responsibilities
Palm Sunday Morning
10 AM Divine Liturgy
Standard Sunday morning procedure with larger attendance. Candle monitoring at Narthex. Two offerings taken: 1) Regular tray; and 2) Holy Week Flower tray. Holy Week Flower tray may be passed by Philoptochos members. Sometimes if the flowers are already donated at this point, the Holy Week Flower tray is not passed. No Sunday School. Cut andithron smaller than usual. Six ushers for Communion: two at the front of the Soleas, two at the sides of the Soleas, and two to release the people from the pews. Use all available chairs. Set air conditioning. Two users needed for Palm distribution.
Palm Sunday Evening
7 PM Nymphios (or Bridegroom) Service
Standard ushering. No offering tray is passed.
Holy Monday Evening
7 PM Nymphios (or Bridegroom) Service
Standard ushering. No offering tray is passed.
Holy Tuesday Evening
7 PM Nymphios (or Bridegroom) Service
Standard ushering. No offering tray is passed.
Holy Wednesday Afternoon
5:30 PM Holy Unction Service
Standard ushering. Offering tray is passed at the conclusion of service just before the anointing of the Faithful. Row by row dismissal down the center of the isle.
Holy Thursday Morning
10 AM Divine Liturgy
Standard ushering. No offering tray is passed.
Holy Thursday Evening
7 PM Holy Passion (12 Gospels) Service
Standard ushering. No offering tray is passed. After the sixth Gospel is read, two ushers are needed to help with the placement of the base of the Holy Cross and the flower wreath during the procession around the inside of the Church. A sand box with candles and offering tray to venerate the Holy Cross is setup before the service in the center isle a few rows back from the front. Two ushers should help people up the stairs of the Soleas to venerate the Holy Cross. Stop the Faithful from venerating when Gospel is being read. Two additional ushers should direct people down the center isle to light their candle before venerating the Holy Cross.
Holy Friday Morning
9 AM Decorating the Epitaphios
No ushering required. All are welcome to help decorate.
Holy Friday Afternoon
3 PM Vespers of the Descent from the Cross
Standard ushering. One person need to help remove the body of Christ from the Cross after the Gospel. No offering tray is passed.
Holy Friday Evening
7 PM Lamentations Service
Procession of Epitaphios around the outside of the Church. Large attendance is expected. Cones should be setup to block the main driveway and to mark the storm drain grate in the parking lot near the patio area. Large candles with plastic cups should be available to the Faithful for $5 per candle. This can be setup just outside the front door of the Church in the exo-Narthex area or at the candle stations in the Narthex. Candles should be prepared before the service. Ushers may be needed early to do this. Candles should be ready and ushers ready by 6:30 PM. At least two extra ushers are needed to sell the large candles. Before the service, the center doors should be open to allow parish to venerate Christ at the Epitaphios. The offering trays are passed after the last lamentation is sung by the people. (Page 395 in the Holy Week Book) At the end of the doxology, the procession begins (Page 401).
Six men are needed to carry the Epitaphios canopy with at least two extras to rotate during procession if needed. Another person is needed to carry the large Cross. An additional usher is needed at the front of the procession to monitor pace.
The procession is in the following order:
- Usher who is monitoring the pace of the procession
- Large wooden Cross bearer
- Acolytes (Alter Boys)
- Myrrh-bearers (Flower Girls)
- Epitaphios Canopy
- Priest
- Chanters
- Choir Members
- Congregation
The procession leaves down the center aisle of the Church and travels all the way down to the sidewalk at the street. It then turns left toward the south. The first stop occurs as the Epitaphios Canopy reaches the center of the south side of the Church on the sidewalk. After a brief set of petitions, the procession continues to the parking lot, turns left again and stops at the center of the east wall (Altar) of the Church parking lot. Then a left turn at the driveway to stop at the center of the north wall of the Church. Finally the procession moves down the driveway to the street sidewalk, turns left and continues up the center sidewalk to the front doors of the Church. The last set of petitions are prayed on the large semi-circular patio in front of the Church
Following the last set of petitions, the Epitaphios Canopy is lifted on the shoulders of the men carrying it (alternatively, there are wooden stilts to balance the Epitaphios Canopy on while keeping it at shoulder height), to allow the Faithful to pass under and into the Church. the Epitaphios Canopy is then brought in the Church and replaced on the Soleas.
Ushers are needed to help remove flowers from the canopy and distribute to the Faithful at the end of the service. Take the flowers from the front and top dome last.
Holy Saturday Morning
10 AM Divine Liturgy
Standard ushering. Offering tray is passed following communion.
Holy Saturday Evening
11:45 PM Resurrection Service and Divine Liturgy
Large attendance is expected. Large candles with plastic cups should be available to the Faithful for $5 per candle. This can be setup just outside the front door of the Church in the exo-Narthex area or at the candle stations in the Narthex. Candles should be prepared before the service. Ushers may be needed early to do this. Candles should be ready and ushers ready by 11:15 PM. Offering tray is passed just after the sermon. Ushers should stand at the rear of the Church with trays in hand to serve as a visual reminder to Father Dino to announce the offering. Acolytes will pass the candle light from the Priest to the people. Four ushers at the front of the Church should help keep people seated. General clean up after service.
Easter Sunday Noon
12 Noon Agape Vespers
Standard ushering. No offering tray is passed.