karmady wrote:
I missed the funeral (darn). Why are there people dressed up like doctors and nurses standing there with tissues and such?
“The role of the usher board (which can include a nurses guild) is considered one of importance and honor within black churches. Ushers are the first people we encounter during a worship service; they meet us at the door. They ensure that we are welcomed and comfortable. Their smiling faces and pleasant demeanors set the atmosphere for our worship experience. However, they do more than show us to our seat or tend to the congregation during worship. They are more than the collectors of the offering during worship. And their role is more important that readying the sanctuary in anticipation of that day’s worship attendees.
Eli Wilson, Jr., who prepared today’s worship unit, writes:
The doorkeeper’s position is that of a spiritual conduit. The doorkeeper is the first responder to the people’s anticipation and expectations. Worshippers who are trying to make their way to be in the presence of God are affected by the first persons they see and the look on the faces of those persons. The kind of hospitality extended in the house of God represents the spirit of God in the house where each doorkeeper and nurses guild member serves.
Ushers and nurses guild members are partners in the worship experience with other church leaders. These volunteers play an integral role in worship. Ushering can, at times, be a thankless job. However, it is very much a form of ministry within the church. This reality is clearly seen within black churches. Ushers are our first contact and our support throughout the worship experience.
The work that is executed by ushers and nurses guild members starts well before attendees arrive. In most cases, ushers arrive at the church an hour before service begins. They are responsible for ensuring that the programs and offering envelopes are prepared and organized, that the pews and surrounding areas are neat and clean, and that “post” assignments are made for those participating within the ministry on that day. And once service concludes, ushers are among the last few to leave. Nurses guild members are typically responsible for the church pulpit and more and more are the first responders to persons who may faint or suffer other moments of physical distress in church. Many nurses guild members and ushers are now even certified to perform CPR.”
http://www.theafricanamericanlectionary ... p?LRID=293