Dear Family,
We are doing a little reconstruction on our hospitality and usher ministry. Before saying anything else, I’d like to thank Chuck Hansen for the six years he has served as the lead usher. It’s not an easy job and more than one person has been ferried to their hotel in the famous “red” car.
Our adjusted system will see a lead usher at each of our three liturgies, Gisella Reyes at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Steve Black on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and Bob Zelmer at 11:00 a.m. The three will work together to coordinate our special events such as Christmas and Easter. We have a lot of faithful ushers at each liturgy most of the time, but if you have a generous heart to assist at any of the Masses, you can talk to one of these three people who have been willing to take on this new role.
When you think about ushers, you’re likely to think ‘collection’ first. There is so much more to it than that. In fact, the more suitable name is the Hospitality Ministry. The ushers and welcomers who you see, plus the temple tenders, the purificator lipstick removers, the furniture polishers, the flower arrangers, the drape hangers and many more who you don’t see, are part of a critical element of our worship.
Each part might not seem to be a big deal. It seems like such a small thing. Still what all these people do is create the whole that is greater than the sum total of the parts, a holy and blessed place that gets its final decoration when people walk through the doors. Then it becomes special.
The Father welcomes us with love and that love is symbolized by the outstretched arms of his Son. The Hospitality Ministry is sending a signal of the great reality that is going on (or ought to be going on) once people pass through the doors. Through Jesus, the Father’s arms are extended to us.
If you walked into the sanctuary and saw a pile of dirt and garbage in the center aisle you sure wouldn’t feel welcome. Guess what. Sometimes, there isn’t an awful lot of difference between a cluster of grouches and that pile of dirt. No wonder people work hard to clean the place, especially around the special times that mark the life of our faith family. But the sparkle can’t be simply external.
Recently, a bride told me that their photographer was genuinely moved by the “good vibes” he got when he came here for the first time. I think he was a member of an evangelical church, so I thought we should consider that high praise, since evangelicals tend to have very strong welcoming ministries in their communities. Good vibes aren’t cake frosting. No good cake... no frosting will make it good. I think he made the point that there isn’t a person who comes to our sanctuary who doesn’t affect it, either positively or negatively. I don’t think a lot of people think that way. You know how I know? Look how hard it is sometimes just to get people to sit near each other. I’ve thought about passing out Dial, but that’s not the problem.
Jackie Chapdelaine and Scotty Martinez have covered the front (east end) doors at 8:30 and Tom and Barbara Rogan have been gracing the same doors at 11:00. The usher teams cover the front west end doors. My thanks to all of them. I’d love to get a few folks for the Saturday night liturgies. Gisella checks me out between penitents on Saturday afternoon during Reconciliation time. If I’m in a bad mood I can’t stay that way with the greeting that’s offered rain or shine. (Of course, I’m never in a bad mood.)
I hope you’ll think a little about what you bring to the “holy of holies.” Thank God for the good stuff and contact Waste Management to help you ditch the crummy.
In Jesus,
