WHEN it is looked upon as an opportunity to glorify God, ushering in a Christian Science church is a holy experience. Sometimes those who have not served as ushers think that serving in that way is an unimportant task which can be performed with little or no preparation. When one is first appointed to the post, he may feel that it is an easy assignment, and since he intends to go to church anyway, he might as well usher. He soon discovers that it is an important duty and one to which spiritual preparation should be given.
The office of usher is primarily a mental one, requiring the individual to express alertness to duty at all times. Christian Science teaches us to guard our thoughts. An usher should be the sentry of his own thinking. He should be mentally alert not to admit false beliefs into his consciousness and to accept only the ideas of God.
An usher is usually the first one to greet those attending church services. The more clearly he understands the true nature of God as infinite Love, the more fully he will express genuine friendliness. The more he endeavors to express the qualities of God in his work, the more joyous, helpful, obedient, faithful, orderly, and punctual he will be in carrying out his duties.
In her address to the Christian Scientist Association of the Massachusetts Metaphysical College in 1893, Mrs. Eddy made this statement, which is very helpful to an usher: "Never absent from your post, never off guard, never ill-humored, never unready to work for God,—is obedience; being 'faithful over a few things'" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 116)
When an usher takes his post at church, he is publicly acknowledging that he is a Christian Scientist. The individual is not consistent who has one mental attitude for Sunday and another for weekdays, if he is to be genuinely warm and loving in his work of ushering and to be a good example to others. The ushers of The Mother Church once wrote in a letter to our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, "It is our earnest prayer that we may so reflect in our thoughts and acts the teachings of Christian Science that our daily living may be a fitting testimony of the efficacy of our Cause in the regeneration of mankind" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany by Mrs. Eddy, p. 352),
Each member should work metaphysically for the church services, but as a representative of the church, the usher has an especially important responsibility. Those who come early for quiet meditation should have their desire respected. The usher as he continues in service should become increasingly alert in knowing that nothing can enter into Church "that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie" (Rev. 21:27).,
It is helpful when working metaphysically to keep in thought the definition of the spiritual idea, Church, which Mrs. Eddy gives in Science and Health. It reads, "The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle" (p. 583). The office of usher represents an activity of Church, and as the usher holds steadfastly to the spiritual concept, he helps the church of which he is a member to demonstrate its real purpose. For the most part, it is the work done in advance that allows the usher to perform his duties with poise.
The technical duties of each post have their rules of guidance. Learning these rules is necessary, but the constant spiritual listening for divine guidance is more important to the harmony of the service. To the degree that the usher puts into practice the qualities found in the definition of "oil" in Science and Health (p. 592), "consecration; charity; gentleness; prayer; heavenly inspiration," he helps to maintain harmony.
The usher who engages in prayerful preparatory work in advance helps to bring to the service harmony, quietness, alertness, and vigilance, which tend to counteract such false beliefs as discord, restlessness, inattention, and sleepiness. The purpose of every activity of all Churches of Christ, Scientist, is to heal, and this is the purpose of the office of usher.
A Christian Science church service or a lecture is a spiritual feast to which the public is invited, and no one should be disappointed. All should feel the presence of the Christ and leave benefited. The usher has the sacred opportunity of recognizing man's unity with God.
The usher who faithfully performs his duty not only blesses others, but is blessed himself. In endeavoring to reflect the requisite qualities for ushering, he receives the reward promised in Jesus' parable of the talents (Matt. 25:21), "Well done, thou good and faithful servant:. . . enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
