Hospitality Teams

Church members volunteer to be on teams that cover the upstairs or downstairs duties for a given Sunday of the month (1st through 4th). Contact the Fellowship Team if you'd like to volunteer. It's a fun way to get to know people and to be involved in church life!

Duties of the Hospitality Teams

Coffee Hour (Downstairs)

Before

Arrive 45 minutes ahead.
Turn on kitchen light; hot water (for sink) - switch near basement door.
Immediately plug in coffee maker for making coffee. See Details below.
Fill and plug in electric tea kettle.
Empty dishwasher if full. (If so, cups, etc., can be used in next step.)
Put out coffee/tea cups (on big trays), tea, sugar/sweetener, spoons, juice cups/glasses.
Put (team contributed) food items in serving dishes and milk/cream in small pitchers (put in fridge until after the service.) If short on food, see plastic box of extra crackers, etc, on shelf above coffee thermoses.
Just before 10 am, make sure the door to Averill Parlors is locked (key required).
Leave the service a little early to put refrigerated items out, uncover food, etc.

After

As Coffee Hour winds down, begin Clean Up: put away leftover refreshments, load dishwasher, wash/dry/put away other dishes, empty/rinse coffee carafes, clean counters, clean carpet (rolling sweeper is located past the freezers).
Turn off hot water.
Turn off lights and make sure outer door is locked.

Greeting (Upstairs)

Before

Arrive at least 30 minutes before the service.
Unlock the front outer door “panic bar” (key on hook near door).
Open the inner doors, turn on the lights, and turn on the Lift (turn key to On position).
Put on your nametag.
Welcome everyone with a friendly “Good Morning” and a smile and hand them a copy of the Order of Service. (For a new person/visitor, see below.)

During

When the service starts, close the inner doors.
10 minutes into the service, lock the outer doors and turn lift key to Off (for security).
Arrange for someone (preferably a child) to light the chalice or light it yourself.
Handle microphones for Joys and Concerns.
Fill out the blue “Sunday Report” card with the number of adults, children, and Zoom attendees and put it in the collection plate.
Collect the Offering with two other (recruited) people (4 total)

After

At the end of the service, open the inner doors (perhaps during the last hymn.)
Pick up any Orders of Service on pews and put in (blue) Recycle bin.
Turn off Lift (if not already done), turn out lights, close inner doors.
Lock front outer door (using key on hook) if not already done.

Making Coffee – Details

Plug in the coffee maker first thing (socket over sink) and press the second button from right to turn it on. The water takes about 15 minutes to warm up.
Run 2-3 heating cycles of plain water by putting an empty coffee pot on the lower spot and pressing the first button on the right. Use this hot water to warm the carafes.
Use pre-measured packets of fair trade coffee found near the basement door where the carafes are, too. Filters are found near the coffee maker.
Start with one pot each of French roast (1 1/2 packets), regular (1 packet), and decaf (1 packet) and pour into pump carafes. Make more as necessary for the crowd.
Put full coffee carafes out near the coffee cups.
Put cream/milk (and other refrigerated items) out after the service, before people come downstairs.

Greeting a new person or visitor? Help them feel comfortable:

If they have children, let them know about the Story for all Ages, RE classes (when held), and the nursery. If parents prefer to have their young children remain with them during the service, direct them to the library area where they can sit with their kids.
Let them know about the Information Packet in the foyer.
Ask if they would like a Nametag and show them where blanks are on the Welcome Table. If they have come before and would like a permanent name tag, show them where to sign up and where they can pick it up the following week. Also direct them to the area where name tags are kept between services.
Let them know they are welcome to sit anywhere they wish.
Make a point of talking with new folks & visitors during Coffee Hour. Introduce them to people. Direct them to the food table.

Greeting New/Visiting People (and making them feel welcome and comfortable)

If there are children, let the adults know about the "Story for All Ages," Religious Exploration classes, and the nursery. If they prefer to keep children with them during the service, direct them to the library area (back of the sanctuary) where they can sit with kids. (There are kids' books and activities there.)
Let them know about the Information Packet available on the Welcome Table in the vestibule.
If they would like a name tag, show them where the blanks are on the Welcome Table. They can also sign up for a "permanent" name tag there.
Let them know they are welcome to sit anywhere they wish.
Invite them to Coffee Hour after the service.
During Coffee Hour, make a point of talking with them, introducing them to people, and directing them to the refreshments.