Ushering
Jennifer Lim
Apart from greeting the congregation as they arrive and guiding them to their seats, the ushers at PLMC play a very important role in helping to create a warm family-like atmosphere which allows for worshippers to ready their hearts for worship.
Jennifer Lim, Head usher for the Sanctuary Service, who has been serving the Lord and congregation for the past 38 years, takes us down memory lane.
How did you first get involved in the ushering ministry?
I started ushering in 1983, not long after my baptism. It had never occurred to me to serve in any ministry let alone help out in ushering. I was approached by a sister to help with the distribution of the church bulletin before service, and I agreed without hesitation. This became a weekly duty. Over time, I also started helping out more in the collection of the offering alongside Mrs Jennifer Rymne. When Ms Mary Gordon, who was the then Head of the Ushering Ministry, left PLMC, I was asked to take on the role, and I did so wholeheartedly.
On reflection, God was progressively leading me to the ministry that He had planned for me.
How was ushering like when you first started?
During the 80's, the congregation size was small. I remember we only had 6 ushers. But God was ever so faithful; when PLMC was rebuilt, the new sanctuary was twice the size of that of the old sanctuary and so our congregation grew.
To be honest, I was quite anxious because I did not know where we were going to find so many ushers. It was a very daunting task to build up the team. But God was faithful and provided, multiplying our team of ushers by 10-fold. Today, we have a team of 60 ushers which has resulted in a need for a weekly roster, so that everyone can get a chance to serve our Lord and the congregation.
What is your fondest memory of being in the ushering ministry?
One of my fondest memories of ushering is watching the babies grow. I used to usher in the Manger and it was so beautiful watching these lovely babies, who came as newborns, take their first steps as toddlers and then be running around as pre-schoolers. When they ‘graduated’ from the Manger to begin the next leg of their Christian growth at Silverboxes, it was bittersweet because it had been such a joy to watch them grow, and I would miss them. I looked forward to Holy Communion Sundays when these children would join their parents for the main service, and I could see how much they had grown.
What do you enjoy most about ushering?
What I love most about ushering is being able to meet new people, and befriending them. At first, they may just be acquaintances but over the years, you have more conversations and get to know them and their families as friends. You also get to know who the doctors are, which is important, because in the event of an emergency, it is a lot easier to know who to turn to get medical assistance.
I also love the friendships I have made within the ushering team over the years. It is such a joy to be able to catch up with each other as we prepare the logistics each week before service begin. I have developed close friendships with some of these ladies I serve with; we share our joys, celebrate each other’s successes, and support each other through difficult times with prayer and a comforting shoulder.
Now, under the ‘new normal’ of this endemic, we are no longer able to interact with one another as freely due to the safety management measures. Regretfully, we are no longer get to enjoy as much of the friendly conversations and camaraderie we had on the Sundays when we would meet face-to-face in service before Covid struck. However, I am thankful that we are back on-site for service and, thus, still have the opportunity to serve, even if not as often as before. I pray that as this pandemic fades away, we will see a return of our congregation and ushers to worship and serve as a community, as an act of worship to our Lord.
What is it you hope for the future of the ushering ministry?
My hope to see the young adults be the next generation of ushers. Currently, most of our ushers are in their fifties and sixties; and I think we may be a little bit old fashioned in the way we run the ushering ministry. Having young adults come in will bring along fresh ideas into this ministry. Furthermore, with younger ushers, we will be able to connect better with the younger members of the congregation who will raise their families in this church.
For me, serving is worship of my Lord. Personally, my favourite verse is from Joshua 24:15; “But as for me and my household we will serve the Lord.” I believe that being a Christian is being part of a family; and being part of a family means that each of us must serve. Jesus came to serve, and so, we too should follow His example and serve others. God gives us different gifts and passions to serve His people and bring about His worship. Thus, if God has given you the desire and the gift of befriending, come and join us in worshipping the Lord our God, through this ministry.