![]() While many ushers are older church members, many of those practicing Saturday were children and teenagers.īrittney Spurlock, 17, has been ushering for about five years.Advertising African American African Americans African Methodist Episcopal Church Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc Ashe, Arthur Association For The Study Of African American Life And History Associations And Institutions Blake, Eubie Business Carats, Inc Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc Communities Dance Theatre Of Harlem Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Description And Travel Fraternal Organizations Fraternities Government Hbc Us (Historically Black Colleges And Universities) Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc Journalism Labor Labor Unions Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, Inc Mass Media Mel Pat Associates Men Morehouse College National Association For Equal Opportunity In Higher Education National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People National Association Of Market Developers National Association Of Negro Business And Professional Women's Clubs, Inc National Bar Association National Coalition Of 100 Black Women National Medical Association National Newspaper Publishers Association National Pharmaceutical Association National Sorority Of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc National United Church Ushers Association Of America, Inc National Urban Affairs Council National Urban League Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc One Hundred Black Men, Inc Opportunities Industrialization Center Of America, Inc Patrick, C. ![]() Sylvia Graves, a member of Perkins Square Baptist Church who has been ushering nearly 20 years, said people who are struggling will often seek out a church for comfort or aid. She said she pulled him into the foyer and quickly got the minister. She recalled the time when a man showed up at her church asking for someone to pray for him. “You don’t know what problems or concerns people have coming through that door,” said Vanessa W. Often, ushers are the first face to greet those with serious issues. A bad first impression, they say, can quickly turn people off. The ushers take their jobs seriously because, they say, they are often the first connection people have with a church. On Saturday, they practiced proper procedures for signs and signals service and prayer positions ushering in the aisles how to collect the offering and duties and responsibilities of positions like the “doorkeeper” and “usher-in-charge.” ![]() There are about 400 people in Maryland and 15,000 in the nation who have been trained and certified by the National United Church Ushers Association. She was among several dozen ushers from African-American churches across Maryland who came early Saturday morning to the Huber Community Life Center on Loch Raven Boulevard in Northeast Baltimore to practice their skills. “We’re the ones who control the atmosphere of the church,” said Sandy Arnette. The 20-some gestures are painstakingly learned and practiced by ushers to communicate without causing distractions during services. The signals are used to communicate with one another as they quietly and discreetly direct crowds from the doors and into the pews. The group - the women all wearing white dresses, the men in black blazers, all of them wearing white gloves - was practicing the standardized signals ushers use at church services. The session was part of the Interdenominational Church Ushers Association of Maryland’s 67th annual convention being held this weekend. “Can I get a signal for ushers to take their stations?” McCorvey asked, prompting the group to make another gesture - brushing their faces with their right hands. Ladies, you have to pretend you have a tie,” she said, as members of the group clutched their right hands at the neck. “When you’re getting attention, grab the knot of your tie. Colette McCorvey called out commands as she led a group of church ushers through their paces.
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