The Oversight role exists to serve the servers.
You equip, support, and champion the people who make Sundays at Praxis possible. Oversight is not just filling gaps—it’s caring for your team while steering the mission forward.

Your Purpose

• Ensure teams feel prepared, encouraged, and valued

• Create a consistent, excellent experience for guests

• Help volunteers serve with clarity, confidence, and joy

• Embody the culture of Welcome → Wanted → Woven for both guests AND servers

How This Looks on Sunday

• Arrive first, double-check resources, and anticipate needs

• Connect & Train ‘first time’ servers and help them assimilate into the team & culture.

• Receive volunteers, give clear instructions, and send them to position

• Be available and approachable for quick problem-solving

• Gently check in when someone is late, absent, or distracted

• Spot and support anyone serving under stress

• Celebrate wins and communicate concerns to staff leadership

WE GET TO DO THIS!

This is bigger than us and not about us.

We trust God to do more than we can ask, think, or imagine and constantly give glory to Him. The why will always come before the what or the how.

LOST LARRY

Everybody is somebody’s someone.

We don’t always know how long someone has been prayed for, fought for, and invited before they say ‘yes’ to church. We know we get only a few moments to make it meaningful. We treat every guest like they are our someone.

GET IN HERE!

We’ve been waiting for you.

We set the stage and fully prepare so we are ready for guests and ready for God to move.

COMFORT STARTS WITH SAFETY

Safety starts with me.

We anticipate problems and identify risks to protect our guests and ourselves.

WE DON’T HAVE BAGGAGE FEES

Praxis is a place to belong before you believe.

We make room for people and their baggage. Church is a refuge and place of inclusion and acceptance for all people.

SET THE TEMPERATURE

We are thermostats not thermometers.

We are the first impression and set the temperature for the guest’s experience. Our body language and interactions are a depiction of joy and positivity.

ONE BY ONE

Every person matters to us because every person matters to God.

We make our interactions individual and unique, personal, and prompt.

FAR FROM FORGETTABLE

We go the extra mile.

We exceed the expectations of our guests with action, care, and connection.

Scheduling is about reliability, clarity, and communication. When everyone participates well, Sundays run smoothly and volunteers feel cared for.

The Basics

• Every volunteer must have the Church Center/Services app

• Volunteers confirm or decline requests promptly

• Volunteers must enter block-out dates early (travel, sports, work, etc.)

If You Need to Cancel

At Praxis, the standard is:

If you can’t serve, you find your own replacement.
Oversight is notified after a replacement is confirmed.

This builds ownership, reliability, and teamwork—and prevents last-minute crisis moments on Sunday.

Oversight Responsibilities

• Know who is serving before Sunday

• Reach out kindly if someone is late or doesn’t come

• Help NEW volunteers learn good scheduling habits

Why This Matters

Consistency matters because we are creating an environment where people can encounter Jesus without distractions. Reliable teams make that possible.

These three words define the Praxis culture of hospitality. Every volunteer—from parking to coffee to communion—is helping guests encounter Jesus through the atmosphere we create.

WELCOME — “We’ve been waiting for you.”

From the moment someone arrives, we want them to feel safe, seen, and at ease.
This begins with:

• Eye contact, smiles, warmth

• Taking initiative rather than waiting for guests to approach

• Walking with new guests rather than pointing

A strong welcome lowers anxiety and opens hearts.

WANTED — “You matter here.”

People aren’t just noticed—they are valued.
We communicate this by:

• Remembering names

• Offering books, Bibles, or next steps

• Showing personal interest

• Making room for them socially and physically

Wanted means someone feels their presence makes a difference.

WOVEN — “You belong to a family.”

Hospitality becomes discipleship as guests begin connecting with:

• Friends

• Community groups

• Next steps

• Serving opportunities

• Pastoral care

We move people from attending → belonging by connecting them personally and walking with them at the pace they’re ready for.

MISSION:
Creating a comfortable environment so guests can be open to the truth of the Gospel.

POSITIONS

• Front Door

• Stairs - Bottom

• Stairs - Top

• Side Door

AGENDA

Check-In with Oversight - 20 min Before Service

Guest Interactions - 15 min After Service Starts

GUEST INTERACTIONS

• Look for opportunities to create ‘wow’ moments for guests.

• Greet each guest appropriately.

• Use the 10-4 rule. When a guest is 10 feet away, make eye contact and smile. When they are four feet away, greet them verbally.

• Be on the lookout for first-time guests. New guests may:

  • Look lost or confused.

  • Not be familiar with our dress code/culture

  • Not carrying a sermon-book.

• Stay focused on guests while serving.

• Refrain from using your phone.

EXTERIOR

• Help guests know that we are waiting for them by standing outside and opening the door for each individual.

• Greet each guest with a verbal greeting. Use a phrase like: 

  • ‘Welcome to Praxis’

  • ‘We’re glad you’re here!’

• Help control the climate inside by keeping the door closed when possible and offering to open it as guests arrive.
  

STAIRS BOTTOM

• Look for guests with kids and give them clear access and with body language direct them to kids check-in.

• Look for guests looking around for signs, ask ‘Is there something I can help you find?’

  • If they answer yes, offer to walk with them and show them. Don’t point, walk with them, take the steps up the stairs as an opportunity to learn their name and ask where they are coming from today.’

  • Point and tell people where the bathrooms are and then walk with new guests to the connect centre getting them a connect card, sermon book and pen, and then walk with them to the coffee station or if they don’t want coffee take them right to the auditorium and introduce them to an usher.
    

STAIRS TOP

• Greet and welcome guests as they walk up the stairs.
  

SIDE DOOR

• Standing inside the door looking for guests as they come up the stairs open the doors for them, or stand at the door with it being held open depending on the weather.

• Look for new guests looking for where to go. If they are new, take them to the connect desk, tell them the direction of the bathrooms and then walk with them to the coffee desk or auditorium based on what they are looking for and interested in.

MISSION

Creating a comfortable environment so guests can be open to the truth of the Gospel.

OPENING TEAM
Arrive 45min before first service

The Opening Team makes sure that Coffee and water are prepared with consistent quality anticipating guests.

All Coffee should be brewed in time to be able to stand at the coffee table and serve guests as they arrive. We pour the coffee for guests asking if they want room for cream.

Clean up station 15 minutes into service. 

CLOSING TEAM

Arrives 20 min after second service

This team’s responsibility is to communicate with the Oversight to keep track of how much Coffee was brewed, served and how supplies for coffee are.

Clean up resources 15 minutes into service. 

KEYS TO SUCCESS

• Remain focused on guests while serving.

• Look for connection opportunities while serving.

  • Learn a name, ask about their weekend.

  • Serving their coffee is the perfect opportunity for a quick chat, and a caring touchpoint.

• Stay ahead of the demand

• Be familiar with the coffee brewing equipment.

• Maintain a clean serving area

• Be mindful of traffic in the lobby, don’t hurry to avoid spills.

• Send guests off enthusiastically. Thank them for starting their week with us.

  • ‘See you next week!’

  • ‘Thanks for joining us this morning!’

MISSION

Creating a comfortable environment so guests can be open to the truth of the Gospel.

POSITIONS

Greeting Usher

Greet guests as they enter the auditorium and connect them with the seating ushers to find a seat.

Seating Usher

Show guests to a seat in the auditorium.

Check-In with Oversight - 20 min Before Service

Guest Interactions - 10 min After Service Starts

GUEST INTERACTIONS

• Greet guests with a verbal greeting. Use phrases like:

  • ‘Come on in! Sit as close as you like.’

  • ‘Can I help you find a seat?’

  • ‘Would you mind sliding in as you take your seat to make room for others to join us?’

• Be familiar with the plan for opening additional space (removing ropes, adding chairs etc)
  
  

Greeting Usher:

• Maintain a guest focus by facing the auditorium doors. This helps guests know that we are expecting them.

• As open seats become less obvious, ask guests how many seats they need and direct them to a seating usher. Use phrases like:

  • ‘How many people do you have with you today?’

• Maintain an awareness of open seats in the auditorium and direct guests to an appropriate Seating Usher without leaving your position.

• Have constant communication with your Usher Leader and Seating Usher.

Seating Usher:

• Walk people to open seats in your assigned section.

• As guests are passed to you from the Greeting Ushers, greet them and assure them we have seats available. Use phrases like: 

  • ‘Right this way!’

  • ‘Hi! There are four seats together right over here.’

• Maintain an awareness of where open seats are available in  your assigned section.

• Communicate with your team regarding available seats.

MISSION

Creating a comfortable environment so guests can be open to the truth of the Gospel.

POSITION

Waver

Positioned at the entrance to the parking lot and wave to traffic passing by and turning in.

Attendant

Attendants are positioned in the parking lot to guide guests to open areas and spots.

Check-In with Oversight - 20 min Before Service

Guest Interactions - 10 min After Service Starts

GUEST INTERACTIONS

• Wear the provided parking team shirt, jacket, or vest to ensure  you are highly visible in the parking lot.

• Use the two-way radios to communicate with the entire Parking Team.

• Recognize guests who require handicap parking or cars that are full. This will allow the team to better meet their needs.

• Smile and wave to each car that passes or turns into the parking lot. Have fun!

• Make your interaction with each car specific to the people inside.

• Use Praxis signage to create energy and invite people to join us.

• Position yourself so you can be easily seen by guests as they enter the parking lot or row of spots you are tending.

• People are friendlier than signs and cones. Smile and wave as you direct traffic.

• Use traffic wands and large gestures to give clear direction to guests entering the parking lot.

• Make sure to read your guest and direct them appropriately.