In January we introduced a new resource to help you prepare for the time of giving and taking communion in your Hope Avenue. These are meaningful formational practices that we can plan with care and intentionality.
How to Use This Resource
An outline is provided for you to use as a guide, followed by a sample script. Both the offering moment and communion can be presented as a short reflection before the congregation participates. Here’s how to use it effectively:
- Scripture Reflection: Include the relevant Scripture to root the offering and communion in biblical teaching.
- Key Point and Invitation: Briefly highlight the theme’s key point and offer an invitation that connects the theme to the practice.
- Prayer: Include a short prayer that aligns with the theme. Invite God to bless the gifts and the givers. Ask God to bless the bread and the wine and the partakers.
- Logistics: Explain the process; this helps everyone know how they can participate. For giving, indicate whether baskets will be passed, if there are designated offering boxes, or if digital options like text-to-give or web giving are available. Clearly explain how the communion elements will be shared and that participation is voluntary.
- Encouragement: For the giving moment, invite congregants to reflect on their role in supporting the church’s mission, reminding them that their gifts impact both local and global ministry. For communion, encourage congregants to express gratitude for Jesus’ love poured out for us and the unity present in the body of Christ.
For more information, see Church Hack: Offering and Church Hack: Communion
Offering
December Theme: Gifts for a King
Scripture Focus: Matthew 2:9–11
Key Point: King Jesus deserves our worship, allegiance, and obedience
Invitation: The gift of your offering is an act of worshipping king Jesus with the understanding that the gospel must go forth.
Sample Script (time: 2 minutes, not including giving instructions)
In Matthew 2:9–11 NRSVUE, we read:
When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
What gift would you give to a king?
The Magi (wisemen) brought gold, frankincense and myrrh to honor Jesus. They are appropriate gifts for a king.
Gold is a precious metal that signifies kingship. Frankincense is a fragrant resin used in religious rituals symbolizing Christ’s divinity and priestly role. Myrrh is an aromatic resin used in embalming, symbolizing Christ’s humanity, his suffering, and death.
But what gift would you bring to a king who is also divine? Our gift should be a bowed knee in worship acknowledging his authority and sovereignty. Every Christmas season, we join the shepherds and Magi in making our way to Bethlehem to see the newborn king and to bow our knees.
Our gift to the king should also be confession of our tongues that he is Lord of all. We swear our allegiance and walk in his steps.
One day, the worship and confession of Jesus will be universal. In the meantime, we “go over the hills and everywhere” telling the good news that our king has come. (That’s a lyric from the traditional Christmas carol, “Go Tell It on the Mountain.”) The gift of your offering is an act of worshipping king Jesus with the understanding that the gospel must go forth.
Communion
December Theme: Go, Share the Gospel
Scripture Focus: Matthew 11:2-6
Key Point: Jesus told the disciples of John to share what they have seen and what they have heard. These are the same instructions we are given.
Invitation: Receiving the bread is receiving the truth that Jesus made us part of his body and called us into his life. Receiving the cup reminds us that Jesus purified us through his shed blood and reconciled us to the Father.
Sample Script (time: 2 minutes, not including giving instructions)
John the Baptist was in prison hearing stories about Jesus, but he wanted to be sure Jesus was the Messiah.
2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” Matthew 11:2–6 NRSVUE
John sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus told them to go back to John and share what they have seen and what they have heard. This is the same instruction we are given — to go and share what we have seen in our own lives, and what we’ve heard Jesus has done in and through others. Communion reminds us that what we share is Jesus — his life, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension. Further, we share how Jesus has changed us individually.
As the bread of life, he came to reconcile us to the life we were created for, and to encourage us to live in our true identity — as beloved children of the Father, chosen, forgiven, reconciled, and made righteous — not by anything we’ve done, but because of what he did as the Son of God and the Son of man.
Further, he chose to live in us through the Spirit. This new life is to be shared with others so they may also experience the freedom of forgiveness and live in the grace of God. May the bread and cup remind us of what he has done and what he continues to do in and through us. May this truth inspire us to share this good news with others. Go, share the gospel.
Prayer
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