Last year, 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.
What’s New: In 2026 the Communion and Offering Starters will be posted a month ahead, like the sermon resources. For example, March Starters will be in the February Equipper.
Below are the March starters. In case you missed it: February Starters are here.
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
March Theme: Remember Whose You Are
Scripture Focus: Isaiah 43:1, 4–7
Key Point: We have been redeemed and called to join Father, Son, and Spirit in bringing transformation to others. This often begins with reminding them whose they are.
Invitation: May our offerings reflect our commitment to join Jesus in sharing the good news of our true identity with all those he places in our path. May our giving be a testament to our love, not only for those who know God but also for those who don’t know him yet.
Sample Script
But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Isaiah 43:1, 4–7 NIV
One of the most powerful illustrations of Isaiah 43:1 was in season 1, episode 1 of “The Chosen” television series when Jesus called Mary of Magdala. In the series, Mary’s father had often quoted Isaiah 43 to his daughter. He died when she was young, and though she held on to this verse, she ultimately came to no longer believe. By the time Jesus met up with her, she was struggling with demon influence and had lost her identity — even giving herself a different name. As depicted in the show, she initially rejected Jesus until he called her by her given name and quoted this verse: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.”
This stopped Mary in her tracks and hopefully stops us in ours. We often talk about who we are in Jesus, but the prophet is reminding us of the truth about whose we are. We belong to the One who has redeemed us. The prophet reminds us of the words of our Father, “You are precious in my sight and honored and I love you.” He goes on to share that God will gather all of his beloved to himself, “my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth—everyone who is called by my name whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made” (Isaiah 43:6b–7).
We give because we want others to know they were created for glory and God is drawing them to himself because he loves them. Giving is part of our participation in bringing many sons and daughters to glory.
Prayer
Communion
March Theme: Come to the Mountain
Scripture Focus: Isaiah 25:6–8
Key Point: The mountain of the Lord is our refuge. Death is swallowed up. Shrouds will be removed and destroyed. His hand will rest on us.
Invitation: May the bread we receive remind us that God’s plan for us is to rest in him on his holy mountain. Our feast is with him — the best of meats, the finest of wines. May the cup remind us that God’s plan is to remove all our tears and lead us to eternal rejoicing.
Sample Script
We often sing of the glory of mountains in hymns and secular music. The mountain peaks intrigue us. The views from mountaintops cause us to pause as we are captivated by the immensity of the land before us. Some will travel for days just to have that view. Others plan vacations around going to the mountain to delight in God’s creation and the beauty he gives us.
Communion reminds us that these mountains are nothing compared to the mountain of the Lord. The prophet Isaiah talks about the feast God has prepared for us on his mountain. It’s “a feast for all the people of the world, a feast of the finest foods, a feast with vintage wines, a feast of seven courses, a feast lavish with gourmet desserts” (Isaiah 25:6b). Isaiah also describes the eternal blessings of coming to the mountain of the Lord.
And here on this mountain, God will banish the pall of doom hanging over all peoples, the shadow of doom darkening all nations. Yes, he’ll banish death forever. And God will wipe the tears from every face. He’ll remove every sign of disgrace from his people, wherever they are. Yes! God says so! Isaiah 25:6–8 MSG
When we receive communion, we receive the invitation to God’s holy mountain. We also remember the One who not only gave us the invitation but then made us worthy to accept that invitation. In essence, he turned the invitation into the promise we hold on to with gratitude and praise.
Prayer
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