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.
The Communion and Offering Starters are posted a month ahead, like the sermon resources. Below are the August starters. In case you missed it: July 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
August
Offering Theme: Beautiful Feet
Scripture Focus: Romans 10:13–15 NRSVUE
Key Point: We’ve been sent to proclaim the beautiful news of Jesus.
Invitation: May we be among those who have beautiful feet as we do all we can to help others proclaim the name of the Lord and be saved.
Sample Script
Paul dedicated his life to sharing the good news of Jesus’ life and love to others. And he continually encouraged believers to do the same. In Romans 10, he reminded the recipients of his letter that Jesus is Lord of both Jew and Greek.
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
14 But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? 15 And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:13–15 NRSVUE
Paul gets real practical with the believers in Rome (and with us).
We have been sent, so we are called to proclaim the name of the Lord. “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
That’s our hope, to have beautiful feet. May we acknowledge we’ve been sent and to do all we can to reach out and share the good news about Jesus to our neighbors. And may they call upon his name and be saved.
This is Kingdom Living. This is why we participate in Jesus’ mission and ministry. This is why we give of our time and our treasure, so we can be the beautiful feet of those who bring good news.
Communion Theme: One Body, Many Members
Scripture Focus: Romans 12:4–8 NRSVUE
Key Point: Each one of us has been chosen to participate in the One body — Out of Many, One.
Invitation: May we receive the bread in thanksgiving, remembering that Jesus is the bread of life who is offered to all, making all one body. When we take the cup, we rejoice that we’ve all been cleansed at the foot of the cross, making us equal before Father, Son, and Spirit. This truth enables the many to acknowledge our oneness.
Sample Script
In Romans 12, we read:
4 For as in one body we have many members and not all the members have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6 We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7 ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8 the encourager, in encouragement; the giver, in sincerity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. Romans 12:4–8 NRSVUE
In One, many. Jesus is the One, and out of him, many — you, me, believers all around the world. Millions and millions are part of the One. And the many have been given differing gifts which make the one complete.
As we take the bread today, we remember that Jesus is the One. He is the one Bread of Life, the one shepherd, the one door, the one Son of Man, the one Son of God, the one Savior, the one Redeemer, and the one Body. And he has invited all of us to be part of that one Body — all valuable, all wanted, all included, all loved equally.
As we take the cup, we remember we have all been cleansed, we have all been forgiven, we have all been redeemed, we have all been saved. We are equal at the foot of the cross. We, who are many, are one body in Christ
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