Preparation

• If you cannot fulfil your duty please give the pastor sufficient notice.
• Please prepare using a Christian Standard Bible.
• Your communion message must be well prepared. This is a teaching moment in our service.
• Prepare a summary of this week’s communion message of 50-60 words. This should be submitted to the pastor before Saturday, 12:00pm, for review.
• The dress code for those who serve up front is smart casual. Men wear a collared, buttoned, long-sleeved, plain shirt with no pattern. Dress pants or chinos. No tie. No casual jacket while on stage.

Before the service

• Please arrive no later than 9:00am for the 9:30am service.
• Inform the worship leader that you are present when you arrive.
• Attend the pre-service run-through at 9:00am in the main hall.
• Be seated 5 minutes before the service starts.
• Be seated in such a way as to minimise distraction when you come up.
• Anticipate coming up just before you’re called.
• Inform the projectionist of your passage and the translation you use (default is CSB).

Before the communion message

• Do not tamper with the lectern.
• Do not test the mic by blowing into it.
• Do not put your hands into your pockets.
• Call up the stewards. They wait at the front, to the side, by the communion table, during the communion message.
• Inform the assembly, “Communion is open to all who have placed their faith in Jesus and are in good standing with their local church.”
• Inform the assembly, “Anyone who hasn’t placed their faith in Jesus is to let the elements pass by.”
• Inform the assembly, “Members are to exercise authority over their believing children.”
• Inform the assembly, “The congregation is to wait when they receive the elements so we can partake together.”

The communion message

• The communion message should take 3-5 minutes.
• Read and expound from one text only.
• Make only one point.

Distribution of the communion elements

• A song may be sung during the distribution of the elements.
• Ask the stewards to distribute the bread.
• Inform the assembly, “While the bread is being distributed spend time in quiet confession.”
• Pray before eating the bread. Wait.
• Ask the stewards to distribute the cup.
• Inform the assembly, “While the bread is being distributed spend time in quiet reflection.”
• Pray before drinking the cup. Wait.
• Close in a short prayer.

After the communion message

• Walk back to your seat.

How does the communion message feel?

• Sombre.
• Joyful.
• Pastoral.

Appendix 1 Helpful texts

• Genesis 22:7-8
• Psalm 22:15-19
• Psalm 40:6-8
• Isaiah 53:4-9
• Mark 14:22-26
• Luke 22:7-20
• John 6:53-56
• 1 Corinthians 5:7
• 1 Corinthians 10:15-22
• 1 Corinthians 11:17-22
• 1 Corinthians 11:27-34
• Romans 3:22-26
• Romans 5:9
• Ephesians 1:7-8
• Ephesians 2:13
• Ephesians 5:2
• Colossians 1:19-20
• Hebrews 9:11-22
• Hebrews 9:25-28
• Hebrews 10:5-10
• Hebrews 10:19-22
• Hebrews 12:22-24
• Hebrews 13:11-15

More from this series

The elements of worship

Guidelines for serving