New Ministry of Communion Deacons

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." ²⁵ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." ²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

The scripture above (Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church) contains an ancient piece of liturgy of the early Christian community, and is the basis of most communion liturgies. Methodist from the very beginning even before we were a separate church, when John Wesley organized the people called Methodist as a revival movement in the Church of England, were a strong and vital movement because of the involvement of the laity.

Today Methodism is reclaiming its roots as a movement centered on the work of the laity. As such we at First Church are launching a new ministry of Communion Deacons. In accordance to the Discipline of the Church, and after reading and training with the pastor these laypersons will be bring Holy Communion to those unable to attend worship.

We hope to start this summer. After each monthly communion service we, the body of Christ, will send out the Communion Deacons with elements that were consecrated along with elements in the service. Communion has always been brought as an extension of the congregation's worship to the sick or homebound persons. In a continuance of this long standing tradition we are looking for persons to serve in this important ministry.

Those selected to be Communion Deacons must be persons who confess a personal relationship with Jesus Christ; who participate actively in the ministry, mission, and worship of the congregation; and who strive to live out the gospel in their daily lives.

Communion Deacons shall receive training from the pastor in the following areas:

a. Theology of the Eucharist in The United Methodist Church

b. Practice of caring for shut-ins and the ill

c. Procedure for serving the Eucharist outside the worship service in the sanctuary

Communion Deacons will be commissioned at a worship service. The communion they take to the shut-ins and the ill is an extension of the Lord’s table where we celebrate the renewing power of God’s love in Christ Jesus.

Please prayerful consider if God is calling you to serve in this Important ministry.

PASTOR LANE