These are times which call us to innovate, to learn new ways, and to do new things. Sunday April 5 is our traditional Sunday. If we cannot gather for worship, we surely cannot safely have communion, where we are passing a plate, and eating after one another.

So, we are going to try something new. The last two weeks we have been taping our services and putting them on our website. That works for the services we have been doing, but what about communion?

On Sunday, April 5, we are encouraging you to take home communion. Normally we have to be gathered as the to take communion, but these are extraordinary circumstances. We will be celebrating in communion at the church on the 5th. Please do not come to church for communion.

There are three ways you can participate in communion without coming down to the church however.

If you have a computer with a camera, you can log into Zoom, which is a live streaming tool used for meeting, etc.

The link is: https://zoom.us/j/8113673463 After you log in, you will be asked to download and run Zoom. Zoom is like an app for your computer. You will be asked whether you want audio or video. If you use your camera, you can see us, and we can see you!

If you are not sure of your computer skills, you can call in using your phone. If you have a smart phone, you might just be able to click on this number (+16699006833,,8113673463#) and it will take you directly to the meeting. If you not, you can dial: 1- 669- 900 -6833. You will be asked for the meeting ID, which is: 811 367 3463, followed by the pound sign #.

Although we will not start the service until 10:30, you can start logging on around 10 am.

If you are unsure of your computer or phone skills, you can just do it at home, using the provided. We will be taking communion around 10:20. You can read the liturgy, I suggest, out loud. If there are two or more people with you, one can be the “leader” and the other can be the conversation. If you are alone, you can call someone, and read them together on the phone.

As the elements of the communion, you can use bread, pita bread, or crackers. (I was told in some African churches they use banana chips!) For the Cup, you can use grape juice, as we do at the church, another type of juice, or wine if you like. ( used wine.)

Service for Communion

Call to Worship: This is the day that the Lord has made; All: let us rejoice and be glad in it. Gathering Prayer Sovereign Lord, your hand has touched the dry bones of our faith, your Word has breathed new life where there was death, your spirit raised us up from where we lay, your love has brought us home and to your Cross, and by your grace we stand forgiven, free. !

Confession of Faith (From the Belhar Confession) We believe • that God has entrusted the church with the message of reconciliation in and through Jesus Christ; • that the church is called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, that the church is called blessed because it is a peacemaker, that the church is witness both by word and by deed to the new heaven and the new earth in which righteousness dwells; • that God’s life-giving Word and Spirit has conquered the powers of sin and death, and therefore also of irreconciliation and hatred, bitterness and enmity, that God’s life-giving Word and Spirit will enable the church to live in a new obedience which can open new possibilities of life for society and the world;

Reading: Matthew 21:1-11

Message: Hosanna!

Communion The Lord be with you. All: And also with you. Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Praise to you, O God, for all your works. You created the world and called it good and made us in your image to live together in love. You made a covenant with us, and even when we turned from you, you remained ever faithful.

Therefore with all creation we sing your praise: All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Thank you, O God, for sending us your Son. He lived among us and told your story. He healed the sick and welcomed sinners. He shared our pain and died our death, then rose to new life that we might live, and all creation be restored.

Words of Institution Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these your gifts of bread and wine that they may be for us the body and and that we may be his body for the world. By your Spirit unite us with Christ and one another until we feast with him and with all your saints in your eternal realm of justice and peace. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.