Brief Service of Confession and Communion

Group: COVID Communion – Mission
Campus: TLC – Mission Campus
Any worship service at Trinity must be done in accordance with God’s Word. Worship in the midst of these challenging times requires a few additional considerations. Specifically, the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Commandments must be considered as we undertake any worship activity:

Third Commandment: Does this activity honor God and facilitate genuine worship?

Fourth Commandment: Does this activity show proper respect for and obedience to those placed in positions of authority over us, such as the governor, public health officials, the Johnson County Board of Commissioners?

Fifth Commandment: Is this activity undertaken with a sincere desire to help our neighbor in every bodily need and to look out for our neighbor, loving our neighbor as ourselves? In other words, are we showing proper concern for the health and welfare of others?

In these times, any worship activity must seek to balance the implications of these three commandments. We feel that offering a Brief Service of Confession and Communion (“Brief Service”) takes into account these three commandments in a balanced way.

If you would like to commune but still feel that the risk level is too high for your medical situation, contact one of the pastors for other options.

Services will begin on the hour. In order to avoid confusion, the Brief Service will alternate campuses each week. (Note: You don’t need to wait to attend at the campus you usually attend.) 

Please spend some time examining yourself spiritually before coming. Parents can assist their children who are communing with this.

Please use the bathroom at home before coming. The bathrooms at church will be closed as we cannot sanitize them between Brief Services. (The service is only about 15 minutes long.)

Please wear a mask or bandana.

Please exercise good handwashing hygiene before entering. (We cannot guarantee a continual supply of hand gel will be available.) You may wish to bring your own gel.

PARTICIPATION

Please maintain social distancing (six feet) at all times, including in the parking lot. Chairs will be set up six feet apart.

Please touch as few surfaces as possible.

As stated above, the Brief Service will last about 15 minutes and consist of invocation, confession and absolution, a brief spiritual thought, and Communion.

The Communion elements will be offered two ways: 1) traditional bread and wine prepared under stringent sanitary guidelines; 2) factory sealed individual bread and wine.

After receiving Communion, please leave immediately. Parking lot conversations are OK as long as social distancing is maintained.

FOR YOUR PROTECTION

As mentioned above, all communion elements will be prepared under stringent sanitary guidelines, or you may use the factory sealed individual elements.

All surfaces will be wiped down between Brief Services.

Exterior doors will be propped open so that there is no multiple touching of door handles.

A FINAL WORD

While all of these guidelines are very important, please don’t let them overshadow the wonderful spiritual blessing that God gives us through the gift of Holy Communion. “Lord, may Your body and Your blood, be for my soul the highest good.”