Instructions for Serving in the Coffee Cove

An opportunity for Community Groups to share life by serving together

The Coffee Cove provides an immediate connection point between the Sunday Worship services for newcomers and regular attenders.

Before your scheduled day of serving:

1. You will get an email request about a month before your service date. Please respond to the request as soon as possible so we have enough time to find another group.
2. Communicate with your Community Group, encouraging everyone to be involved in serving. You should plan at least 5 people serving throughout the morning.
3. A reminder email will be sent to you a couple days before you serve.

On your day of serving:

1. Plan to arrive in the kitchen to begin preparing around 8:15am. Everything needs to be ready to go by 8:45am.
2. Pray with your Group before you begin. Pray especially for opportunities for meaningful conversations and connections that will be happening throughout the morning in the Coffee Cove.
3. The Coffee Cove opens after the first service ends (approximately 8:55am) and closes after the third service begins (approximately 11:05am).
4. The church orders donut holes and they are delivered to the kitchen early on Sunday morning each week.
5. Please wear gloves when handling any food.
6. Place the donut holes on large black serving trays, placing a variety on each tray. Reserve half of the donuts from each box for the second Coffee Cove.
7. Make a separate mixed tray of donuts for Rise Up and have it ready at 8:45am in the kitchen. Rise Up volunteers will come pick it up.
8. There are four square high-top serving tables. Use two for food and two for beverages.
9. During each Coffee Cove period, place two-three donut trays on the two food tables and add napkins.
10. Place two pitchers of ice-water on each of the two beverage tables and add styrofoam cups.
11. Your Community Group will replenish donuts, water, cups, napkins, etc. throughout the morning. (Do not use the donuts reserved for the second Coffee Cove.)
12. Coffee volunteers (not your Community Group) will put out the coffee carafes and other supplies on the beverage tables.
13. Communicate with the coffee volunteers to make sure the coffee carafes are full. Help replenish if needed.

Clean up:

1. Help clean up as the third service begins (approximately 11:05 am).
2. Vacuum the Coffee Cove area (vacuums are stored in the supply closet along the south wall of the Coffee Cove).
3. Empty the trash bags from the kitchen and Coffee Cove area into the rolling dumpster in the supply closet.
4. Clean coffee pump pots (water only) and trays and put away in the kitchen.

After your day of serving:

1. Take time to talk with your Community Group about how the experience of serving together impacted your group. 
2. Thanks for helping with this ministry. This ministry is a blessing to visitors and gives people a great place to connect with others.

Questions? Contact Pastor Abe at 515-371-1466 or abe@saylorvillechurch.com

Matthew 20:28 reminds us that Jesus didn’t come to be served, but to serve others. Putting the needs of others before your own as a Community Group is a great way to be more like Jesus. Plus, if you’re looking for a way to help your group connect with each other outside your weekly gathering, serving together can be a great way to deepen relationships. Check out the list of opportunities here and pick a few options for your group this season! Pro tip: Use the passages and questions on page one to get your group thinking about WHY Christians should serve together before you begin.

Looking for a great way to serve as a Community Group this season? Our Rise Up ministry provides an incredible opportunity to live out our group essential of service – putting the needs of others before our own.

Rise Up is a Saylorville ministry to the physically and mentally handicapped in Central Iowa that includes Bible stories and lessons, music, crafts, puppet shows, and much more. Our goal is to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ to the physically and mentally handicapped. Rise Up meets on Sundays from 9:30am to 10:30am upstairs in the Family Life Center at Saylorville Church (handicap accessible).

If you have questions please contact Darlene Whims at davewhims@msn.com