On the first Sunday of the month, we celebrate the sacrament of Lord’s Supper during both services. Unfortunately, Trudy and I will be away the next Sunday it occurs but do not worry, Rev Henk Dewaard has kindly offered to lead the morning service and Vicar Isaac Overton will be leading the evening service and each will be administering the sacrament. 

When I was ordained to the ministry, I was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament. To some extent I can understand this for church history has numerous examples where both the Word and Sacraments have been misused and on occasions abused without serious consequences (See 1 Cor 11:17ff). Thankfully, that has been the exception and not the rule. 
Bringing God’s word faithfully every week to the Lord’s people is a very ‘weighty’ matter and should not be done lightly. The same is true when one administers the sacraments. It’s serious business and those who have been given this charge and take it seriously as they should, know that they will also have to give an account of every word spoken and every careless action. 
Now before we think the minister has ‘holier’ hands than the person seated in the pew, he doesn’t! The ‘teaching’ elder also needs to experience God’s grace in his life, again and again. He also needs to confess and know the forgiveness we all have in Jesus Christ. He also needs to know that he is not indispensable. In so many ways, those who are charged with the ministry of the Word and sacrament are no different than the lay-person sitting in the pew. 
However, as much as we should have respect for the office of elder and honour those who serve faithfully, the minister is not the only one who can lead in bringing the Word and administer the Sacraments. In the past, our churches have been a little inconsistent in practice regarding who can bring the Word and Sacraments. It has been the accepted practice for elders and other gifted readers appointed by Church Councils to lead a worship service and to bring the Word when the ‘teaching’ elder is away. Yet, there seems to be a reluctance to allow that to happen when the Sacraments need to be administered, almost elevating them above the Word. Thankfully, that attitude is also changing and rightly so. 
We certainly don’t understand Scripture to teach that the Sacraments are above the Word. They are on a par with the Word and are a means of grace to the Lord’s people and should not be withheld when the ‘teaching’ elder is away. So, we give thanks that Henk and Isaac will bring us God’s word and administer the sacrament when the ‘teaching’ elder is away on a short break. JZ.