Diaspora team members meet after the second service, usually for lunch to receive team assignments and names of those to be visited. We meet in the south part of the Fellowship Hall* There may be a small donation requested to cover the cost of lunch.

Diaspora kits (containing bread, juice, a plate and cups) are preassembled by the Diaspora Ministry Leader and prepared for your visits, (Currently Jan Johnson)

Discuss with your Diaspora partner how you two would like to handle the visits (e.g. who will lead the conversation, Who will prepare the elements, etc.). This will help your visit to go smoothly and allow you to give greater attention to those you are visiting. This can be discussed over lunch or in the car on the way to the first visit.

Take extra bulletins with you for the folks we're visiting.

Keep visits appropriately brief. 'While the visit will mean a great deal to the individual(s) you are there to see, it can also be exhausting or uncomfortable to have visitors. Be sensitive to their situation, and also the time you need to make other visits.

• You represent the presence, care and ministry of the body of Christ. Diaspora visits are about serving people with the love of Christ. Relate with those who are present (those you planned to see, and others who may be there with them) with care and dignity
• When you arrive introduce yourselves by name. Share that you are deacons from College Hill Presbyterian Church that you have come to visit them, serve communion and pray with them. During the visit, share that you are there on behalf of the whole congregation, Share that God loves them and that their church family loves them,
• Use your 'listening skills. As appropriate, ask about what is going on in their life. They may not have anyone else whom they feel genuinely cares for or listens to them.
• Be open to asking if they have a scripture passage they would like read. Many times people will like to read scripture but for one reason or another, find it difficult or have no one to read to them, As you listen 'to their sharing, a passage may come to mind that the Lord gives you to share with theme Another helpful approach is to share with them the passage of scripture used in the morning worship services. This allows them to further participate in the congregation's experience of worship. It is usually best to keep the passage brief. 
• Sometimes it works well to have one person taking the lead in the conversation, while the other team member prepares the elements from the kit. If there are other guests there, be sure to ask if they would like to receive communion.

• Introduce communion as the bread representing the body of Christ and the cup representing the blood of Christ. You may find it helpful to read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 out loud to institute the table.
• Use name(s) whenever possible when sharing the bread and cup. For example, "John, this is the body of Christ broken for you." Or "Jane, this is the blood of Christ shed for you." 
• Be sure to join them in receiving communion. This moves the experience from something you are doing for them to communion with the Lord Jesus you are sharing together,
• If inclined, sing one of the hymns or worship songs in the bulletin for that Sunday. 
• Ask them if you can pray with them before you leave. If they are open to prayer, you can also ask if they would be comfortable having you anoint them with oil as a way of showing our trust in God. As you pray, be sure to intercede for concerns they have expressed during your visit, Your faith, spoken in prayer, also helps them to trust God in prayer.

• Thank them for their time and the opportunity to be together. Assure them of God's love for them and the love of their church.
• Following the visit, write down any notes, updates or information you have on the Diaspora form that would be helpful for the church to know in providing care.