Pre-Sermon
Host Notes for Guiding Congregation After the Midpoint Break

Paul Durbin • Lead Pastor
September 10, 2026

3 Minute Read

The host's responsibility during the pre-sermon moment of the worship service is to help transition from the break time to making a few announcements, and then praying for the speaker before they preach.

Getting Ready

As the countdown timer concludes, the screen will count from ten to zero, and then present an "Announcements" screen. Be up front before this happens, and use the microphone to call people back to their seats.

Generally speaking, there are 3 elements to this Pre-Sermon point of the service:

1. Welcome Back

Welcome everyone back by saying something like:

  • "Welcome back everyone, please take a seat."
  • "Let's come on back everyone, it's time to get started."
  • "It's so great seeing everyone have such a great time talking! Let's come on back and get started."

2. Announcements

When it comes to announcements, we want to keep it simple. Here are a few do's and don'ts:

Don't:
  • Give an information dump (resist providing every single detail: dates, times, locations, etc.).
  • Do more than 3 announcements (any more than 3, and no one will remember any of it).
  • Announce something that only affects a few (if only a couple people need to know ... they can be told in person).
Do:
  1. Tell a story. Rather than giving every detail, tell a story related to the announcement. Remember: inspiration over information.
  2. Direct people to where they can go for details—which is usually the pair of feet in the bottom right-hand corner of our website. This is where next steps live.
Announcement Examples:

First Friday Feast: Our First Friday Feast is coming up! I remember the first time I joined, I wasn't sure what to bring, or if I should even invite anyone. I ended up just bringing a bag of chips and showing up on my own. I was amazed how good of a time I had! The food was amazing, and I had so many interesting conversations. I ended up inviting my co-worker to the next one, and I even brought a dessert I'd been wanting to try. You can get all the details for the next feast by going to our website and clicking the little pair of bare feet. Once there, you'll see a "Join Us for Dinner" button. Click that for the details.

Alpha Course: Our next Alpha course starts in a few weeks! I was reluctant to attend my first time. I thought maybe it was for "really advanced Christians." Turns out, it's more about really good food, great conversation, and giving space to check Christianity out. The talks were amazing, and I'm looking forward to being part of it again. If you're interested, you know where to go. Find the little feet icon on our website, click "Try Alpha," and you'll get all the details for our next course.

3. Prayer for Speaker

Pray for clarity, focus, spiritual power, and listener reception. Your prayer might sound something like this:

Heavenly Father, we lift up _____ as he (or she) prepares to open Your Word and teach us. I pray that You would grant him clarity of mind and holy boldness to speak Your truth to us in love. Protect his heart and mind from any distractions, fear of man, or discouragement of any kind. Prepare the soil of our hearts, too! Let Your Word take root and transform us, and lead us in how to apply what we hear today. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

September 10, 2026
Host


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From this Collection: Playbook
September 17, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Advisory Board Member
Overview Advisory Board Members help steward the life and health of Belay — managing the church's internal business, supporting the Pastor, and helping shape a community where people belong, believe, become, and belay. You're a Good Fit If… You're a mature follower of Jesus with a track record of Christian character (Acts 6:3; 1 Timothy 3:1-10) You love Belay and want to see it thrive You're wise, prayerful, and can hold things in confidence You're willing to speak honestly and listen well You're a Belay Partner in good standing Time Commitment About 2 hours per month for the board meeting, plus occasional emails, WhatsApp threads, and prayer in between. Terms are 3 years, with a max of three consecutive terms (per Belay's Provisional Bylaws). Responsibilities The word BOARD captures the heart of the role: B — Business Help manage the internal business affairs of the church, acting as trustees. O — Operation Approve teams or committees as necessary to accomplish the mission of Belay, all operating under the supervision of the Advisory Board and Pastor. A — Advisory Serve as a sounding board to the Pastor in all matters pertaining to the spiritual life of the church. R — Review Recommend individuals to pursue Partnership, review Partnership applications, welcome qualified applicants, and help oversee the Partnership roster as needed. D — Deacon Aid the church and its leadership in the spirit of Acts 6:1–6 — serving so the Pastor can focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word. What Success Looks Like The Pastor feels supported, the church stays healthy and mission-focused, and decisions are made with prayer, wisdom, and unity. Belay keeps growing as a space to belong, believe, become, and belay. Equipment / Tools Needed Smartphone or computer WhatsApp (for team communication) Email Ministry Alignments For those who serve on the Advisory Board at Belay, we ask for strong and substantial agreement in seven key areas. Please read about them here:alignment

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

September 16, 2026 • 7 Minute Read
Provisional Belay Bylaws
ARTICLE I. NAME The name of this church, (hereinafter referred to as “church,” “this church,” or “the church”), is Belay Church, of the city of Boulder, county of Boulder, state of Colorado. ARTICLE II. PURPOSE AND PREROGATIVES The purpose of this church shall be to: Encourage and promote the evangelization of the world. Establish and maintain the worship of God. Provide a basis of fellowship among fellow believers. Encourage and promote the spiritual growth and discipleship of believers. Serve the needs of the local community as feasible in any biblically aligned manner and respond to human need with ministries of service and compassion. Own, hold in trust, use, sell, convey, mortgage, lease, or otherwise acquire or dispose of such property (real or chattel) as may be needed for accomplishing the mission of the church. To have a partnership (membership) established by the church and the Rocky Mountain Ministry Network (hereinafter referred to as RMMN). ARTICLE III. PRINCIPLES FOR FELLOWSHIP This church shall as nearly as possible represent the body of Christ as described in the New Testament, recognizing the principles inherent in that body as also inherent in this fellowship, particularly the principles of unity, fellowship, cooperation, and equality. ARTICLE IV. STATEMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS This church accepts the Bible as our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice and accepts The General Council of the Assemblies of God (hereinafter referred to as AGUSA) Statement of Fundamental Truths. The full statement is available at https://ag.org/Beliefs/Statement-of-Fundamental-Truths. ARTICLE V. CORPORATE MANAGEMENT Section 1. Governance This assembly shall be affiliated with The RMMN. Partners may be accepted into the local church. The Superintendent/Network Pastor, acting as President and Chairman, Network Secretary-Treasurer, acting as Legal Secretary, Sectional Presbyter, Sectional Committeemen, together with the Pastor, shall comprise the Official Church Board (hereinafter referred to as OCB). If there are partners in the church who qualify according to the Scriptures as a Deacon, they may be appointed by the OCB to serve as an Advisory Board (hereinafter referred to as AB), the Pastor serving as the chairperson of the AB. The Pastor shall be appointed by the Network Presbytery, upon the recommendation of local Sectional Presbyter, and shall be appointed for an indefinite period of time. The Pastor shall be the spiritual overseer of the Assembly, providing for the care, nurture, and discipleship of the congregation. He/She shall direct the business affairs and administration of the church. The church ministry leadership shall be appointed and supervised by the Pastor. He/She shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. All action taken under the Provisional Bylaws shall be subject to review and approval of the Network Presbytery. An annual evaluation of the Pastor shall be conducted under the auspices of the OCB. Other church leaders and ministries may be evaluated by the OCB at its discretion. Section 2. Advisory Board This church shall have an Advisory Board. Composition. The AB shall consist of at minimum 2 Members, not including the chairperson. Qualifications. AB Members shall be men or women of mature Christian experience and knowledge, and shall meet the leadership requirements described in Acts 6 and 1 Timothy 3. Selection. Members of the AB shall be selected and appointed by the Pastor. Terms of Office. Members of the AB shall serve for a period of three years and shall serve no more than three consecutive terms followed by a required minimum one year period prior to reappointment to the AB. Responsibilities: AB Members shall perform the following responsibilities: Business. The AB shall manage the internal business affairs of the church, acting as trustees. Operation. The AB is authorized to appoint teams or committees as necessary to accomplish the mission of the church, with all such groups operating under the supervision of the AB and Lead Pastor. Advisory. The AB shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Pastor in all matters pertaining to the spiritual life of the church. Review. The AB shall recommend individuals to pursue partnership, review partnership applications, make decisions regarding the reception of qualified applicants into church Partnership, and oversee the removal of Partners from the Partnership roster as needed. Deacon. Individual AB Members, with the exception of the Pastor, may also be referred to as deacons and shall bear the responsibility of aiding the church and its leadership in the manner and spirit described in Acts 6:2–6. Conflicts of Interest: AB Members shall not be members of the paid pastoral staff. However, consideration may be given to credentialed Assemblies of God ministers who are also Partners of the church and not paid staff. AB Member’s term of service shall not overlap that of any relative (by blood, marriage, or adoption) serving on the AB or church staff. ARTICLE VI. FINANCES Whereas the Scriptures clearly state “the workman is worthy of his hire” (Luke 10:7; I Timothy 5:18), the church shall accept the responsibility of faithfully supporting its ministries with their tithes and offerings. An equitable financial arrangement for the Pastor shall be reached at the time of appointment, and reviewed annually under the supervision of the Superintendent/Network Pastor, Network Secretary-Treasurer or their designated agent. The church shall endeavor to support various missionaries and projects approved by the RMMN and AGUSA World and US Missions departments. The Pastor shall call a meeting of the church at least once a year, and he/she or someone instructed by him/her, shall give a financial report. All church funds shall be properly accounted for in the local church financial records. The Provisional Bylaws shall be made available to the congregation at this annual meeting. The Pastor shall ensure that financial reports are submitted according to RMMN requirements. The church shall abide by a financial plan. The OCB shall approve the financial plan and any revisions. The purchase or sale of property as well as any indebtedness shall be brought to the RMMN for their consideration and approval. ARTICLE VII. DISCIPLINE When general dissatisfaction arises in the church, a business meeting may be called by the Superintendent/Network Pastor. Discipline of partners shall be the responsibility of the Lead Pastor and Sectional Presbyter under the direction of the OCB. The partner has the right of appeal to the Network Executive Presbytery. If at any time the Pastor wishes to leave the church, he/she shall resign to the OCB. In the event a pastor has serious charges preferred against him/her, or his/her ministry ceases to be effective, the Network Presbytery may terminate his/her appointment. ARTICLE VIII. SUPERVISION This church shall function under the authority of the RMMN Presbytery Board. Direct supervision shall be carried out by the Superintendent/Network Pastor, Network Secretary-Treasurer or their designated agent. Construction or remodeling of church facilities shall be under the supervision of the RMMN. ARTICLE IX. PROPERTIES All properties shall be secured to The RMMN. ARTICLE X. DEFINITIONS AND OBJECTIVES Section 1. Definitions General Council Affiliated Church. A General Council affiliated church is a fully autonomous congregation within the AGUSA that meets the requirements for self-governance under the AGUSA Constitution and Bylaws. Such a church governs its own affairs—including pastoral selection, property ownership, and ministry decisions—while remaining accountable to the broader Fellowship for doctrinal unity and cooperative mission. To qualify, a congregation must maintain at least twenty voting members, a credentialed lead pastor, a demonstrated record of self-sustaining ministry, and faithful adherence to AG doctrine and polity. District Affiliated Church. A District affiliated church is a congregation that has not yet attained full self-governance and therefore remains under the oversight and care of the RMMN. It is typically led by a pastor appointed or approved by the RMMN, often assisted by a provisional advisory board, with key matters—such as pastoral placement, property transactions, major expenditures, and affiliation changes—subject to District approval. This status is generally transitional, providing support to newer or developing congregations as they grow toward the qualifications for General Council affiliation. Section 2. Objectives The Pastor, with the help of the AB, will develop the church to a place of maturity where it may be organized into a General Council affiliated church. ARTICLE XI. REPRESENTATION The church has the privilege of sending one accredited delegate to the RMMN Council and sectional elections.

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

September 11, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Worship Team Leader
Overview Worship Team Leaders are responsible for organizing their team, selecting songs, and leading the musical portion of the service on their assigned Sundays. You're a Good Fit If… You're a capable musician who can clearly lead others in song You can plan ahead, communicate well, and rally a team You're rooted in your walk with Jesus and want to lead others into worship of Him You handle logistics without losing the heart of why we gather Time Commitment About 2-3 hours on your assigned Sunday (arrival, rehearsal, service, teardown), 2–3 hours of prep during the week (team communication, song selection, personal practice). Commitment is by semester (Fall, Spring, Summer). Responsibilities In addition to the responsibilities of a Worship Team Member, the Worship Leader also has the following responsibilities: Pre-Service Build your team (vocals, instruments, percussion, etc.) Choose your songs (see song selection below) Post your set by Saturday 9am If you need sheet music printed, request by Saturday 9am (but try and get it printed on your own) Day of Service Arrive at or before Sunday 9am to give room for setup, rehearsal, and prayer. End rehearsal and setup before 9:35am. Pray with your team. Lead the singing (you should be the clear leader) Keep worship to 20-25 minutes (usually 4-5 songs) Post-Service Ensure all equipment and cords are put away (others can and may help, but it’s you and your team’s responsibility) Song Selection The most important things about song selection are: Biblically sound. Is the song Biblically and theologically true? Singable. Is it in a key people can sing? Is the melody easy to follow? Understandable. Is the song overly poetic to the point that it’s hard to follow? If so, does it need to be briefly explained before it’s sung? If the songs meet the above criteria, and you’re allowing the Spirit lead you as you select, then go for it. Optionally, you can also align the songs with the message being preached, or with the corresponding weekly anchor: 1st Sunday: Belong 2nd Sunday: Believe 3rd Sunday: Become 4th Sunday: Belay What Success Looks Like The team feels led, prepared, and cared for Transitions between songs are smooth and unhurried The congregation is drawn into genuine worship — not just singing along Jesus, not the music or the musicians, is the main thing Setup and teardown happen smoothly Equipment Needed See equipment needed of a Worship Team Member. General Information Use Worship Tools Planning for organizing your teams and songs Basic items (stands, mics, etc) will be setup, but be prepared to rearrange or add additional cords, stands, etc. If you can't lead on your scheduled day, try switching with one of the worship leaders Do not ask anyone to lead who is not a Worship Team Leader. Ministry Alignments For those involved in worship ministry at Belay, we ask for strong and substantial agreement in seven key areas. Please read about them here:alignment

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

September 11, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Worship Team Member
Overview Worship team members help create meaningful worship moments at select services and events using their musical gifts alongside others. You're a Good Fit If… You have solid musical skill on your instrument or voice (see Musical Qualifications below) You're a team player who blends well with others You're growing in your own walk with Jesus and want worship to flow from that You're reliable — quick to respond, prepared, and on time Time Commitment About 2–3 hours on your assigned Sunday (arrival, rehearsal, service) personal practice during the week. Commitment is by semester (Fall, Spring, Summer). Musical Qualifications Instrumentalists: Can keep your instrument in tune, play in multiple keys, keep time, and blend well with others on the team. Vocalists: Can sing on pitch, harmonize, keep rhythm, listen well, and blend with others on the team. Responsibilities Respond: Reply to volunteer requests quickly in the Worship Tools Planning app. Song Prep: Practice your assigned songs—know the lyrics, keys, and arrangements. Rehearse on your own and with the team. Spiritual Prep: Stay connected to Christ and keep growing in your faith, so you can lead from a place of genuine devotion. Cooperate: Work well with fellow musicians, singers, and techs. Respect and support each other. What Success Looks Like The team sounds unified The congregation is drawn into worship Jesus — not the music — is the main thing. You show up prepared, present, and ready to serve. Equipment Needed Smartphone, tablet, or computer Worship Tools Planning app Worship Tools Charts app (Optional) Your instrument Ministry Alignments For those involved in worship ministry at Belay, we ask for strong and substantial agreement in seven key areas. Please read about them here:alignment

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

September 11, 2026 • 5 Minute Read
Ministry Alignments
Our Aim For those involved in ministry at Belay, we aim for strong and substantial agreement in seven key areas. These areas of alignment exist to protect our unity, maintain biblical integrity, and ensure a healthy ministry culture at Belay. I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought (1 Cor. 1:10, NIV). 1. Belief Alignment We affirm and uphold ten core doctrines of the Christian faith as revealed in Holy Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16–17):10 Essential Topics 2. Mission Alignment We align with Belay's Vision, Mission, and Values (Habakkuk 2:2):Vision, Mission, & Values 3. Lifestyle Alignment We commit to living in a way (both in person and online) that reflects our relationship with Christ. Our lives are marked by the following qualities that spell out LIFESTYLE: Love. We reflect Christ's love with compassion, grace, and respect for everyone — refraining from gossip, slander, profanity, and divisive language (John 13:34–35; Ephesians 4:29–32). Integrity. We live lives of consistent, humble integrity that are above reproach (1 Timothy 6:11–16). Faithfulness. We're faithful to attend weekend worship and committed to life together as a Belay family. (Hebrews 10:19–25; Acts 2:42). Eagerness to Learn. We're humble and teachable, open to correction, and accountable to godly authority (Proverbs 12:1; James 4:6). Sexual Purity. We honor God with our bodies, saving sex for marriage, steer clear of pornography, don't live together before we're married, and dress modestly rather than provocatively. (1 Thessalonians 4:3–5; 1 Peter 3:3–4). Truth. We're rooted in God's Word and committed to biblical truth without compromise (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Yielded to Christ. As we yield to Christ, our speech, habits, relationships, and online presence are transformed. We refrain from gambling, tobacco, illegal or recreational drugs, and drunkenness, living as a new creation in Christ (Galatians 5:19–26; Ephesians 5:15–20). Learning Christ. We grow in our relationship with Jesus through a consistent, personal devotional life marked by various spiritual disciplines: prayer, worship, Bible reading, fasting, etc. (Luke 5:16; Psalm 1:1–3, Ephesians 4:17–24). Engaged in Mission. We live on mission (on belay) every day, because we have a deep desire to see people follow Jesus, and grow in their relationship with Him. (Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 10:43–45). Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:1–2, NIV). 4. Stance Alignment We hold the following stances: Human Identity. We believe that God creates each person with an immutable biological sex—male or female—that reflects the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26–27; Matthew 19:4). Marriage and Sexuality. We believe that God designed marriage to be a unique, covenantal relationship joining one man and one woman in a single, exclusive, lifelong union. We believe sexual intimacy is a good gift from God and is intended only within that union (1 Corinthians 6:9–11; Romans 1:24–27). Sanctity of Life. We believe that all human life is sacred and endowed by God with inherent dignity. Therefore, human life must be respected and protected from the moment of conception to natural death (Psalm 139:13–16; Jeremiah 1:5). Women in Ministry. We believe God calls and equips both women and men to serve, lead, and teach in the church according to their gifts. We affirm an egalitarian view of church leadership, where women may serve in any role consistent with their calling and character (Galatians 3:28). 5. Culture Alignment We commit to creating a culture that protects our witness, strengthens our unity, and reflects Christ to those we serve. Our convictions include: Alcohol-Free Environments. To protect those who may struggle with addiction, we commit to fostering alcohol-free environments at all church-related gatherings and events. Even if it’s on our “own time,” we refrain from posting images or content on social media that depict the consumption or promotion of alcohol (Romans 14:13-15; Matthew 22:37-40). Racial Unity & Biblical Identity. We affirm that all people are created in the image of God and share equal worth and dignity. Any ideology that elevates race or ethnicity above identity in Christ is contrary to Scripture (Colossians 3:11; Ephesians 2:14–18). Reconciliation & Forgiveness. When disagreements arise, we commit to working them out according to Jesus's teachings—going directly to the person, speaking with humility, and extending the same forgiveness we've received in Christ (Matthew 5:23–26; Matthew 18:15–35). 6. Role Alignment We understand that ministry roles are not permanent assignments and that occasional adjustments help us stay aligned with changing ministry needs. If leadership believes a role change would be best, they will communicate with transparency and grace about the transition (Hebrews 13:17; Ephesians 4:11–13). Likewise, if we feel led to step away from a role or pursue something different, we simply reach out to leadership for a conversation, and they graciously release us to pursue our next step (1 Peter 4:10–11). 7. Accountability Alignment We remain open to ongoing development and feedback from Belay leadership. If questions or concerns arise regarding these alignments, we contact leadership for clarification and guidance. If we no longer have strong and substantial agreement with the above alignments, we work together with Belay leadership to prayerfully determine next steps. Furthermore, if Belay leadership has reason to believe we no longer walk in strong and substantial agreement with these alignments, they will reach out and work with us to prayerfully determine next steps.playbook

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

Currently Reading
September 10, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Pre-Sermon
The host's responsibility during the pre-sermon moment of the worship service is to help transition from the break time to making a few announcements, and then praying for the speaker before they preach. Getting Ready As the countdown timer concludes, the screen will count from ten to zero, and then present an "Announcements" screen. Be up front before this happens, and use the microphone to call people back to their seats. Generally speaking, there are 3 elements to this Pre-Sermon point of the service: 1. Welcome Back Welcome everyone back by saying something like: "Welcome back everyone, please take a seat." "Let's come on back everyone, it's time to get started." "It's so great seeing everyone have such a great time talking! Let's come on back and get started." 2. Announcements When it comes to announcements, we want to keep it simple. Here are a few do's and don'ts: Don't: Give an information dump (resist providing every single detail: dates, times, locations, etc.). Do more than 3 announcements (any more than 3, and no one will remember any of it). Announce something that only affects a few (if only a couple people need to know ... they can be told in person). Do: Tell a story. Rather than giving every detail, tell a story related to the announcement. Remember: inspiration over information. Direct people to where they can go for details—which is usually the pair of feet in the bottom right-hand corner of our website. This is where next steps live. Announcement Examples: First Friday Feast: Our First Friday Feast is coming up! I remember the first time I joined, I wasn't sure what to bring, or if I should even invite anyone. I ended up just bringing a bag of chips and showing up on my own. I was amazed how good of a time I had! The food was amazing, and I had so many interesting conversations. I ended up inviting my co-worker to the next one, and I even brought a dessert I'd been wanting to try. You can get all the details for the next feast by going to our website and clicking the little pair of bare feet. Once there, you'll see a "Join Us for Dinner" button. Click that for the details. Alpha Course: Our next Alpha course starts in a few weeks! I was reluctant to attend my first time. I thought maybe it was for "really advanced Christians." Turns out, it's more about really good food, great conversation, and giving space to check Christianity out. The talks were amazing, and I'm looking forward to being part of it again. If you're interested, you know where to go. Find the little feet icon on our website, click "Try Alpha," and you'll get all the details for our next course. 3. Prayer for Speaker Pray for clarity, focus, spiritual power, and listener reception. Your prayer might sound something like this: Heavenly Father, we lift up _____ as he (or she) prepares to open Your Word and teach us. I pray that You would grant him clarity of mind and holy boldness to speak Your truth to us in love. Protect his heart and mind from any distractions, fear of man, or discouragement of any kind. Prepare the soil of our hearts, too! Let Your Word take root and transform us, and lead us in how to apply what we hear today. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.host

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

September 10, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Midpoint | 4th Sunday
Belay Anchor The following is a sample Midpoint script for the service host for the 4th Sunday of the month (to emphasize our Belay Anchor). Sample Script (Direct) Please have a seat for a few moments … (Introduce) Can you believe it? It's already the 4th Sunday of the month! … (Emphasize) …and on the 4th Sunday, we like to emphasize our BELAY anchor. For us, the word BELAY means: We are a missional community—ministering to our church, neighborhoods, and world—and supporting others to do the same. Notice the two parts. First: We're a community of people on mission, or as we like to say: on belay. Jesus said that he came “not to be served, but to serve” and it’s our desire to live our lives in the same way. Do you know we have a super easy way to serve here that you can do today? We have a jar of wooden tokens here with a small task written on it that helps us clean up after service and put this house back together. After service is over today, you can grab one of those tokens, do the chore that needs to be done ... And just like that, you’re serving the Belay community. Second: We also support other ministries and missionaries who are doing the work that we can't. We want to pray for a couple of those ministries today. [Introduce two of our supported ministries] Let's pray. (Prayer) Heavenly Father, we lift up (name of ministry or missionary) and (name of ministry or missionary). Please surround them and their families with Your physical protection and safety from harm. Give them boldness to speak Your message without fear, and grant them wisdom to navigate their host culture and a mind to learn the local language. When they feel tired or lonely, send them comfort, deep rest, and a supportive community. Open doors for their work, soften the hearts of those who hear the gospel, and supply all their daily needs. In Jesus' name, Amen. (Release) We're going to take a short break now. If you need a restroom, there's one in the hall to your left. There's also time to grab another cup of coffee and a snack if you'd like. We'll be back in a few minutes.Host

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

September 9, 2026 • 5 Minute Read
Midpoint | 3rd Sunday
Become Anchor The following is a sample Midpoint script for the service host for the 3rd Sunday of the month (to emphasize our Become Anchor). Sample Script 1 (Direct) Go ahead and take a seat for a few moments … (Introduce) As you know, today is the 3rd Sunday of the month … (Emphasize) …and on the 3rd Sunday, we like to emphasize our BECOME anchor. For us, the word BECOME means: We are a transformational community, consistently taking next steps in our relationship with Jesus. Jesus said, "Follow me," which implies we're going to be moving forward, doesn't it? And as we move forward with Him, His Spirit will lead us to take consistent next steps of faith. For some, it might be joining a prayer walk. For others, it might be going deeper in Bible study. For still others, it might just be checking out our monthly bulletin. The Holy Spirit will lead you in all of that. And we—your church family—would love to help facilitate your next steps in any way we can. If you'd like to see a growing list of suggested next steps here at Belay, just look for the little pair of feet at the bottom-right corner of every page on our church website. Everything I've just mentioned—and more—can be found by clicking those feet. It's not an exhaustive list, but it's growing, and will continue to grow with your feedback. If that doesn't make any sense to you, no problem. Just come and ask me, and I'll be happy to show you what I'm talking about. But could we take a moment to pray that God would lead us in the next steps He would have each of us take? (Prayer) Lord, would You help us to keep growing, transforming, and moving forward in our walk with You? And would You help us to say “yes”—and keep saying “yes”—to every next step Your Spirit puts on our heart? We don't want to stay stuck where we are. We want to be transformed, day by day, into Your likeness. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen. (Release) We're going to take a short break now. If you need a restroom, there's one in the hall to your left. There's also time to grab another cup of coffee and a snack if you'd like. We'll be back in a few minutes. Sample Script 2 (Direct) Go ahead and take a seat for a few moments … (Introduce) As you know, today is the 3rd Sunday of the month … (Emphasize) …and on the 3rd Sunday, we like to emphasize our BECOME anchor. For us, the word BECOME means: We are a transformational community, consistently taking next steps in our relationship with Jesus. Did you know that before Christians were called Christians, we were called “Followers of the Way” ? It’s a great term, because (ONE) it makes it more obvious who we are. We are followers of Jesus: “The way, the truth, and the life.” And (TWO) it implies movement. We’re walking along a narrow path … taking step after step of becoming more and more like Jesus. I want to encourage you to ask a question: “Lord, what is my next step as a follower of the way?” Maybe it’s to “go public” with your faith in Christ. Maybe its to be baptized in water. Maybe it’s to seek out a mentor — someone a bit further in the faith than you who can help you along the path. As you seek the Lord for your next step, I believe the Holy Spirit will lead you If you'd like to see a growing list of suggested next steps here at Belay, just look for the little pair of feet at the bottom-right corner of every page on our church website. Everything I've just mentioned—and more—can be found by clicking those feet. It's not an exhaustive list, but it's growing, and will continue to grow with your feedback. If that doesn't make any sense to you, no problem. Just come and ask me, and I'll be happy to show you what I'm talking about. But could we take a moment to pray that God would lead us in the next steps He would have each of us take? (Prayer) Lord, help us remember that as Christians, we are followers of the way, the truth, and the life. As you lead us along the narrow path … would You help us to say “yes”—and keep saying “yes”—to every next step Your Spirit puts on our heart? We don't want to be stagnant. We want to be transformed, from glory to glory, into Your likeness. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen. (Release) We're going to take a short break now. If you need a restroom, there's one in the hall to your left. There's also time to grab another cup of coffee and a snack if you'd like. We'll be back in a few minutes.Host

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

September 10, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Midpoint | 2nd Sunday
Believe Anchor The following is a sample Midpoint script for the service host for the 2nd Sunday of the month (to emphasize our Believe Anchor). Sample Script (Direct) Please have a seat for a few moments … (Introduce) Today is the 2nd Sunday of the month … (Emphasize) …and on the 2nd Sunday, we like to emphasize our BELIEVE anchor. For us, the word BELIEVE means: We are a worshiping community centered on the lordship of Jesus and obedience to His Word. Because when it comes down to it, it's all about JESUS. And when we choose to SURRENDER our life to Jesus and FOLLOW Him, we can't help but WORSHIP Him. Not only do we worship Him in MUSIC as we've just done—but we worship Him with ALL of our life. He becomes: Lord of our CAREERS Lord of our RELATIONSHIPS Lord of our HOBBIES Lord of our POSSESSIONS ALL of life becomes an expression of our belief and worship of Him. One of the things we like to highlight on Believe Sunday is the opportunity we have to worship through our giving. Many of you give to the ministry of Belay on a recurring basis—that is such a blessing to this ministry. Thank you. The Bible tells us to "remember this" in 2 Corinthians 9:6–8, Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. Giving at Belay happens in one of two ways: Online (just click the feet on the bottom right corner of our website) Or drop a gift into our tithes and offering box Here's an important question: What does Belay do with your gift? Just remember 3 M's: Missions: Every month, we financially support 13 different ministries serving everywhere from CO to Egypt. Ministry: Your gift makes the ongoing daily ministry of Belay possible. (How many know it costs money to do this?) Momentum: The people who give NOW are making it possible for Belay to plan for the future—because we want to be a ministry that sticks around for generations. Let's pray. (Prayer) Heavenly Father, You are the giver of all good things, and Your Word tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from You. We ask that You accept our worship and our gifts, and that You use them for Your glory. May they bring comfort to the lonely and rejected, hope to the hopeless and faithless, transformation to Jesus followers everywhere, and expansion of Your kingdom in Colorado and around the world. All we have is Yours, Father, and we ask that You would use us and all we have to Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen. (Release) We're going to take a short break now. If you need a restroom, there's one in the hall to your left. There's also time to grab another cup of coffee and a snack if you'd like. We'll be back in a few minutes.Host

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

September 10, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Midpoint | 1st Sunday
Belong Anchor The following is a sample Midpoint script for the service host for the 1st Sunday of the month (to emphasize our Belong Anchor). Sample Script (Direct) Please have a seat for a few moments … (Introduce) Today is the 1st Sunday of the month … (Emphasize) …and on the 1st Sunday, we like to emphasize our BELONG anchor. For us, the word BELONG means: We are a hospitable community that loves others as God loves us—full of grace and truth. We do a few things to highlight our Belong anchor. First, we receive the Lord's Supper together—which we'll do later in the service, just after the message from _________________. It’s a powerful reminder of God's love toward us, because He set the table with His own flesh and blood. Second, we like to mention our name tags! If you don’t have one yet, you’re welcome to make one for yourself. We have blank tags and markers ... Third, we like to pray a blessing over everyone having a birthday this month. If your birthday is this month, would you raise your hand? It looks like we have quite a few! What day is your birthday? (asked of each one) Let's pray for each of those celebrating a birthday this month. (Prayer) Heavenly Father, we thank You for (mention each name if you’e able), and the unique gift they are to our church. As they celebrate another year, we ask for Your abundant blessings to rest on them. Guide their steps, fill their days with purpose, give them wisdom beyond their years, and strength for every challenge they face. Most of all, Lord, may they experience the grace and truth of Your unconditional love, both today and always. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. [No need to sing, as we’ll probably do that with cake after service] (Release) We're going to take a short break now. If you need a restroom, there's one in the hall to your left. There's also time to grab another cup of coffee and a snack if you'd like. We'll be back in a few minutes.Host

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

September 10, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Opening
The main responsibility on the host for the service opening is to help the congregation move into a time of corporate worship. They may have struggled to just show up at church! Maybe they’ve just spent a few minutes reconnecting with friends, getting a little breakfast, and perhaps they’re not quite present “in the moment” yet—but are instead thinking about everything “on their plate.” You have the opportunity to help them shift their focus from all of that — to a place of worship. As you plan what to say, please include these five elements: 1. Greet Start by greeting everyone with something like: “Good Morning, Belay!” or “Good Morning, Church!” or “Happy Sunday, everyone!” etc ... 2. Direct Let people know that we are going to worship through song together with something like: “Let’s stand as we prepare to worship together” or “Let’s stand and as we enter into a time of worshipping together” or “Let’s stand together” or “Let’s stand and focus our hearts and minds on what is true” etc ... 3. Lead In Share something uplifting with the group: a scripture, a song lyric, or a combination of both: Scripture “There's a passage I'd like to read as we begin ...” or “I want us to be reminded of these words from (Bible book name)” or “As we stand, I’d like us to be reminded of (Bible Passage)” Lyric “We're going to be singing (name of song), and I love this lyric that says ...” or “We’re singing one of my favorites today. My favorite lyric is ...” or “One of the lyrics we’ll be singing is _____, and here’s why that line is so meaningful to me...” etc. Combination “We're going to be signing a lyric in a few moments, and it reminds me of this Bible verse ...” “I love this line from (song name), because it’s taken directly from (Bible passage)” ... 4. Share Share why you selected the lyric or passage (or both). What encouraging thought does it prompt you to speak to the congregation? 5. Pray Pray a short prayer that connects to the encouragement you just gave. End your prayer with a clear, "In Jesus name, Amen." This “amen” will let the worship leader know you've completed the introduction and are handing over the service to them. Example (Greet) Good morning, Belay! (Direct) Let's stand … (Lead In) … and as we enter into our time of worship together, I want us to be reminded of these words from Peter. He says this in 1 Peter 2:9, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (Share) God has called us to be His people—and even more, His special possession. What a thought! Through the blood of Jesus, He bought us for Himself so that we would declare His praises. So let's do that together, shall we? Let’s begin with prayer. (Pray) Heavenly Father, thank You for calling us out of darkness and into Your light. Thank You for making us Your people, a royal priesthood, bought by the blood of Jesus. We didn't earn it, but You gave it freely. As we worship, let our voices and hearts proclaim Your excellencies. You alone are worthy. In Jesus' name, Amen.Host

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor

September 10, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Host
Overview Hosts serve as the emcees for our Sunday worship services — offering upfront guidance, setting a warm tone, and helping everyone (regulars and newcomers alike) feel at home. You're a Good Fit If… You're comfortable speaking in front of a group You're warm, welcoming, and can think on your feet You care about helping people feel like they belong You can prepare ahead but also roll with the flow of the service Time Commitment About 2 hours on your assigned Sunday, plus 20-40 minutes of prep during the week. Commitment is by semester (Fall, Spring, Summer). Responsibilities Pre-Service Review the service flow in Worship Tools Planning Check in with the Pastor for any announcements or updates Arrive by 9:15am to get oriented before service starts Service Time The host addresses the church 3 times during a typical Belay worship service: Opening, Midpoint, and Pre-Sermon See the posts below for example scripts for each of those times:OpenMidpointpre sermon What Success Looks Like People feel welcomed, informed, and drawn in — not talked at. The service flows smoothly from one part to the next, and newcomers leave knowing they were seen. Equipment / Tools Needed Smartphone or tablet (for accessing Planning) Worship Tools Planning app Ministry Alignments For those who serve as hosts at Belay, we ask for strong and substantial agreement in seven key areas. Please read about them here:Alignment

Paul Durbin

Lead Pastor