Covenant Renewal Service
(taken from the United Methodist Book of Worship, 1993)
2004 New Years Sunday
January 3, 2004
Description:
“In 1663 Richard Alleine, a Puritan, published Vindiciae Pietatis: or, A Vindication of Godliness in the Greater Strictness and Spirituality of It. In 1753, it was again published in John Wesley’s A Christian Library. Wesley used one chapter, "The Application of the Whole," on Monday, August 11, 1755, in what probably was the first real celebration of the Covenant Service in the Methodist movement.
Wesley found the service rich and meaningful, as expressed in his Journal: "Many mourned before God, and many were comforted" (April 1756); "It was, as usual, a time of remarkable blessing" (October 1765); "It was an occasion for a variety of spiritual experiences ... I do not know that ever we had a greater blessing. Afterwards many desired to return thanks, either for a sense of pardon, for full salvation, or for a fresh manifestation of His graces, healing all their backslidings" (January 1, 1775). In London these services were usually held on New Year’s Day. Around the country the Covenant Service was conducted whenever John Wesley visited the Methodist Societies.
After the time of Wesley several versions of the Covenant Service were developed, gradually giving Wesley’s material less place in the total service. The present service follows our Basic Pattern of worship, enables the congregation to participate more fully, and updates language. Most significant, the liturgy beginning with the Invitation is taken directly from Wesley’s service of 1780.
The heart of the service, focused in the Covenant Prayer, requires persons to commit themselves to God. This covenant is serious and assumes adequate preparation for and continual response to the
covenant. Leaders of worship must take seriously the need to prepare the congregation for this service, possibly through study sessions and prayer.” (p.288)
------indicates what’s in the bulletin--------------
Gathering & Time of Preparation (Please take this time to prepare
yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually for worship.)
Lighting of the Candles
Welcome, Introductions, & Announcements
*Greetings of Fellowship
*Song of gathering – #70 – Glory Be To The Father
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
world without end, Amen, Amen.
*Opening Prayer
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Opening Prayer –
Creative God,
You make all things new in heaven and on earth. We come to you in a new year with new desires and old fears, new decisions and old controversies, new dreams and old weaknesses.
Because you are a God of hope, we know that you create all the possibilities of the future.
Because you are a God of love, we know that you accept all the mistakes of the past.
Because you are the God of our faith, we enter your gates with thanksgiving and praise,
we come into your presence with praise.
As we come to enter anew into covenant with you, remove any reluctance or falsehood in us. May all that we say, all that we sing, all that we think, and all that we do, bring glory unto you. In the name of the One who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
(arrangement of two prayers found on pages 289 and 295)
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Opening Songs of Praise -
#201 – Create In Me A Clean Heart
#224 – Change My Heart O God
Giving Ourselves and Our Offerings Back to God
*#94 – Doxology & Prayer over our giving
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia!
Praise God, the source of all our gifts;
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts.
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit,
Al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia!
Children’s Message – “Praying Over New Year’s Resolutions”
(Following the children’s sermon, preschool children are invited to the nursery downstairs while children through the 4th grade are welcome to join our children’s church in the library.)
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Children’s Message –
[Each bulletin has a piece of paper in it for people to make their resolutions. Children will pick
these up toward the end of the children’s message.]
- Ask the children if they’ve ever heard of “making resolutions.”
- Have the children come up with some resolutions.
- Tell the story of 2 Chronicles 15:9-15
King Asa “did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.” 14:2
He ordered that all the idols had to be removed, that the wooden images had to be burned, and
that the temples to other Gods had to be torn down.
When we was done, a message came to him through a prophet, that said, “The Lord is with
you while you are with Him. If you seek Him. He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.” (15:2b)
So he called them together to make a covenant to God. Much like a new year’s resolution.
And to those who “sworn this covenant with all their heart and sought Him with all their soul” were given rest all around.
- We’re going to do this today! We’re going to make a covenant with our resolutions and we’re
going to ask God to bless them.
- Have kids collect the resolutions.
- Pray over them.
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Sharing Our Praises & Concerns
Prayer Song - #278 – I Cast All My Cares Unto You
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer, & Lord’s Prayer (#895)
Covenant Renewal Service
(we now switch to the blue hymnal)
Scripture – I Peter 1:13-2:3, 2 Chronicles 15:9-15
Proclamation & Invitation
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Proclamation
Brothers and sisters in Christ, the Christian life is redeemed from sin and consecrated to God.
Through baptism, we have entered this life and have been admitted into the new covenant
of which Jesus Christ is the Mediator.
He sealed it with his own blood, that it might last for ever.
On the one side, God promises to give us new life in Christ, the Source and Perfecter of our faith.
On the other side, we are pledged to live no more for ourselves but only for Jesus Christ,
who loved us and gave himself for us.
From time to time we renew our covenant with God, especially when we reaffirm the Baptismal Covenant and gather at the Lord’s table.
Today, however, we meet, as the generations before us have met, to renew the covenant that binds us to God. Let us make this covenant of God our own.
Invitation
The invitation then is this…
Let us commit ourselves to Christ as his servants. Let’s give ourselves to him, that we may belong to him. Christ has many ministries that need to be done.
Some are more easy and honorable, others are more difficult and disgraceful.
Some are suitable to our inclinations and interests, others are contrary to both.
In some, we may please Christ and please ourselves.
But then there are others where we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves.
It is necessary, therefore, that we consider what it means to be a servant of Christ.
Christ will be the Savior of none but his servants.
He is the source of all salvation to those who obey.
Christ will have no servants except by consent;
Christ will not accept anything except full consent to all that he requires.
In short, Christ will be all in all, or he will be nothing.
To make this covenant a reality in our lives, we need, then, listen to this counsel:
First, we need to set apart some time, more than once, to be spent alone before the Lord;
in seeking earnestly God’s special assistance and gracious acceptance,
in carefully thinking through all the conditions of the covenant;
in searching our hearts whether we have already freely given our life to Christ.
We need to be clear in these matters, we cannot lie to God.
Second, we need be serious. We come to make this covenant in a spirit of holy awe and reverence.
Third, we are to claim God’s covenant, rely upon God’s promise of giving grace and strength,
so that we are able to keep our promise. We trust not our own strength and power.
Fourth, we are to resolve to be faithful. We have given to the Lord our hearts,
we have opened your mouths to the Lord, and we have dedicated ourselves to God.
With God’s power, we never go back.
And last, be then prepared to renew your covenant with the Lord.
Fall down on your knees, lift your hands toward heaven,
open your hearts to the Lord, as we join the act of covenant as found in your insert…
(a rewrite of pgs. 292-294)
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Prayer for Use in the Wesley Covenant Renewal Service (insert)
Prayer for Use in the Wesley Covenant Renewal Service [adapted for congregational use]
Reader 1 – As an act of our covenant, will you join me in prayer? O righteous God, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, see us as we come before you. Forgive our unfaithfulness in not having done your will, for you have promised mercy to us if we turn to you with our whole heart. Only through your infinite grace, we ask to be your covenant servants…
People - Let the covenant we have made on earth be ratified in heaven.
Reader 2 – God, you require that we put away all idols. So, from the bottom of our hearts we renounce them all. Let no known sin be allowed in our lives. Against your will, we have turned our love toward the world. In your power, we will watch all temptations that we lead us away from you, for our own righteousness is riddled with sin. On our own accord, we are unable to stand before you. Only through your infinite grace, we ask to be your covenant servants…
People – Let the covenant we have made on earth be ratified in heaven.
Reader 3 – Through Christ, you have offered to be our God again if we would only let you. So, before all heaven and earth, we here acknowledge you as our Lord and God. We take you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for our portion, and vow to give up ourselves, body and soul, as your servants, to serve you in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives. Only through your infinite grace, we ask to be your covenant servants…
People – Let the covenant we have made on earth be ratified in heaven.
Reader 4 – God, you have given the Lord Jesus Christ as the only way and means of coming to you. So, this day we accept Christ as the only new and living Way, and sincerely join ourselves in covenant with him. O blessed Jesus, we come to you, hungry, sinful, miserable, blind, and naked, unworthy even to wash the feet of your servants. We do here, with all our power, accept you as our Lord and the Head of your Church. We renounce our own worthiness, and vow that your are the Lord, our righteousness. We renounce our own wisdom, and take you for our only guide. We renounce our own will, and take your will as our law. Only through your infinite grace, we ask to be your covenant servants….
People – Let the covenant we have made on earth be ratified in heaven.
Reader 5 – Christ has told us that we must suffer for him. So, we covenant with you, O Christ, to take our lot with you as it may fall. Through your grace, we promise that neither life nor death shall part us from you. Only through your infinite grace, we ask to be your covenant servants….
People – Let the covenant we have made on earth be ratified in heaven.
Reader 6 – God has given holy laws as the rule of our lives. So, we here willingly put our neck under our burdens. All your laws are holy, just, and good. We, therefore, take them as the rule for our words, thoughts, and actions, promising that we will strive to order our whole life according to your direction, and not allow ourselves to neglect anything we know to be our duty. Only through your infinite grace, we ask to be your covenant servants….
People – Let the covenant we have made on earth be ratified in heaven.
Reader 7 – The almighty God searches and knows our hearts. So, God, you know that we make this covenant with you today without guile or reservation. If any falsehood should be in it, guide us and help us to set it right. And now, may glory be to you, O God the Father, whom we from this day forward shall look upon as our Creator God. Glory be to you, O God the Son, who has loved us and washed us from our sins in your own blood, and now is our Savior and Redeemer. Glory be to you, O God the Holy Spirit, who by your almighty power have turned our heart from sin to God. Only through your infinite grace, we ask to be your covenant servants….
People – Let the covenant we have made on earth be ratified in heaven.
Reader 8 – O mighty God, the Lord Omnipotent, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you are our Covenant Friend. And we, only through your infinite grace, have become your covenant servants. So be it.
People – Let the covenant we have made on earth be ratified in heaven.
[You are advised to make this covenant not only with your heart, but also in word; not only in word, but also in writing. Therefore, will all reverence, lay the service before the Lord as your act and deed. And when you have done this, sign it…
Then keep it as a reminder of the holy agreement between God and you that you may remember during doubts and temptations.]
Hymn of Preparation - #606 – Come, Let Us Use Thy Grace Divine
Communion – This morning Communion will be shared by intinction.. Please come forward take a piece of the
bread, dip in the juice and eat. You may stay at the rail or seated in the first pew as the Spirit leads to pray over the covenant you have just celebrated and to dedicate 2004 in your journey with Christ.
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Prayer of Intinction
Heavenly Father, pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us symbols of the body and blood of Christ,that we may be for the world the body of Christ redeemed by his blood.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world,until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in you holy church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.
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Communion Hymn (sung during Communion) – #192 – There’s A Spirit In The Air
Closing Blessing
Grant us, O Lord, that what has been said with our lips we may believe in our hearts, and that what we believe in our hearts we may practice in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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*Time of Fellowship
Note: If for any reason you did not find this sermon helpful, please let me know by contacting me at gb@clergy.net. Your input will help me personally and my congregation as I learn professionally.
