This Sunday ( 14th January ) the Rev. Tim Simms will be leading us in our annual Covenant Service. Last week Sheila Carty encouraged us to prepare for the service. This page provides us with an opportunity to do just that.
Tim has said:
“The service is one that challenges me each time I lead it and it would be wonderful for others to reflect on it’s significance for them before and after the service.”
The full service is available by following this link. Tim has suggested that we take time to read through the words of the following prayer in isolation from the rest of the service and reflect upon it before and after the service. There is an opportunity at the end of the page to share your thoughts with us all and the community at church.
Covenant Prayer
Beloved in Christ,
let us again claim for ourselves
this covenant which God has made with his people,
and take upon us the yoke of Christ.
This means that we are content
that he appoint us our place and work,
and that he himself be our reward.
Christ has many services to be done:
some are easy, others are difficult;
some bring honour, others bring reproach;
some are suitable to our natural inclinations and material interests,
others are contrary to both;
in some we may please Christ and please ourselves;
in others we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves.
Yet the power to do all these things is given to us in Christ,
who strengthens us.
Therefore let us make this covenant of God our own.
Let us give ourselves to him,
trusting in his promises and relying on his grace.
Lord God, holy Father,
since you have called us through Christ
to share in this gracious covenant,
we take upon ourselves with joy the yoke of obedience
and, for love of you,
engage ourselves to seek and do your perfect will.
We are no longer our own but yours.
I am no longer my own but yours.
Put me to what you will,
rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing,
put me to suffering;
let me be employed for you
or laid aside for you,
exalted for you
or brought low for you;
let me be full,
let me be empty,
let me have all things,
let me have nothing;
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, glorious and blessèd God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours.
So be it.
And the covenant now made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
Either leave your comment below or email a comment to info@westhallammethodistchurch.co.uk
