The Covenant Renewal Service For The New Year

The covenant of renewal originated with Charles Wesley in 1755. The purpose of the service was to effect a renewal of faith through a renewal of the covenant with God. Forgotten for generations, the service has been recovered in the twentieth century. Below is the covenant which may be used in a New Year's watchnight service or in the service of the First Sunday of Epiphany (Baptism of our Lord).

The service given here borrows heavily from the British Methodist covenant service. It is designed for use as the main service of worship on the first Sunday after Epiphany (Baptism of the Lord). You may wish to use the following introduction in John Wesley's own words either printed on the bulletin cover or in place of the greeting.

Dearly beloved, the Christian life, to which we are called, is a life in Christ, redeemed from sin, and through Him consecrated to God. Upon this life we have entered, having been admitted into that New covenant of which our Lord Jesus Christ is mediator, and which he sealed with His own blood, that it might stand for ever.

On one side the Covenant is God's promise that He will fulfill in and through us all that He declared in Christ Jesus, who is the author and Perfecter of our faith. That His promise still stands we are sure, for we have known His goodness, and proved His grace in our lives day by day. On the other side we stand pledged to live no more unto ourselves, but to Him who loved us and gave Himself for us, and has called us to serve Him that the purpose of His coming might be fulfilled. From time to time, we renew our vows of consecration, especially when we gather at the Lord's Table: but on this day we meet expressly, as generations of our fathers have met, that we may joyfully and solemnly renew the covenant which bound them and binds us to God. Let us then, remembering the mercies of God, and the hope of His calling, examine ourselves by the light of His Spirit, that we may see wherein we have failed or fallen short in faith and practice, and, considering all that this Covenant means, may give ourselves anew to God. ORDER OF WORSHIP

Gathering (suitable music may be offered)

Greeting Leader: Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. People: Amen. Leader: Come let us worship the Lord who established a new covenant through his Son Jesus Christ. People: We come in spirit and in truth. Hymn: "O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing" Prayer of Adoration Leader: Let us pray: Let us worship our creator, the God of love; God continually preserves and sustains us; we have been loved with an everlasting love; through Jesus Christ we have been given complete knowledge of God's glory. People: You are God; we praise you; we acknowledge you to be the Lord. Leader: Let us glory in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, for our sakes he became poor; he was tempted in all points as we are, but he was without sin; he went about doing good and preaching the gospel of the kingdom; he accepted death, death on the cross; he was dead and is alive forever; he has opened the kingdom of heaven to all who trust in him; he sits in glory at the right hand of God; he will come again to be our Judge. People: You, Christ, are the King of Glory. Leader: Let us rejoice in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life. Through the Spirit we are born into the family of God, and made members of the body of Christ; the witness of the Spirit confirms us; the wisdom teaches us; the power enables us; the Spirit will do far more for us than we ask or think. People: All praise to you, Holy Spirit. Silent Prayer The Lord's Prayer First Lesson Ecclesiastes 3:1–13 (All Years) Psalm or Anthem Psalm 8 (All Years) Second Lesson Revelation 21:1–27a (All Years) Hymn Commentary: Appropriate hymns include "Come, Let Us Use the Grace Divine," "God of the Ages," and "O God, Our Help in Ages Past" Gospel Matthew 25:31–46 (All years) Sermon Hymn: "Come, Let us See the Grace Divine" Confession of Sin Leader: Let us humbly confess our sins to God. O God, you have shown us the way of life through your Son, Jesus Christ. We confess with shame our slowness to learn of him, our failure to follow him, and our reluctance to bear the cross. People: Have mercy on us, Lord, and forgive us. Leader: We confess the poverty of our worship, our neglect of fellowship and of the means of grace, our hesitating witness for Christ, our evasion of responsibilities in our service, our imperfect stewardship of your gifts. People: Have mercy on us, Lord, and forgive us. Leader: Let each of us in silence make confession to God. (Silence) Leader: Have mercy on us, Lord, and forgive us. People: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; In your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Leader: Now the message that we have heard from God's Son and now announce is this: God is light, and there is no darkness at all in him. If we live in the light—just as he is in the light—then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from every sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and there is no truth in us. But if we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right; he will forgive us all our wrongdoing. People: Amen. Thanks be to God. Collect Leader: Let us pray: People: Father, you have appointed our Lord Jesus Christ as Mediator of a new covenant; give us grace to draw near with fullness of faith and join ourselves in a perpetual covenant with you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Covenant Leader: In the old covenant, God chose Israel to be a special people and to obey the law. Our Lord Jesus Christ, by his death and resurrection, has made a new covenant with all who trust in him. We stand within this covenant and we bear his name. On the one side, God promises in this covenant to give us new life in Christ. On the other side, we are pledged to live not for ourselves but for God. Today, therefore, we meet to renew the covenant which binds us to God. (The people stand.) Friends, let us claim the covenant God has made with his people, and accept the yoke of Christ. To accept the yoke of Christ means that we allow Christ to guide all that we do and are, and that Christ himself is our only reward. Christ has many services to be done; some are easy, others are difficult; some make others applaud us, others bring only reproach; some we desire to do because of our own interests; others seem unnatural. Sometimes we please Christ and meet our own needs, at other times we cannot please Christ unless we deny ourselves. Yet Christ strengthens us and gives us the power to do all these things. Therefore let us make this covenant of God our own. Let us give ourselves completely to God, trusting in his promises and relying on his grace. People: I give myself completely to you, God. Assign me to my place in your creation. Let me suffer for you. Give me the work you would have me do. Give me many tasks or have me step aside while you call others. Put me forward or humble me. Give me riches or let me live in poverty. I freely give all that I am and all that I have to you. And now, holy God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. So be it. May this covenant made on earth continue for all eternity. Amen. Concerns and Prayers The Peace Offering Great Thanksgiving Breaking of Bread and Taking of the Cup Giving of the Bread and the Cup Prayer After Communion Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord. People: Lord, we give thanks for the gift of this holy meal. We praise you that you sent your Son, that through him we might be reconciled completely to you. Christ sacrificed himself for us; grant that all we are and all we do be a response to him, in whose strong name we pray. Amen. Hymn: "A Charge to Keep I Have" Dismissal with Blessing Leader: May the God who established a covenant with those who seek to enter the kingdom be always present with you. People: Amen. Leader: May Jesus Christ who sealed the new covenant with his sacrifice on the cross bring you peace. People: Amen. Leader: May the Holy Spirit of God guide your life, now and for ever. People: Amen. Leader: Go in peace to serve God and your neighbor in all that you do. People: Amen. Thanks be to God! Commentary This covenant service may be celebrated on various days at the beginning of the calendar year. If used as a Watch Night (New Year's Eve) service, the lessons given in the order of worship are appropriate. It may be the main service on the first Sunday after Epiphany—Baptism of the Lord. If so, the lessons for that day should be used. The first Sunday of the year is also appropriate. When celebrated on the first Sunday after Epiphany, it marks a natural culmination of the Advent and Christmas/Epiphany experience. During the year, a covenant service could mark a special anniversary, such as the founding of a congregation. If it is celebrated at another time, the following lessons may be read: Jeremiah 31:31–35; Hebrews 12:22–29; John 15:1–8; or Matthew 11:27–30. If a service of baptism and/or reaffirmation is to be incorporated, it may follow at the place indicated "Responses and Offerings." In this case the renunciation of sin and profession of faith can replace the confession of sin in the text of the order of worship just given. In most situations it is impossible to follow Wesley's practice of having long periods of instruction precede the service. But authentically celebrated Advent and Christmas seasons naturally prepare a congregation for the renewal of baptismal covenant. Announcements of the service should be sensitively planned to contribute to more mature and eager participation. Although at times the Lord's Supper has been omitted from the service, the covenant service is in reality a special form of the celebration of Holy Communion which renews our personal commitment to Christ in the light of all that our baptism into Christ means.