01/04/2024
In 1775, John Wesley introduced a covenant service as an important part of spiritual life in the Methodist Societies. This renewal service was a time for the Methodists to gather annually in a time of self-examination, reflection, and dedication, wholly giving up themselves and renewing covenant with God. Repentance through confession and commitment was a key focus of the service, demanding humility from those willing to submit themselves to the dynamic words stated within the liturgy.
According to Wesley’s journal, though the covenant renewal service was held on various occasions throughout the year, by the end of his life, the service was observed typically on or the Sunday nearest January 1st. The covenant renewal service is a practice that continues in churches and Christian communities today, often near the beginning of the new year. It has undergone many revisions and adaptations, but its purpose as an evocative ceremony of commitment to ongoing discipleship and Christ-like character has always remained intact. (from: https://seedbed.com/john-wesleys-covenant-renewal-service-today/)
Here is the text from the Covenant Renewal service that was held on the morning of New Year's Eve at Carme United Methodist Church:
Covenant Renewal Service
LEADER: Please join me in our Covenant Renewal
PEOPLE: O righteous God, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
see me as I fall down before you. Forgive my unfaithfulness in not having done your will, for you have promised mercy to me if I turn to you with my whole heart.
LEADER: God requires that you shall put away all your idols.
PEOPLE: I here from the bottom of my heart renounce them all,
covenanting with you that no known sin shall be allowed in my life.
Against your will, I have turned my love toward the world.
In your power I will watch all temptations that will lead me away from you. For my own righteousness is riddled with sin, unable to stand before you.
LEADER: Through Christ, God has offered to be your God again
if you would let him.
PEOPLE: Before all heaven and earth,
I here acknowledge you as my Lord and God.
I take you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for my portion,
and vow to give up myself, body and soul, as your servant,
to serve you in holiness and righteousness all the days of my life.
LEADER: God has given the Lord Jesus Christ as the only way and means of coming to God.
PEOPLE: Jesus, I do here on bended knees accept Christ as the only new and living Way, and sincerely join myself in a covenant with him.
O blessed Jesus, I come to you, hungry, sinful, miserable, blind, and naked, unworthy even to wash the feet of your servants.
I do here, with all my power, accept you as my Lord and Head.
I renounce my own worthiness, and vow that you are the Lord, my righteousness. I renounce my own wisdom, and take you for my only guide. I renounce my own will, and take your will as my law.
LEADER: Christ has told you that you must suffer with him.
PEOPLE: I do here covenant with you, O Christ, to take my lot with you as it may fall. Through your grace I promise that neither life nor death shall part me from you.
LEADER: God has given holy laws as the rule of your life.
PEOPLE: I do here willingly put my neck under your yoke, to carry your burden. All your laws are holy, just, and good. I therefore take them as the rule for my words, thoughts, and actions, promising that I will strive
to order my whole life according to your direction, and not allow myself to neglect anything I know to be my duty.
LEADER: The almighty God searches and knows your heart.
PEOPLE: O God, you know that I make this covenant with you today
without guile or reservation. If any falsehood should be in it, guide me and help me to set it aright. And now, glory be to you, O God the Father,
whom I from this day forward shall look upon as my God and Father.
Glory be to you, O God the Son, who have loved me and washed me from my sins in your own blood, and now is my Savior and Redeemer.
Glory be to you, O God the Holy Spirit, who by your almighty power have turned my heart from sin to God.
O mighty God, the Lord Omnipotent, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
you have now become my Covenant Friend. And I, through your infinite grace, have become your covenant servant. So be it. And let the covenant I have made on earth be ratified in heaven.
Amen.
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