Covenant Service 10th January 2021

 BURTON JOYCE 

COMMUNITY CHURCH

Sunday 10 January 2021 

With Nottingham North East Circuit 

The Covenant service is held every year in Methodist churches as a time for reflection & rededication. This would normally be a shared service with other local churches in the villages through Churches Together but this year, of course, sadly, we cannot do that.

Spend time with God, knowing that others share with you.

Covenant Service & Agapé meal

For the Agape, you will need bread, biscuit or cake & drink of choice. 

The hymns are chosen mostly from the church hymnbook Songs of Fellowship (SoF). If you don't have a copy of the hymnbook at home, you can often find a video of the hymn on Youtube with the words displayed on video. Also, you can find the Bible readings online at several websites. Search for the specific chapter and verse (e.g. Exodus16, 1-15)

Welcome

May God bless us all as we share together, wherever we are.

Glory to the Father, Jesus our Saviour & the Holy Spirit, Lord & giver of life. God of grace, through the mediation of your Son, you call us into covenant. Help us to draw near in faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

We sing SoF 902: Lord of all hopefulness

A reading: John 15.1-10 

THE COVENANT 

God made a covenant with the people of Israel, a covenant renewed in Jesus Christ our Lord. In this covenant God promises new life in Christ. For our part we promise to live not for ourselves but for God. 

Confession 

For the sin that has made us slow to learn of Christ

Lord, have mercy


For the sin that has caused us to misuse your gifts


Lord, have mercy


For the sin that has made us tolerate injustice


Lord, have mercy


Silence 

Have mercy on us, O God, in your constant love; in the fullness of your mercy blot out our offences. Wash away our guilt and cleanse us from sin. Create in me a clean heart. Renew a right spirit within me. Give me joy & a willing spirit. 

If we confess our sins, God is faithful & just to forgive our sins & cleanse us from all unrighteousness. To all who truly repent God says: 'Your sins are forgiven’. 

Amen. Thanks be to God. 

Hymn SoF 519: Take my life & let it be

Lord God, holy Father, you have called us through Christ to share in this gracious covenant. We take upon ourselves with joy the yoke of obedience & engage to seek & do your perfect will because 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. Now, O God, you are mine and I am yours. Let the covenant made on earth be ratified in heaven. Amen. 

Intercession

Let us pray for the Church and for the world. 

Loving God, hear us as we pray for your holy catholic Church:


make us all one, that the world may believe. 

Inspire and lead all who govern and hold authority in the nations:


establish justice and peace among all people. 

Have compassion on all who suffer in sickness, grief or trouble:


deliver them from their distress. 

We praise you for the saints who have entered your eternal glory:


bring us with them to your heavenly kingdom. 

Let us pray in silence for our own needs and for those of others . . . 

We sing SoF 1576: Wait for the Lord, whose day is near

O God, hear our prayers through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 

The Lord's Prayer 

The AGAPÉ MEAL 

You will need some bread, biscuit or cake and drink of choice. 

Jesus said: ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ 

Eat and then drink, remembering our Lord Jesus Christ 

PRAYERS

For all who hunger for food, a human touch or peace of heart

Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer

For all who risk their lives that others might live 

Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer

We sing SoF 1158: All my days (Beautiful Saviour)

Blessing 

The blessing of God, Father, Son & Holy Spirit, be with us now & always. Amen. 

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.


In the name of Christ. Amen.