Sunday 9 January 2022

 BURTON JOYCE 

COMMUNITY CHURCH

COVENANT SERVICE – Sunday 9 January 2022

Prepared by Rev Richard Byass and adapted by Phil Colbourn

Hymns in Songs of Fellowship (SoF)

Welcome

SoF 879 - Let all the world in every corner sing

We pray

Glory to God the Father, the God of love, who created us, preserves and sustains us. Glory to Jesus our Saviour who, though he was rich, became poor for us. Glory to the Spirit, the Lord and giver of life

God of grace, through your Son you call us into a new covenant. Help us as we draw near in faith, in our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

Reading - Mark 14: 22-25

The Covenant 

God made a covenant with the people of Israel, renewed in Jesus our Lord, promising new life; such that everyone may be set free from sin and its power and united in love, no longer living for ourselves but for others. We seek forgiveness that we are slow to follow, impoverished in worship, neglectful stewards of creation and tolerant of injustice. 

Lord, have mercy. Lord, forgive

If we confess our sins, God, the faithful and just, forgives, restores and sets us free. Hear this gracious word: Your sins are forgiven. Amen. Thanks be to God

SoF 1205 – Come, now is the time to worship

Come, let us use the grace divine and all, with one accord, in a perpetual covenant, join ourselves to Christ the Lord. Amen

Sisters and brothers, let us again accept our place in this covenant and, with the help of the Spirit, accept God’s purpose for us in this call to love and service. Christ has many services to be done, some easy, others difficult; all requiring that we deny ourselves in Christ.

And so, we make this covenant our own:

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 you,

To serve you as and when you choose

Glory, honour, power and might be yours, O Lord most high!

Prayers of intercession

We pray for your church throughout the world. Pause

Lead all those in positions of authority or influence. Pause

Help anyone who is suffering sickness, grief or trouble. Pause

We hold before you all who have gone to be with you. Pause

Lord, you have helped us in the past, by your grace, grant that we may know you every day and, at last, come to you in your eternal home

We share in saying: Our Father in heaven

Take bread, take wine & in communion combine love, joy & peace with every word divine; and life be yours and life be mine. Amen

SoF 21 - And can it be that I should gain?

Faithful God, so feed, strengthen and guide us in the way of Christ, that we with all your faithful people may come to share in the banquet of your eternal kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The blessing of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord

In the name of Christ. Amen