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 

In-person services at the church

In-person services at the church

For a trial period, we are meeting for a short service in the church at 3pm on the first Sunday of the month.

October 3rd 2021 - Harvest Thansgiving, Rev Louise Gee (URC)

November 7th 2021 - Remembrance, Rev Richard Byass (Methodist)

December 5th 2021 - Advent, Rev Louise Gee (URC)

We also hope to hold a short service on Christmas Eve:

December 24th 2021 - details to be announced, Rev Richard Byass (Methodist) 

And in the New Year:

All services at 3pm

January 9th 2022 - Covenant Service in the Methodist tradition 

February 6th 2022 - Rev Louise Gee

March 6th 2022

April 3rd 2022

May 1st 2022

Final service: May 29th at 3pm

Details to be confirmed

Video Covenant Services

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, sadly, we cannot do that.

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

If you would prefer a video service, here are a couple of options, both ~45 mins (and with some good hymns!)

Nottingham North East Methodist Circuit has a video (Youtube) Covenant Service online, which you can access vis the Circuit Website

NNE Circuit Website

Similarly, our friends back in Ceredigion have a Covenant Service online:

Ceredigion Circuit

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. 

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. 

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. 

Sunday worship & other resources for January 2021

 Burton Joyce Community Church 

Worshipping while the church building is closed

Opportunities to worship on radio and television 

Daily Service: 

Radio 4 at 9.45am only on LW / DAB / internet (NOT on FM)

Sunday worship: 

Radio 4 at 8.10am on Sunday morning on FM / DAB / internet

Choral evensong: 

Radio 3, Wednesday at 3.30pm, repeated Sunday at 3pm

Songs of Praise: 

BBC1 at 1.15pm* on Sunday afternoon (*times may vary)

Methodist Circuit 

On Facebook and website: Nottingham North East Circuit

Phone-in services: 0115 671 3715 (calls are free)

URC Synod

On Facebook: URC East Midlands Synod / The Dales URC

St Andrews with Castle Gate. https://standrewswithcastlegate.org.uk

St Helen’s, Burton Joyce, Reverend Anna Alls

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RevdAnna/videos/

Other online resources 

There are many excellent worship resources, for example:

All Souls, Langham Place: https://www.allsouls.org/

St Martins in the Field: https://stmartins.digital/

Central Hall, Westminster: https://methodist-central-hall.org.uk/

 

Sunday worship for BJCC, January 2021

Date in January	Bible reading	Topic
3	Matthew  2: 1-12	Epiphany The star
10	John  15:1-10	Covenant service
17	Luke  2: 22-38	Simeon & Anna
24	Mark 1: 14-20  1: 14-20	The first disciples

 

Sunday services for January & February 2019

Sunday Services Jan-Feb 2019

Jan
6th - Epiphany. Revd Louise Gee
13th - Revd John Wiseman
20th - Covenant / United Service.  Revd David Monkton
27th - Mr Geoff Ware

Feb
3rd - Mr Phil Colbourn
10th - Mr Maurice Turner
17th - Communion. Revd Louise Gee
24th - Rev Richard Byass 

Services start at 10.30am
Please come. You will be warmly welcomed
Coffee follows the service

Our Covenant Service

COVENANT SERVICE & UNITED SERVICE
Sunday 22nd January 2017, 10.30am

At the start of each year, Methodists get together to make a special New Year Resolution and this is a tradition we are glad to continue at Burton Joyce Community Church.

In the Covenant Service, we reaffirm for another year our commitment to God and agree to live life with the help of the Holy Spirit in as far as we are able. Apart from anything else, it is a response to God's love as shown to us in the Lord Jesus Christ and an opportunity to look ahead and set a new course for a new year. 

Join us this year if you can: this Sunday at Burton Joyce Community Church, 10.30am. The service will be led by our minister Rev Malcolm Fife and we will be joined by members of other churches from the village and the surrounding area. 

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son so that whoever believed in Him would not perish but would inherit eternal life in all its abundance