Covenant service

6.1.13

The beginning of January is traditionally the time when Methodists hold a Covenant Service – during this service people renew their commitment to God for the coming year.  I didn't know it but here all the women traditionally wear white for the Covenant Service - I turned up in my usual clothes and felt a bit silly but then some visitors came who clearly didn't know the tradition either so I was glad that I hopefully helped them not feel so excluded!

I always find this a poignant service because if you really mean the words you say it is quite scary!  This morning however, the words were even more meaningful to me than usual and I quote some of the words here for you to read:

The minister says (amongst other things!)

Christ has many services for his people to do.  Some are easy, others are difficult.  Some bring honour, others bring reproach.  Some are suitable to our tastes and compatible with our ambitions, others are contrary to both.  In some we may please Christ and ourselves at the same time.  In others we cannot please Christ except we deny ourselves.  Yet Christ will surely give us the strength and the grace to do all that he requires of us as we consecrate ourselves to him. 

We respond:

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 heartily yield all things to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
You are mine, and I am yours.
So be it.  And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.  Amen.

I don’t think it has previously meant so much as it has this year when I am really being put to the test.  I did say it and meant it and just have to trust that God will help me through this difficult time and that I’ll come out smiling at the end thinking I’ve done a good job and it’s been worthwhile!