From the earliest days our forebears, the Independents in which we have, and are proud to have, our roots were invited to renew their covenant relationship with God. The service moves from praise of the Trinity to listening to the word in scripture, read and preached, and then follows a penitential approach to the words of the Covenant. The emphasis of the whole service is on God’s readiness to enfold us in generous love, not dependent on our deserving. Our response, also in love, spring with penitent joy from thankful recognition of God’s grace. The covenant is not just a one-to-one transaction between individuals and God, but the act of the whole faith community. Therefore, it was good on the first Sunday in the New Year to be reminded of, and to reaffirm, our covenant with God.
WORDS ON WHICH TO MEDITATE AS WE PREPARED FOR WORSHIP
Loving God,
we come before you with open hearts to ask your forgiveness for our failure to live as your children.
Together we say:
Loving God,
giver of all good gifts,
you give us ears,
and we do not listen;
eyes,
and we do not see.
You fill our lives with love and we do not return it.
You fill us with your life and we do not share it.
You give us each other and we refuse the gift.
Forgive us our blindness,
our deafness and our ignorance;
forgive us our narrowness and our smallness.
Help us to grow in the gift of your love and fulfill the promise you have met within us.
AMEN
THE GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD
- · THE CALL TO WORSHIP
God calls us here to this place,
in this moment.
God meets us here in this place,
in this moment.
Put down the burdens of the day and wonder at the miracle of God with us.
Lay aside the heaviness of habit and wonder at the unexpectedness of God.
Wonder with the Magi at God’s amazing presence.
Wonder at God who fills the ordinary with extraordinary life.
Together,
let us worship God who calls us into love,
peace and mystery.
HYMN: Come and praise the Lord our King (Tune: Michael Row the Boat. Music: Traditional melody arranged by Christopher Tambling. Words: Unknown.)
PRAYERS IN PRAISE OF THE TRINITY AND THE COLLECT FOR THE DAY
HYMN 151: See him lying on a bed of straw (Tune: Calypso carol. Music: Michael Perry arranged by the compilers of Rejoice & Sing. Words: Michael Perry.)
NOTICES FOR THE COMING WEEK AND THE ELDERS WAITED ON US FOR OUR MORNING GIFTS
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Eternal God,
we come with these gifts to offer our sacrifice of praise and the service of our lives;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
AMEN
MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A READING FROM THE LAW: Exodus, Chapter 24, Verses 3 to 11
Bench ‘Good News Bible’ Old Testament page 81: This passage contains two accounts, originally independent, of the sealing of the covenant between God and his people. In deep deference and careful obedience, Moses works to bring the people into the zone of God’s glory: the awe, splendour, hidden-ness, and mystery of God’s own self.
A READING FROM THE PROPHETS: Jeremiah, Chapter 31, Verses 31 to 34
Bench ‘Good News Bible’ Old Testament page 767: The prophet assures the exiles that God will rebuild his people and establish a new covenant with them. The old was broken by disobedience and unfaithfulness. The new will be spiritual rather than legal, inward rather than outward, and in it each individual will be personally accountable to God.
A READING FROM THE EPISTLES: Romans, Chapter 12, Verses 1 and 2
Bench ‘Good News Bible’ New Testament page 200: Paul introduces this chapter dealing with Christian behaviour with a statement that the foundation of Christian conduct is surrender to God. This new life is to be lived within the church, where God’s gifts are to be used for the benefit of other Christians.
HYMN 183: Brightest and best of the Sons of the Morning (Tune: Epiphany Hymn. Music: JF Thrupp. Words: Reginald Heber.)
A READING FROM THE GOSPELS: John, Chapter 15, Verses 1 to 10
Bench ‘Good News Bible’ New Testament page 95: The familiar Jewish image of the vine is her used to claim that Jesus, not Israel, is the true vine. The Christian community becomes the true people of God through its close relationship with Jesus.
A WORD IN SEASON
THE COVENANT: INTRODUCTION & PRAYER OF CONFESSION
(We joined to say together.)
I am no longer my own but yours.
Your will,
not mine,
be done in all things,
wherever you may place me,
in all that I do and in all that I may endure;
when there is work for me and when there is none;
when I am troubled and when I am at peace.
Your will be done when I am valued and when I am disregarded;
when I find fulfillment and when it is lacking;
when I have all things,
and when I have nothing.
I willing offer all I have and am to serve you,
as and where you choose.
Glorious and blessed God,
Father,
Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours.
May it be so for ever.
Let this covenant now made on earth be fulfilled in heaven.
AMEN
OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S GRACE
THE INVITATION AND THE GRACIOUS WORDS
The Lord has made an everlasting covenant of peace with his people.
Come then and share in this feast prepared for you and for all people.
Draw near then in faith.
HYMN 187: Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (Tune: Was lebet, was schwebet. Music: Melody from the Rheinhardt MS Uttingen as harmonised in The English Hymnal. Words: JSB Monsell.)
THE NARRATIVE OF THE INSTITUTION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
- · THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE BREAD AND WINE
- · PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING, INTERCESSION AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
- · HYMN: Songs of thankfulness and praise Jesus, Lord, to you we raise (Tune: St George’s Windsor). Music: George J Elvey. Words: Christopher Wordsworth and compilers of Rejoice & Sing adapted.)
- · PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION AND THE BLESSING
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the Name of Christ.
AMEN