Covenant Sunday: Our Renewal of a Special Relationship
From the earliest days our forebears, the Independents, were invited to renew their covenant relationship with God. The service, usual on the first Sunday in a New Year, 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, we met on the first Sunday in 2012 to testify to our renewal of a special relationship: Us with God in Christ. If you were unable to be present then, perhaps, you sharing in the following will be a renewing of your covenant. The service was led by Tom Birch and the organist was Jonathan Davies.
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
An elder carried in an open Bible and placed it on or near the communion table.
In true Reformed tradition this simple act is a reminder that our authority is God’s Word revealed to us in Scripture open before us.
WE STOOD AS THE BIBLE IS BROUGHT INTO CHURCH AND PLACED BEFORE THE CONGREGATION AND REMAINED STANDING FOR THE CALL TO WORSHIP
- THE CALL TO WORSHIP
Lord God,
we come to you as the wise men came:
to honour and worship you.
Lord, God,
you revealed your Son through baptism:
reveal your word to us;
as Jesus called the disciples:
help us to listen to your calling to us today;
help us to be open to your healing presence;
help us to be prophets for you.
We ask all this through Jesus Christ,
our prophet, priest and king.
HYMN 102: Praise the Lord, his glories show, Alleluia (Tune: Llanfair. Music: Melody probably by R Williams. Words: HF Lyte.)
PRAYERS IN PRAISE OF THE TRINITY AND THE COLLECT FOR THE DAY
HYMN 149: Infant holy, lowly, for his bed a cattle stall (Tune: Infant holy. Music: Polish carol. Words: Polish traditional carol translated by Edith MG Reed.)
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, hiddeness, and mystery of God’s own self.
A READING FROM THE PROPHETS: Isaiah, Chapter 60, Verses 1 to 6
Bench ‘Good News Bible’ Old Testament page 723: The people of God have had a long season of darkness. Now comes their season of light. It is a gift by God. In that light, God’s presence, there is created newness for the entire world. In this poem all receive the gift of life. There is darkness everywhere and the light of God’s revelation is only found through the people of God.
HYMN 150: Child in the manger (Tune: Bunessan. Music: Gaelic melody. Words: Mary MacDonald translated by l MacBean.)
A READING FROM THE EPISTLES: Ephesians, Chapter 3, Verses 1 and 12
Bench ‘Good News Bible’ New Testament page 242: Part of the mystery of the Epiphany is the mysterious inclusion of Gentiles among God’s people. Submission to God’s gift of light carries with it the obligation to accept and proclaim the inclusion of all outsiders within this mystery. We, as today’s servants are, and must be, caught up in the ‘eternal purpose’.
A READING FROM THE GOSPELS: Matthew, Chapter 2, Verses 1 to 12
Bench ‘Good News Bible’ New Testament page 4: Seeing God at work in Christ is not easy. The Epiphany shows that we need to look for God at work in the world around us, and be sure as we can that he is seen to be at work in us, individually and as a Christian community. The gifts of the Magi may have symbolic meaning. We may not have difficulty in offering our gifts to Christ.
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
HYMN 151: See him lying on a bed of straw (Tune: Calypso carol. Music: Michael Perry. Words: Michael Perry.)
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.
At this point in the service, none needed feel they had to leave. In this Church all are invited to share in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. However, if they cannot, for whatever reason, accept the bread and wine when it is offered to you then they, simply, make an indication to the elder. There is no obligation to accept, and no offence not to take. But all are encouraged to please stay and share in the rich fellowship of the Sacrament. In our Reformed tradition, people may move forward to gather round the Table of the Lord. If they do they occupy alternate rows starting from the front benches. You can join them. However, you can remain where you are sat and the elders will come to you with the bread and wine.
THE NARRATIVE OF THE INSTITUTION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
- THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE BREAD AND WINE
It is our usual practice to wait until all have received the bread and we eat together, and then similarly with the wine, waiting until all have received a glass and drinking together. If you cannot, for whatever reason, accept the bread or wine when it is offered to you then simply, make an indication to the elder. There is no obligation to accept, and no offence not to take.
- PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING, INTERCESSION AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
- HYMN 170: What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping? (Tune: Greensleeves. Music: English melody. Words: WC Dix.)
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION AND THE BLESSING
May Christ give us strength by his Spirit.
May Christ dwell in our hearts.
May we know the love of Christ and experience the fullness of God.
May we, his Church, give him all the glory,
for ever and ever.
AMEN