You may choose to celebrate Epiphany on this Sunday, as it is only a few days before January 6. However, the Worship Team is recommending that you wait and allow Christmastide the full expression this year. Our next series, titled “Follow Me,” will begin with an Epiphany/Baptism of the Lord combined observance that will follow the beginnings of Jesus’ ministry and the calling of the disciples.

So, if you are still dwelling in Christmas this final week, you may find that folks have moved on in their heads and hearts. After all, we are in the new year and therefore ready for something new. In that case, we recommend that you look at the Wesley Covenant Service as the order of the day. This service, which has historic Methodist roots, is a powerful way to both end the Christmas observance and launch a new year. If you have targeted this Sunday as the full return to in- person worship, then the Covenant service would be a great way to get everyone back on board with the faith life of the church.

Here is a simple service a previous worship team created: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/covenant-renewal-service.

You’ll notice, however, that the recommended texts do not include the Ephesians text from the lectionary offerings. Yet the blessing provided in the first chapter of Ephesians fits well with the covenantal prayer of Wesley.

And if you choose not to use the whole service, then at least look at the full covenant as outlined in the service above. There is more than the simple prayer, which is found in The United Methodist Hymnal, 607. If the full covenant proves too unwieldy for your congregation, then that prayer can at least draw attention to the reception of the blessing and the promise to be the followers of Christ that we claim to be. It is an appropriate reminder of who we are. Some like to include a remembrance of baptism during the covenant service. But this could also be done next week as we remember the baptism of Jesus.

Wesley Covenant Prayer

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
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 thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

United Methodist Hymnal, 607

Call to Worship

Blessed be God! Praise to the Father of Lord Jesus Christ!
In Christ we are blessed, in Christ we are chosen
to live in the praise of his glorious grace!
In Christ we belong in the family, adopted
to live in the praise of his glorious grace!
In Christ the great mystery of God is revealed;
to live in the praise of his glorious grace!
In Christ we are called to be blameless and free,
to live in the praise of his glorious grace!
Blessed be God! Praise to the Father of Lord Jesus Christ!

(http://www.conversations.net.nz/ephesians-worship-resources.html)

Call to Worship

Based on Ephesians 1

Leader: To the Father who has given us every spiritual blessing in Christ.
People: We give praise and glory

Leader: To the Son through whom we have redemption,
forgiveness, and the riches of God’s grace.
People: We give praise and glory

Leader: To the Spirit that seals us in His promise,
the guarantee of our inheritance until we possess it.
People: We give praise and glory.

(https://cardiphonia.org/2010/04/18/call-to-worship-ephesians-1/)

Prayer of Confession

Friends, as we gather our thoughts into quietness,
we confess our sins to the One who knows us best.
We know ourselves chosen, adopted as children of God.
We dare to believe that you and I are part of a plan
conceived before the foundation of the universe.
But are we living as God’s children?
Are we honouring our inheritance?
We know ourselves called, but we’re so easily distracted.
We know ourselves loved, but we balk at the cost.
Come, friends, let us confess our sins to the Lord.

(silence)

Friends, our God has poured out grace upon grace,
freely, in great abundance,
even on you, even on me.
though we never earned it and don’t deserve it.
In Christ we are made new through his blood;
all your sins and mine crumble away.
In Christ we are forgiven, signed with the Spirit,
lavished with gift upon gift,
released into hope to live for praise and for glory.
Amen.

(http://www.conversations.net.nz/ephesians-worship-resources.html)

New Year’s Litany

One: A new day has begun!
Many (Congregation claps with joy and enthusiasm)
One: Are you ready to give God praise?
Many: We ARE ready!
One: Are you ready to leave behind the baggage? Are you ready to step out on faith?
Many: We are ready!
One: Are you ready to forgive? Even the one that hurt you the most?
Many: We are ready!
One: Are you ready to release your doubts and fears?
Many: We are ready!
All: O Lord, how majestic if your name in all the earth! We are yours and we are ready!

(B. Kevin Smalls, The Africana Worship Book for Year B, Discipleship Resources, 2007, p. 79)

Pastoral Benediction

The Word has become flesh and dwelt among us. Let Christ’s light shine in the darkest corner of your life. Let Christ’s love shine in the darkest corners of our world. God is with us. Alleluia. Amen.

(Ruth Duck, Bread for the Journey, Pilgrim Press, 1981, p.26.)