Happy (Re)New(al) Year!

Such an odd thing, having Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve on a Sunday. Because it only happens every seven years, it surprises us with its timing. I am still wondering how many people came to our “regular” Sunday morning service last week thinking it would be a Christmas Eve service! Hopefully they came back for one of those services in the afternoon and evening.

Because both of this year’s “Eves” land on Sunday, I thought we would do something different this Sunday morning – a Wesley Covenant Service. 

From the time of John Wesley over 250 years ago, Methodist people have variously renewed their covenant with God and the church with a liturgy of readings, prayer and holy communion. This was done each year in the Methodist “societies” in the evening of New Year’s Eve – back when alcohol was completely taboo. I did not think that either of these conditions would lead to very good attendance. So instead, we will incorporate the covenant-making into our morning worship services along with a time of prayer at the prayer rail. It is an opportunity to be on our knees and reflect on God’s grace in our lives, God’s calling upon our lives, and our covenant to live into that calling in 2024. Think of it as a holy new year’s resolution!

As I said in a sermon a few weeks ago, I cannot change the war problem, the race problem, the economic problem or the pollution problem.  But by the Spirit of the living God, I can change what I do – one decision, one person, one opportunity at a time and trust that in covenant with other like-minded, like-hearted people, it makes a difference. 

See you at the renewal rally at the rail this Sunday,