Announcements and Events this Week:

COVENANT RENEWAL SERVICE

In 1663 Richard Alleine, a Puritan, published Vindiciae Pietatis: or, “A Vindication of Godliness in the Greater Strictness and Spirituality of It”. In 1753, it was again published in John Wesley’s A Christian Library. Wesley used one chapter, "The Application of the Whole," on Monday, August 11, 1755, in what probably was the first real celebration of the Covenant Service in the Methodist movement.

Wesley found the service rich and meaningful, as expressed in his Journal: "Many mourned before God, and many were comforted" (April 1756); "It was, as usual, a time of remarkable blessing" (October 1765). "It was an occasion for a variety of spiritual experiences ... I do not know that ever we had a greater blessing. Afterwards many desired to return thanks, either for a sense of pardon, for full salvation, or for a fresh manifestation of His graces, healing all their backslidings" (January 1, 1775). In London, these services were usually held on New Year's Day. Around the country the Covenant Service was conducted whenever John Wesley visited the Methodist Societies.

After the time of Wesley several versions of the Covenant Service were developed, gradually giving Wesley's material less place in the total service. The present service follows our Basic Pattern of worship, enables the congregation to participate more fully, and updates language. Most significant, the liturgy beginning with the Invitation is taken directly from Wesley's service of 1780.

The heart of the service, focused on the Covenant Prayer, requires persons to commit themselves to God. This covenant is serious and assumes adequate preparation for and continual response to the covenant. Leaders of worship must take seriously the need to prepare the congregation for this service, possibly through study sessions and prayer.

The leaders must also assume responsibility to assist persons to be faithful to the covenant, possibly through meetings for spiritual discipline.

The Covenant Service would be appropriate on one of the Sundays After the Epiphany, during Lent, on a church anniversary, or during a revival or preaching mission.

This Sunday as we use this historic service, we also are celebrating the Baptism of the Lord, commemorating Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. It is my prayer that this service may be meaningful as we renew our commitment to Christ. As a further sign of that commitment, we will offer an opportunity to reaffirm our baptism and commitment to serve our Lord in 2025.

+ Grace and Peace +
Pastor Jim

• Your Annual Contribution Reports are ready. Please stop by the church office after service on Sunday.
• The Helping Hands Circle will meet this Monday, January 13th, 7:00 PM at Covenant.
• The Sybil Darley luncheon will be Tuesday, Jan. 14th at noon. It will be at Westside Burgers, 1780 Bridgeport Way, Suffolk.
• Save the Date: The Christmas decorations that adorn the church will be taken down on Saturday, January 11th at 10 AM. If you have the time, your help is much appreciated.
• The UMM will meet this Saturday morning at 8:00 AM. We will be discussing a number of items as well as helping to take down the Christmas decorations and the Nativity set under the picnic shelter.

Sunday, January 19th:

• 9:20 AM Bible Study
• 10:00 AM Worship Service
• View the bulletin here

Wednesday, January 22th:

• 10:00 AM Bible Study