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JANUARY 10th Wellspring online
Covenant Service
Today there will be a Zoom-style service at 1030am to reinforce our Covenant with God and our fellow-worshippers and churches.
THE GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart [MP 51] Let us pray. Glory to the Father, the God of love, who created us; who continually preserves and sustains us; who has loved us with an everlasting love, and given us the light of the knowledge of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ. Blessèd be God for ever. Glory to Jesus Christ our Saviour, who, though he was rich, yet for our sake became poor, and was tested in every way as we are, yet without sin; who proclaimed the good news of the kingdom, and was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross; who was raised from the dead and is alive for ever, and has opened the kingdom of heaven to all who trust in him; who is seated at God's right hand in glory, and will come to be our judge. Blessèd be God for ever. Glory to the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, by whom we are born into the family of God, and made members of the body of Christ; whose witness confirms us; whose wisdom teaches us; whose power enables us; who will do for us more than we can ask or think. Blessèd be God for ever. To the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be praise and glory for ever. Amen. Silence God of grace, through the mediation of your Son, you call us into a new covenant. Help us therefore to draw near with faith and join ourselves in a perpetual covenant with you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD A reading from the Law. Exodus 24.3-11 3 Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.” 4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and set up twelve pillars, corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 He sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed oxen as offerings of well-being to the Lord. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he dashed against the altar. 7 Then he took the book of the covenant, and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” 8 Moses took the blood and dashed it on the people, and said, “See the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” 9 Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, 10 and they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there was something like a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. 11 God did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; also they beheld God, and they ate and drank. For the wisdom that guides us we praise you, O God. A reading from the Prophets. Jeremiah 31.31-34 31 The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt - a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. For the word that inspires us we praise you, O God. A reading from the Epistles. Romans 12.1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect. For the truth that enlightens us we praise you, O God. GOSPEL READING A reading from the Gospel according to John Hear the Gospel of Christ. Glory to Christ our Saviour. John 15.1-10 Jesus said to his disciples: 1 'I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3 You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.' 9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. This is the Gospel of Christ. Praise to Christ our Lord. HYMN Jesus, stand among us [MP 381 verses 1 & 3] THE COVENANT God made a covenant with the people of Israel, calling them to be a holy nation, chosen to bear witness to his steadfast love by finding delight in the law. The covenant was renewed in Jesus Christ our Lord, in his life, work, death and resurrection. In him all people may be set free from sin and its power, and united in love and obedience. In this covenant God promises us new life in Christ. For our part we promise to live no longer for ourselves but for God. We meet, therefore, as generations have met before us, to renew the covenant which bound them and binds us to God. Let us then seek forgiveness for the sin by which we have denied God's claim upon us. Let us pray. God of mercy, hear us as we confess our sins. For the sin that has made us slow to learn from Christ, reluctant to follow him, and afraid to bear the cross: Lord, have mercy, Lord, forgive. For the sin that has caused the poverty of our worship, the formality and selfishness of our prayers, our neglect of fellowship and the means of grace, and our hesitating witness for Christ: Lord, have mercy, Lord, forgive. For the sin that has led us to misuse your gifts, evade our responsibilities, and fail to be good stewards of your creation: Lord, have mercy, Lord, forgive. For the sin that has made us unwilling to overcome evil with good, tolerant of injustice, quick to condemn, and selfish in sharing your love with others: Lord, have mercy, Lord, forgive. Silence Have mercy on me, O God, in your constant love; in the fullness of your mercy blot out my offences. Wash away all my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Give me the joy of your help again and strengthen me with a willing spirit. The presiding minister says: If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Therefore to all who truly repent this is his gracious word: 'Your sins are forgiven'. Amen. Thanks be to God. HYMN [Read] Come, let us use the grace divine, And all, with one accord, In a perpetual cov'nant join Ourselves to Christ the Lord: Give up ourselves, through Jesu's power, His name to glorify; And promise, in this sacred hour, For God to live and die. The cov'nant we this moment make Be ever kept in mind: We will no more our God forsake, Or cast his words behind. We never will throw off his fear Who hears our solemn vow; And if thou art well pleased to hear, Come down, and meet us now. To each the cov'nant blood apply, Which takes our sins away; And register our names on high, And keep us to that day. The presiding minister says: Beloved in Christ, let us again claim for ourselves this covenant which God has made with his people, and take upon us the yoke of Christ. This means that we are content that he appoint us our place and work, and that he himself be our reward. Christ has many services to be done: some are easy, others are difficult; some bring honour, others bring reproach; some are suitable to our natural inclinations and material interests, others are contrary to both; in some we may please Christ and please ourselves; in others we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves. Yet the power to do all these things is given to us in Christ, who strengthens us. Therefore let us make this covenant of God our own. Let us give ourselves to him, trusting in his promises and relying on his grace. Lord God, holy Father, since you have called us through Christ to share in this gracious covenant, we take upon ourselves with joy the yoke of obedience and, for love of you, engage ourselves to seek and do your perfect will. We are no longer our own but yours. I am no longer my own but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you or laid aside for you, exalted for you or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing; I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. And now, glorious and blessèd God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. So be it. And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen. Silence As we have entered this covenant not for ourselves alone, but as God's servants and witnesses, let us pray for the Church and for the world. Loving God, hear us as we pray for your holy catholic Church: make us all one, that the world may believe. Inspire and lead all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world: establish justice and peace among all people. Have compassion on all who suffer from any sickness, grief or trouble: deliver them from their distress. We praise you for all your saints who have entered your eternal glory: bring us all to share in your heavenly kingdom. Let us pray in silence for our own needs and for those of others . . . Silence Lord our God, you have helped us by your grace to make these prayers, and you have promised through Christ our Lord that when two or three agree in his name you will grant what they ask. Answer now your servants' prayers according to their needs; in this world grant that we may truly know you, and in the world to come graciously give us eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE LORD'S SUPPER The Peace The Lord has made an everlasting covenant of peace with his people. The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you. THE THANKSGIVING The presiding minister leads the great prayer of thanksgiving: The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. God our Father, fountain of goodness, creator of all that is, you have made us in your own image. You have given us life and reason, and love for one another, setting in our hearts a hunger for you. In darkness you are our light, in adversity and temptation our strength. You bear patiently with our folly and sin, granting us your law to guide us and your prophets to renew our faith. In the fullness of time you came to us in love and mercy in Jesus Christ, your living Word, full of grace and truth. He lived among us, declaring your forgiveness and revealing your wisdom in works of mercy and in his word of power. For us he suffered and died upon the cross, by death destroying death. You raised him from the dead and exalted him to your right hand on high. Through him you sent your Holy Spirit to be the life and light of your people, gathered together in every time and place to glorify your holy name. With them and all the company of heaven we join in the unending hymn of praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessèd is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Holy God, pour out your Spirit that these gifts of bread and wine may be for us the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who, on the night in which he was betrayed, took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, 'Take this and eat it. This is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. And so, Lord, we obey his command with this bread and this cup, by which we recall his death and resurrection, the source of our life and salvation. Grant that we, who share in this holy sacrament, may be united by your Spirit and grow into perfect love. Bring us, with those who have done your will in every age, into the light of your presence and the joy of your kingdom. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, we worship you in songs of everlasting praise. Blessing and honour and glory and power be yours for ever and ever. Amen. THE LORD'S PRAYER As our Saviour taught his disciples, we pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD The presiding minister breaks the bread in the sight of the people in silence, or saying: The things of God for God's holy people. Jesus Christ is holy; Jesus Christ is Lord. Glory to God the Father. Silence THE SHARING OF THE BREAD AND WINE Jesus said: 'I am the bread of life. Those who come to me shall not hunger and those who believe in me shall never thirst.' Draw near with faith. The body of Christ keep you in eternal life. Amen. The blood of Christ keep you in eternal life. Amen. PRAYERS AND DISMISSAL Silence Let us pray. Faithful God, with these holy gifts you have fed and strengthened us in Jesus Christ your Son. Guide us on our way, that with all your faithful people we may come to share the feast of your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. HYMN Take my life and let it be [MP 624] The presiding minister says: The blessing of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you/us and remain with you/us for ever. Amen. The presiding minister says: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen. Copyright acknowledgment (where not already indicated above): Some material included in this service is copyright: © 1989 National Council of Churches, USA Some material included in this service is copyright: © 1999 Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 'We shall meet'- a 'song for Covid'. We shall have this every week for the next while - a song of hope and trustfulness Original words and music Hans Olav Mørk (Norway)
© Words: 2020 WGRG, c/o Iona Community, Glasgow, Scotland © Music: John Bell, WGRG, c/o Iona Community, Glasgow, Scotland CCLI Song Number: 7153725 Wellspring CCLI licence no. 571370 |
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