On New Years Eve we had a covenant service. A service to remember and renew our covenant with God, as our ancestors in the faith our ancestors in the faith so I wanted to think about what this covenant still means. I had a quick google and this is the answer that was given by the Oxford English Dictionary:
‘A mutual agreement between two or more persons to do or refrain from doing certain acts. To enter into a covenant or formal agreement; to agree formally or solemnly; to contract.
And while that is a very analytical view it says it all. God made a covenant with humans all those years ago and humans, while showing devotion to God have also gotten it very wrong at times. Making a golden calf and worshiping it, questioning God and God’s judgement and becoming more and more like those who didn’t follow the God of Israel, so much so that they didn’t even know what would be displeasing to God, for example in the Book of Judges when Jephthah promises a human sacrifice to God if he wins a battle, this is the opposite of how God wanted humans to show their thanks. God never lost love for humanity. God wanted to put things right, allow humans to make a new commitment and have a fresh start. God knew humanity needed guidance and promises to send someone, someone who will show humans how God wants to be praised, worshiped and appreciated.
Then along came Jesus, the little baby who we have just commemorated the birth of and he brought with him that renewed promise, he will teach humans how to get on the right track with God and allow God to repair the broken relationship with humanity. Jesus gave his life for the New Covenant (we remember that during Communion Service) and with his resurrection Jesus renewed that promise with God, he was the royal priest promised, the one who would come and save.
So how do we as Christians remember and commemorate that commitment to be good disciples and to try not to go wrong again. Covenants services are something that I have seen our Methodist colleagues do regularly so how to understand this and what commitment to God are we renewing here.
I found an answer, I quite like, service that is key to Christians making a commitment to the covenant with Jesus and that is Baptism but not the baptism vows. There is part of the service in Common Worship there are some promises that the congregation make to the newly baptised and I think they show a continued commitment to Jesus and doing what he asked before he left. I think they are a good commitment not only to Jesus but to each other and our fellow Christians as well to help us not to go wrong again. These are some of them, see what you think:
- Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
- Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ?
- Will you seek and serve Christ in all people, loving your neighbour as yourself?
- Will you acknowledge Christ’s authority over human society, by prayer for the world and its leaders, by defending the weak, and by seeking peace and justice?
Jesus taught us how to do better and in whatever way you renew your promise to God, whether through covenant services, renewing or just re reading your baptism vows we remember the covenant with God and how Jesus came to help us keep it better.
Rev Helen
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 