Worship for Sunday 17th January 2021 celebrated as Covenant Sunday at St Matthew's

Organ Prelude for 2nd  Sunday in Epiphany 2021

"Here I am Lord" arr. Janet Linker

Piano-Organ Duet with Flute

This short act of worship has been prepared for you to use whilst we are unable to use Methodist Church premises. If you are well enough why not spend a few moments with God, knowing that other people are sharing this act of worship with you. 

 It will be helpful to have a copy of the Methodist Way of Life Commitment card to hand, as you begin. If you do not have one, go to: www.methodist.org.uk/mwol/  where you can see and download a copy. 

 Call to Worship   

Jeremiah 31.33-34   (NRSV)

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. 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. 

Hymn:

Let us pray together 

Gracious God, 

on this day, I and many others seek to renew our covenant with You. Your love is strong and faithful. You never stop loving us. Our love for You is weak and fickle and we often fall short of what we have committed ourselves to be and do. Forgive us for our reluctance to follow Christ, our half-hearted worship, our failures in caring, service and witness, and our unwillingness to challenge injustice. 

Have mercy on us, O God, and renew in us both the desire and the ability to be people of love. 

Thank you for your gracious words: 

‘Your sins are forgiven’. 

Amen. 

Today’s Gospel Reading: John 15.1-9    (NRSV)

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower.

 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit.

 Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.

 You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 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.

 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.

 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 

Time to Reflect 

The image of the vine is an organic picture. The branches are growing in the vine. They are connected to every other branch through the vine and fruit grows naturally on the branches. The branches have no choice. They are part of the Vine. But Jesus’ use of this image to speak of our relationship with him offers choice and invites our participation. We are asked to abide in the vine and so grow and be fruitful. 

Today, we choose again to trust God, to walk with Jesus and to live in the ways of the kingdom. 

Take the Methodist Way of Life Card. Before you say the covenant prayer, read through the commitments on the card and reflect on which of these you want to grow in during the coming year. 

As far as we are able, with God’s help: 

Worship 

We will pray daily. 

We will worship with others regularly. 

We will look and listen for God in Scripture, and the world. 

Learning and Caring 

We will care for ourselves and those around us. 

We will learn more about our faith. 

We will practise hospitality and generosity. 

Service 

We will help people in our communities and beyond. 

We will care for creation and all God’s gifts. 

We will challenge injustice. 

Evangelism 

We will speak of the love of God. 

We will live in a way that draws others to Jesus. 

We will share our faith with others. 

Revd Stephen's Address for Covenant Sunday

A time of prayer 

Take time to sit quietly. Then say the Covenant Prayer aloud: 

I am no longer my own but yours. 

Your will, not mine, be done in all things, 

wherever you may place me, 

in all that I do and in all that I may endure; 

when there is work for me and when there is none; 

when I am troubled and when I am at peace. Your will be done when I am valued and when I am disregarded; 

when I find fulfilment and when it is lacking; 

when I have all things, and when I have nothing 

I willingly offer all I have and am 

to serve you, as and where you choose. 

Glorious and blesséd God, 

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, 

you are mine and I am yours. 

May it be so for ever. 

Let this covenant now made on earth 

be fulfilled in heaven. Amen 

Prayers of intercession :

Pray for our church …...... that it may be a faithful witness to God’s love. 

Pray for the church worldwide …....that in word and action it may help people to see God’s glory 

Pray for the leaders of nations…..... that they act justly and guide wisely. 

Pray for those pushed to the margins of society ….....that they and their gifts may be made welcome. 

Pray for those in need…........especially people we know.

The Lord’s Prayer 

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

Hymn

StF 489 All I once held dear. 

You can listen here  at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r8XfE_VNb0.

Alternatively, read the words or sing a verse of a hymn that comes to mind 

All I once held dear, 

built my life upon, 

all this world reveres, 

and wars to own, 

all I once thought gain 

I have counted loss; 

spent and worthless now, 

compared to this. 

Knowing you, Jesus, 

knowing you,

there is no greater thing 

You're my all, you're the best, 

you're my joy, my righteousness, 

and I love you, Lord.  

Now my heart's desire 

is to know you more, 

to be found in you 

and known as yours. 

To possess by faith 

what I could not earn, 

all-surpassing gift 

of righteousness. 

Oh, to know the power 

of your risen life, 

and to know you in 

your sufferings. 

To become like you 

in your death, my Lord, 

so with you to live 

and never die. 

Graham Kendrick (b. 1950) 

A prayer of blessing 

May the God of heaven and earth bless us and keep us; may his face shine upon us that we might know God’s peace and live in ways that reflect his love, now and always. Amen 

Original Materials by Roger L Walton 

All Hymns reproduced under CCLi 1144191. 

Local Churches please insert CCCLi No  Available from St Matthews, Rastrick 

We are grateful to all the Ministers and Local Preachers from around the Connexion who have contributed to Worship at Home. This resource is administrated by Ministries: Vocations and Worship in the Connexional Team. We aim to continue to provide these resources until the end of August 2021. 

Organ Postlude  Stanford in D Minor  

by  Daniel Hyde (King's College Cambridge - chapel organ)

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