Goodbye, Hello

 December 31, 2022

2022 has finally come to an end. For some, it’s been the best of years, for others, it’s been the worst of years (apologies to Charles Dickens). It’s 11:20 as I write; soon the ball will have dropped, the partiers (is there really such a word?) will celebrate, many Christians will ring in the new year in worship. 

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, wrote an order of worship for the New Year’s Eve Watchnight Service which included what has come to be known as his Covenant Prayer. It  is preceded by the invitation, after which the congregation prays together.

Pastoral Invitation: 

“And now, beloved, let us bind ourselves with willing bonds to our covenant with God, and take the yoke of Christ upon us.

This taking of his yoke upon us means that we are heartily content that he appoints us our place and work, and that he alone be our reward.

Christ has many services to be done; some are easy, others are difficult; some bring honor, others bring reproach; some are suitable to our natural inclinations, and temporal 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 assuredly given us in Christ, who strengthens us.

Therefore let us make the covenant of God our own. Let us engage our heart to the Lord, and resolve in his strength never to go back to our former way of life.

Being thus prepared, let us now, in sincere dependence on his grace and trusting in his promises, yield ourselves anew to him.”

The Covenant Prayer: 

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside by thee.
Exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, 

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”

St. Paul reminds us that “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away; all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17), and enjoins us to “put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” —Ephesians 4:22-24 

By the time you read this, 2022 will have passed away. May it pass away in our hearts as we turn from the sins of that year to embrace the Christ who in his mercy and grace brings us 2023. We don’t know what the year will bring, but we know who brings it to us, and whatever challenges or blessings that may come can only come through his loving hand, and always accompanied by grace enough to meet them. Hello, 2023!