December 31, 2025

Happy New Year

As we begin a new year, I invite to re-affirm your faith through Wesley’s Covenant Prayer found below. May 2026 be one filled with Joy, Health and Hope for you and your family. To read the traditional version of the prayer or if you would like to know more about the Covenant Prayer, you can follow this link: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/blog/the-wesley-covenant-prayer-and-the-baptismal-covenant

The Covenant

In the first covenant, God chose Israel

To be a special people and to obey the Law.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, by his death and resurrection,

As made a new covenant with all who trust in him.

We stand within this covenant and we bear Christ’s name.

On the one side, God promises to give us new life in Christ.

On the other side, we are pledged to live, not for ourselves but for God.

Today therefore, we meet to renew this covenant that binds us to God.

Friends, let us claim the covenant God has made with his people

And accept the yoke of Christ,

We allow Christ to guide all that we do and all that we are,

And Christ himself is our only reward.

Christ has many ways for us to serve him;

Some are easy, others are difficult.

Some receive applause; others bring only reproach;

Some we desire to do because of our own interests;

Others seem unnatural.

Sometimes we please Christ and meet our own needs;

At other times we cannot please Christ unless we deny ourselves.

Yet Christ strengthens us and gives us the power to do all these things.

Therefore let us make this covenant with God our own.

Let us give ourselves completely to God,

Trusting in God’s promises and relying on God’s grace.

I give myself completely to you, God.

Assign me to my place in your creation.

Let me suffer for you.

Give me the work you would have me do.

Give me many tasks,

Or have me step aside while you call others.

Put me forward or humble me.

Give me riches or let me live in poverty.

I freely give all that I am and all that I have to you.

And now, holy God--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--

You are mine and I am yours. So be it.

May this covenant made on earth continue for all eternity.

Amen.

Rachel Gonia