Renewal of Covenant

MAUNDY THURSDAY

April 14, 1992

CALL TO WORSHIP

Minister: Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant which will never be forgotten. Jeremiah 50:5

HYMN

INVOCATION

Minister: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, from whom no secrets are hidden, cleanse our thoughts and enable us to love You, to magnify Your holy name, and pray and worship You by the mighty help of Your Holy Spirit, in the authority of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen

All: The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) using "trespasses"

HYMN

PREPARATION

Minister: Brothers and sisters, agree with me in these matters:

The great love of God as shown in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord deserves and demands a response of love on our part. Is that not so?

People: Amen. It is so.

CONFESSION

Minister: We were all once sinners by birth and by choice, and strangers and aliens to grace. Even now, wherever we are in our spiritual pilgrimage, we must depend upon God's grace and not our own righteousness, or we will be forever lost. Is that not so?

People: Amen. It is so.

Minister: Will you join with me in a prayer of confession, openness, and dependency upon the saving grace of God in Christ?

TRUST

All: We acknowledge a deep sense of dependency upon Your grace and mercy, O God. We are of our own merit but sinners, lost and alone; it is only by Your mercy we have come to be Your children.

We have confessed our sins, and do confess that even now, to this hour, in us apart from You dwells no good thing. As we have prayed "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." so now we do rejoice in Your forgiveness and saving grace, casting all our hope upon Your blood, shed for our sins. On You we put our trust, on You we lay all hope for pardon, for eternal life, for salvation. We call You Lord! We trust You as Savior! Amen.

COMMITMENT

Minister: Let us deliberately yield ourselves now to the Lord. As His servants, as well as His children, let us give up the dominion and government of our lives and of our church forever to God as a living sacrifice.

All: I am Yours, O God. I reverence You. I dedicate myself to Your service.

We are Yours, O God. We reverence You. We dedicate the Wollaston Church of the Nazarene* to your service without qualification or reservation.

[*If you are a member of a church other than Wollaston, here silently pray for your own fellowship that it might be blessed and owned of God.]

Minister: In giving ourselves individually and corporately to God we affirm that we are willing to let God Himself appoint us to our work. Christ has many services that must be done; some of His appointments are more easy and honorable, others are more difficult and menial. Some are suited to our inclinations and interest, others may be contrary to both.

In some ways we please Christ and please ourselves, as when He requires us to feed and clothe ourselves; to rejoice in the Lord, to bless and praise His name. These are the sweet works of being a Christian.

But there will be other ways in which we cannot please Christ our Lord but by denying ourselves, when it will cost us shame and reproach, even perhaps parting with our liberties and accommodations for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If you are willing, join with me in prayer:

All: Lord Jesus Christ, we affirm that this is Your church, and that we are Your people, I am Your servant. Make us what You will, O God, only let us be truly Yours.

Minister: Lord, have Your way in me.

People: I am Yours to command; I love You.

Minister: Use me or lay me aside, exalt me or let me be trodden under foot for You.

People: Let me be full; let me be empty, only as You will.

Minister: Let me have all things; let me have nothing.

All: We freely, and I personally, freely and heartily resign all to Your pleasure and disposal.

HYMN

RESPONSE

Minister: Brothers and sisters, such a commitment to God Almighty as we have now made is the essence of true Christian faith. When we have cast all our hopes upon Jesus Christ, and when we intentionally and with our understanding have given ourselves to Him than we are Christians indeed, and never till then.

Christ will be the Savior of none but His willing servants. Christ will have no servants except by their free will and consent. Let us now confirm our commitment by singing a covenant hymn, by affirming a solemn covenant, and by taking together the elements of Holy Communion.

HYMN : A CHARGE TO KEEP I HAVE

THE COVENANT

All (Standing:) And now glory be to You, O God the Father, whom I shall be bold from this day forward to look upon as my God and Father. Glory be to You, O God the Son, You who loved me and washed me from my sins in Your own blood, You who are now my Savior and My Redeemer. Glory be to You, O God the Holy Spirit, who by Your almighty power have turned my heart from sin to God.

O eternal Jehovah, The Lord God Omnipotent, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You are now become my Covenant-Friend, and I, through Your infinite grace, have become Your Covenant-Servant and Child. We are Your people, this is Your church. The Covenant which we have made on earth, may it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

THE COMMUNION