Here is a shortened version of John Wesley’s Covenant Renewal Service which he began using with the Methodist people in England in 1755. It was especially used at the beginning of the New Year to give the people an opportunity to think seriously about their calling to embrace whole heartedly the life of faith. This version leaves out two longer sections of the original service (Thanksgiving, Confession) which are needed in order to experience the full depth and breadth of the service. I have shortened these in the interest of making the central prayer more accessible (in violet type face below). You can find various versions of the service online. The best ones stick close to Wesley’s original.   

If you have access to a United Methodist Hymnal, No. 606 is the hymn that Charles Wesley wrote especially for this service, Come Let Us Use the Grace Divine.   

Leader: Let us pray. Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love Thee, and worthily magnify Thy Holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Scripture Readings: Jeremiah 31:31-34 . . . . The renewal of the covenant.

John 15: 1-8 . . . . . . . . . . The vine and the branches.

Leader: What does it mean to renew our covenant with God?

Dear friends, the Christian life, to which we are called, is a life in Christ, redeemed by Him from sin, and through Him, consecrated to God. Upon this life we have entered, having been first admitted by faith into the new Covenant of which our Lord Jesus Christ is the mediator, and which He sealed with His own blood, that it might stand forever.   

On one side the Covenant is God’s promise that He will fulfill in and through us all that He has promised in Jesus Christ, who is the author and perfecter of our faith. That His promise still stands we are sure, for we have known His goodness and proved His grace in our lives day by day.

On the other side we stand pledged to live no more unto ourselves, but to Him who loved us and gave himself for us and has called us to serve Him, that the purpose of His coming might be fulfilled.

From time to time we renew our vows of consecration, especially when we gather at the table of the Lord; but on this day we meet expressly, as generations of our fathers and mothers have met, that we may joyfully renew and solemnly reaffirm the Covenant that binds us to God.

Let us then, remembering the mercies of God, and the hope of His calling, examine ourselves by the light of His Spirit, that we may see wherein we have failed or fallen short in faith and practice, and, considering all that this Covenant means, may give ourselves anew to God.

(This is where the longer sections on Thanksgiving and Confession occur in the original service.) 

The Covenant

Scripture Reading: Romans 12: 1-2 

Leader (with the people now standing):

And now, brothers and sisters in Christ, let us bind ourselves with willing bonds to our Covenant God, and take the yoke of Christ upon us. This taking of His yoke upon us means that we are heartily content that He should appoint us our place and work, and that He alone is our reward.

Christ, our King, 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 with God our own. Let us engage our heart to the Lord, and resolve in the strength of His Spirit never to go back. As we kneel again together, let us make the Covenant with God our own.

Leader: O Lord God, you have called us through Christ to be partakers of the new Covenant in Him. We take upon ourselves with joy the yoke of obedience, and engage ourselves, for the love of Thee, to seek and do Your perfect will. We are no longer our own, but Yours.

Leader and People together:

I am no longer my own, but Yours. Put me to what You will, rank me with whom You will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for You or laid aside for You, exalted for You or brought low for You; 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 Your pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You are mine, and I am Yours. So be it. And the Covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

Closing (All stand)

Leader: Lift up your hearts.

People: We lift them up to the Lord.

Leader: Let us give thanks to our Lord God.

People: It is fitting and right that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God.

Leader and People together:

Therefore, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we praise and magnify Your glorious name; evermore praising Thee, and saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts; heaven and earth are full of your glory. Glory be to Thee, O Lord most high. Amen.