Bulletin

Bulletin

Prelude The Eastern Star Charlotte Rathke, organist

Welcome and Announcements please pass attendance pads

Susan Murithi, Senior Pastor

Announcement:

Silent Reflection and Opening Prayer

Greeting Time (You may stand up and greet those around you with a

hand shake or an elbow bump.)

*Opening Hymn Here I Am, Lord UMH 593

Vision Recitation Hays First UMC--------

Mission Recitation at Hays First UMC we----

*Prayer of Thanksgiving Mary Meckenstock, liturgist

Leader: Let us give thanks for all of God’s mercies.

O God, our Covenant Friend, you have been gracious to us

through all the years of our lives. We thank you for your

loving care, which has filled our days and brought us to this

time.

People: We praise your holy name, O God.

Leader: You have given us life and reason and set us in a world filled

with your glory. You have comforted us with family and friends

and ministered to us through the hands of our sisters and brothers.

People: We praise your holy name, O God.

Leader: You have filled our hearts with a hunger after you and have given

us your peace. You have redeemed us and called us to a high

calling in Christ Jesus. You have given us a place in the fellow-

ship of your spirit and the witness of your church.

People: We praise your holy name, O God.

Leader: You have been our light in darkness and a rock of strength in

adversity and temptation. You have been the very Spirit of joy

and of sufficient reward to all our labors.

People: We praise your holy name, O God.

Leader: You remembered us when we forgot you. You followed us even

when we tried to flee from you. You met us with forgiveness

when we returned to you. For all your patience and overflowing

grace.

People: We praise your holy name, O God.

Children’s Time Jenna Brubaker

Prayer Hymn Spirit of the Living God (once) UMH 393

Prayers of the People Troy Miller, Assoc. Pastor Lord’s Prayer UMH 895

Choral Anthem Peace, Peace (please join in singing Silent

Night as directed) Sharon Graham, accompanist

Scripture Romans 12:1-8 (NIV) Mary Meckenstock

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Sermon Susan Murithi

WESLEY'S COVENANT SERVICE

INVITATION

Commit yourselves to Christ as his servants. Give yourselves to him, that you may belong to him. Christ has many services to be done. Some are easier and more honorable; others are more difficult and disgraceful. Some are suitable to our inclinations and interests; others are contrary to both. In some we may please Christ and please ourselves. But then there are other works where we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves. It is necessary, therefore, that we consider what it means to be a servant of Christ. Let us, therefore, go to Christ, and pray:

ALL: Let me be your servant, under your command. I will no longer be my own. I will give up myself to your will in all things.

Be satisfied that Christ shall give you your place and work.

ALL: I am no longer my own, but thine Lord, make me what you will. I put myself fully into your hands: put me to doing, put me to suffering, let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you, let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and with a willing heart give it all to your pleasure and disposal.

LEADER: Christ will be the Savior of those who choose to follow Him. He is the source of salvation for everyone who obeys Him. Christ won’t force anyone to be His servant; But He accepts those who fully consent to him. Christ will either be everything in your life, or nothing at all. Confirm this through a holy covenant and make this commitment real in your life,

Listen to these Admonitions:

First, set aside some time to be alone with the Lord. Use this time to sincerely ask for God’s help and for His gracious acceptance of you. Reflect on your sins, consider Christ's commandments how holy and spiritual they are and ask yourself if you are truly willing to embrace them all. Second, approach this with a sense of holy awe and respect. Third, claim God's covenant and rely on His promise to give you grace and strength to keep your commitment. Don’t trust in your own strength or ability. Fourth, make a firm decision to stay faithful. You've given your heart to the Lord, opened your mouth to Him, and dedicated yourself to His service. With God’s power, never turn back. Finally, be ready to renew your covenant with the Lord.

COVENANT PRAYER: All Stand

Let us pray: O righteous God, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, see me as I fall down before you. Forgive my unfaithfulness in not having done your will, for you have promised mercy to me if I turn to you with my whole heart.

God asks that you remove all your idols.

I here from the bottom of my heart renounce them all, covenanting with you that no known sin shall be allowed in my life. Against your will, I have turned my love toward the world. In your power I will watch all temptations that will lead me away from you. For my own righteousness is riddled with sin, unable to stand before you.

Through Christ, God has offered to be your God again if you would let him.

Before all heaven and earth, I here acknowledge you as my Lord and God. I take you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for my portion, and vow to give up myself, body, and soul, as your servant, to serve you in holiness and righteousness all the days of my life.

God has given the Lord Jesus Christ as the only way and means of coming to God.

Jesus, I do here on bended knees accept Christ as the only new and living Way, and sincerely join myself in a covenant with him. O blessed Jesus, I come to you, hungry, sinful, miserable, blind, and naked, unworthy even to wash the feet of your servants. I do here, with all my power, accept you as my Lord and Head. I renounce my own worthiness, and vow that you are the Lord, my righteousness. I renounce my own wisdom and take you for my only guide. I renounce my own will and take your will as my law.

Christ has told you that you must suffer with him.

I do here covenant with you, O Christ, to take my lot with you as it may fall. Through your grace I promise that neither life nor death shall part me from you.

God has given holy laws as the rule of your life.

I do here willingly put my neck under your yoke, to carry your burden. All your laws are holy, just, and good. I therefore take them as the rule for my words, thoughts, and actions, promising that I will strive to order my whole life according to your direction, and not allow myself to neglect anything I know to be my duty.

The almighty God searches and knows your heart.

O God, you know that I make this covenant with you today without guile or reservation. If any falsehood should be in it, guide me and help me to set it aright. And now, glory be to you, O God the Father, whom I from this day forward shall look upon as my God and Father. Glory be to you, O God the Son, who have loved me and washed me from my sins in your own blood, and now is my Savior and Redeemer. Glory be to you, O God the Holy Spirit, who by your almighty power have turned my heart from sin to God. O mighty God, the Lord Omnipotent, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you have now become my Covenant Friend. And I, through your infinite grace, have become your covenant servant. So be it. And let the covenant I have made on earth be ratified in heaven. Amen.

Preparation for Covenant Troy Miller

Brothers and sisters in Christ, the Christian life is redeemed from sin and

consecrated to God. Through baptism, we have been admitted into thenew covenant of which Jesus Christ is the Mediator. He sealed it with

his own blood, that it might last forever. On the one side, God promises

to give us new life in Christ, the Source and Perfecter of our faith. On the

other side, we are pledged to live no more for ourselves but only for

Jesus Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us. From time to time,

we renew our covenant with God, especially when we reaffirm the

Baptismal Covenant and gather at the Lord’s table. Today we meet, as the generations before us to renew the covenant that binds us to God. Let us make the covenant of God our own.

Faithful Stewardship Proverbs 22:9 Mary Meckenstock

“A generous person will be blessed”

Congregational Prayer: “Lord of Mercy, You say the generous will be

blessed, for they share their bread with the poor. Soften our hearts to

see the needs around us. Make us quick to give, slow to hold back, and

Joyful in sharing what You’ve provided. Let our hands reflect Your

Kindness. Amen.”

Offertory All is Well Charlotte Rathke

*Doxology Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow UMH 95

*Offertory Prayer Troy Miller

*Holy Communion

*Closing Hymn Take My Life, And Let It Be UMH 399

*Benediction

*Postlude Voluntary on “In Dulci Jubilo” Charlotte Rathke