This is a not-meant-to guilt post.

This is a shout-out to all those who come to church on the first Sunday of the New Year.

Today in worship we shared words and heart longings hundreds of years old. We shared a part of Wesley’s Covenant Service.  The thought is that when we are mindful of that which we seek, we are more apt to give ourselves over to it.

What we prayed about and recommitted ourselves to is living in a relationship of trust with the Holy.  We named our desire to let go of the worry nattering that clogs our soul-waves.  We named our desire to give our lives and our hearts over to God’s keeping.

And then we shared the meal of Jesus together.  It was a seemly first feast in this year we trust will be grace.

Wherever it is you find yourself on this day, the prayer is yours for the holding today and all days:

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 for 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.

Covenant Prayer From John Wesley’s Covenant Service , 1780

Let us be full, let us be empty according to God’s desire for our unfolding.

Happy New Year!