A Service of Commitment

For Each New Year

Opening (read aloud in unison)

In the name and in the glorious fellowship of the triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—I this day;

• surround myself with the Light of Jesus Christ,

• cover myself with the blood of Jesus Christ, and

• seal myself with the cross of Jesus Christ.

Readings (read aloud in turn)

Old Testament: Ezekiel 37: 1-10

New Testament: Ephesians 4: 1-16

Gospels: Matthew 5: 1-16

Confession of Faith (read aloud in unison)

I call all heaven to witness today
that I have put on Christ.
I choose no other Lord
than the Maker of Heaven and earth.
This day I walk with him
and he will walk with me.
I fasten close to me this day
that same Jesus
who came to us as flesh and blood
and was himself baptized in the Jordan River.
He died upon a cross to rescue me,
broke free from death, its conqueror.
He left us, to return the more certainly.

All these truths and their power
I fasten close to me this day.
Resisting my own selfishness and sin,
refusing to live as a slave to riches,
pleasure, or reputation,
rejecting Satan and all his lies,
I call on heaven to witness today
that I have put on Christ.

Covenant Commitment (read aloud responsively)

Leader: Do you this day believe that Jesus Christ has risen and is, through the Holy Spirit, alive and present among his people?

People: Yes, we so believe!

Leader: Do you this day confess that Christ is among us as
• Our Savior to forgive us,
• Our Teacher to instruct us,
• Our Lord to rule us, and
• Our Friend to come alongside us.

People: Yes, we so confess!

Leader: Do you this day commit yourself to seek continual renewal through
• Spiritual exercises,
• Spiritual gifts, and
• Acts of service.

People: Yes, we so commit!

Leader: Let us then make our commitment the more sure by speaking the words of the RENOVARÉ Covenant.

All: In utter dependence upon Jesus Christ as my ever-living Savior, Teacher, Lord, and Friend I will seek continual renewal through spiritual exercises, spiritual gifts, and acts of service.

Community Commitment (read aloud in unison)

We journey alone;
we journey together;
we say Yes to God;
we say Yes to each other.

Alone in God
we will find
ourselves together
and know the gift
of community.

Amen.