As I prepare this post I am aware that it will be posted on New Years Day. We stand at the beginning of 2010 looking not only at a New Year, but at a new decade full of promise and possibilities. For some of us this will be exciting, but others will approach it with trepidation and probably most of us stand on this threshold with a mix of emotions and reactions.
It is at this time of year that many (British) Methodist Churches celebrate their Annual Covenant Service, a service that will include this prayer:
I am no longer my own but yours,It is at this time of year that many (British) Methodist Churches celebrate their Annual Covenant Service, a service that will include this prayer:
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 wholeheartedly yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.
And now glorious and blessed God,
Father , Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours.
May it be so forever.
Let this covenant now made on earth
be fulfilled in heaven. AMEN
This prayer is said every year, and offers every member an opportunity to renew their covenant with God. This is no soft or easy prayer, it states in the company of others our willingness to worship God come what may, not that we should become doormats, but that we place God above all else. ( And every year if we are honest we have to acknowledge that we fail).
With this prayer in mind I bring you this Friday Five:
1. What will you gladly leave behind in 2009?
2. What is the biggest challenge of 2010 for you?
3. Is there anything that you simply need to hand to God and say "all will be well, for you are with me"?
4. If you could only achieve one thing in 2010 what would it be?
5. Post a picture, poem or song that sums up your prayer for the year ahead....
As always, let us know in comments if you play. Post a direct link to your blog entry in your comment using the following formulation in the comment box: <a href="the url of your blog post goes here">what you want the link to say goes here</a> For a complete how-to, click here.
I played.
ReplyDeletea href="http://hearthside-angela.blogspot.com/2010/01/friday-five-new-years-traditions.html">Here<;/a> is my short, quick play. we're off to do Christmas with the in-laws, so i've got to go pack. promise to catch up on reading and commenting when i get up there.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward (literally) to the year over here!
ReplyDeleteI played here
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year
Happy New Year...here.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting Sally.
Thanks, Sally, for this great and thoughty start to the year.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post, great reflections. I will play as a reward for cleaning off my desktop (my resolution for today).
ReplyDeletelove and taxes arugh!!! must find coffee n.o.w.
ReplyDeleteHere is my first Friday 5 of 2010
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sally!
going back to this far by faith that's been dormant for a while seemed very appropriate for this one... thanks, Sally and a Blessed New Year and New Decade to everyone!
ReplyDeleteCelebrating New Year's Day at my computer; I played here.
ReplyDeleteI played here and check out my photo reflections on 2009 in the two previous posts...
ReplyDeleteNice one Sally! My play is here.
ReplyDeleteBlessed New Year, everyone!
I have stopped to play... my thoughts are here
ReplyDeleteI played, too!
ReplyDeleteI looked back at 2009 and forward to 2010… here.
ReplyDeleteI'm watching football and playing here...
ReplyDeleteI got a fresh start here
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful Friday Five challenge. I played here - but not before writing this
ReplyDeleteDid it . And it's STILL Friday. Wonders will never cease!
ReplyDeleteHoping that "Something Good This Way Comes" over at my place .
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year everyone! I played over here.
ReplyDeleteChiming in late, I am praying for God's purposes in 2010, and I played here.
ReplyDeleteI played here
ReplyDeleteWord verification: coldun
Yep. it is.
VERY late, I just played.
ReplyDeleteI played too.
ReplyDeleteI started the year here
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year ya'll, and thanks Sally for a great Friday Five.
ReplyDeleteI : played late this evening.
I played but can't remember how you do the link thing! http://revruth.wordpress.com/2010/01/02/new-year-and-covenants/
ReplyDeleteI played! Because I'm a day late it became a birthday post instead of a New Years post!
ReplyDelete