By makingi Three Smple Rules and Five Marks of a
Methodist accessible for a current United Methodist and
Wesleyan audience, Abingdon Press has reintroduced Wesley’s
formative identity and boosted our way of Christian living in
thousands of congregations.
The next most important document that Wesley delivered to the
rapidly expanding societies and congregations was The Wesley
Covenant Prayer and Renewal Service from 1755, which are crucial to
Methodist identity. This service, a liturgical event in 1755, was
preceded by several mornings of teaching from John Wesley about
“the means of increasing serious religion.” Charles Wesley also
wrote a hymn supporting the prayer – “Come, Let Us Use the Grace
Divine.”
Over the millennia since 1755, many Methodists have used this
liturgy on New Year’s Eve – the Watch Night Service – as a service
of renewal of the individual’s covenant with God for the coming
year. More recently many churches have found other opportunities to
provide this opportunity for the congregation.
Wesley’s covenant renewal can function now as an accessible
church-wide campaign that culminates in the liturgical affirmation
and faithful promise to love God and neighbor faithfully. The
campaign could be:
1) Used during Advent and culminate on New Year’s Eve with the
Covenant prayer committed to memory and resolve.
2) Used from mid-September, with emphasis on homecoming and
harvest, and culminated with the liturgical event on All Saint’s
Day.
3) Used prior to Lent and culminate on Ash Wednesday, or
4) Used during Lent and culminate on during holy week (read prior
to the passion of Jesus).