We believe in God, the creator of all things, the giver of life and breath.
We believe in Jesus Christ, born Emmanuel, God with us, baptized and revealed the most beloved Son of God; he sought to heal humanity by taking our brokenness upon himself, suffering for us and dying for our sakes.
God raised Jesus from the dead and in so doing, God made it clear to all the world that God can and will make all things new.
We believe in the gift of the Holy Spirit, continually poured forth from God to refresh our lives. It is the Holy Spirit who leads us into a new day, renewing our faith, transforming us in mission and revitalizing the church. The Holy Spirit is our soul companion and counselor of truth reminding us of God’s ever-presence, and the promise of eternal life. Thanks be to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Radiant and Shining God of all grace and mercy, this is destined to be a day of transformation and change. We may not see in a flash of light, or a moment of revelation the transformation that takes place with in us, but we accept and embrace your spirit at work moving us ever onward. We confess that we seek to plan how the days of our lives will unfold. We are dreamers who envision, better days, happier days, healthier days, even days of leisure and calm. Help us, wondrous and loving Abba, Father to find the joy that is ours in this day. We pray not to take one moment of this day for granted, for you have much for us to discover. Let us make our commitment today to love, honor and cherish, all who find their way into our hearts. Give new life to the promises we have made and empower us to be true in Jesus name. Amen.
AN ORDER OF THE RENEWAL OF COVENANT VOWS
Greeting and Invitation
Friends, February seems a good month for remembering how we love, honor and cherish our spouses, partners, lovers, life-companions and friends. If you would like to reaffirm your covenant commitment to each other today, I invite you to be a part of this ritual. Whether you have been in a relationship for one year or seventy years, saying you would do it all over again is an act of loving, honoring and cherishing each other still and once again.
Renewal of Vows
My Dearest _____________, I pledge my heart to you, still and again, promising to love, honor and cherish you, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. As long as I am able, I will strive to give as well as receive, to speak and to listen, to inspire and to respond. I promise to love you and be loyal to you through all of the changing circumstances of life, as long as we both shall live.
The Blessing
Gracious and Ever-living God, pour out your blessing upon these dear ones who have stood before you this morning to reaffirm their covenant commitment to one another. We pray that you will continue to nurture them by your steadfast love and grace, strengthening their partnership. May their union continue to bring joy and comfort through all the days of their life. Remind them daily, O Lord, that the measure of their success is not found in the number of years they log together, but in their eagerness to bless and be blessed by each other and their commitment. May their love remain hearty and strong, preserved by their faith and trust, both in you and in each other. May they continue to discover fresh ways to be in love as joyful servants in your kingdom. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
OFFERING INVITATION
Language, to me is fascinating. I love words and how the slightest nuance in one’s voice can change the intention of the words. Even words that consist of a single letter such as the article “a” have the power to change the meaning of the words around it. For example, there is a vast difference between the two phrases “making change” and “making a change.” Kids who work behind a cash register these days are not particularly adept at making change, relying on the cash register to do the work. They fumble a lot when the registers are “down” and they have to make change manually. Some of us fumble a lot when we are encouraged to make a change in the amount we tithe to the church, but if you have been giving the same amount for the past 5, 10 or 20 years, even the slightest adjustment on your part will help us make a change or two.
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