16 January 2019
As MPs continued their debates about BREXIT in the House of Commons, around 200 Methodists prayerfully renewed their covenant with God through the Methodist Covenant Service, a service of Holy Communion and prayer, that has been a part of the Methodist tradition for centuries.
The Methodist Covenant Service was instigated by one of the founders of Methodism, John Wesley and has traditionally been one of the first Methodist services of any calendar year. The emphasis of the whole service is on God’s readiness to enfold us in generous love, not dependent on our deserving. Since 1995 the Methodist Church has held a Parliamentary Covenant Service in the Palace of Westminster facilitated and attended by MPs, Members of the House of Lords and Methodists from across the country.
This year the service was attended by both the President and Vice President of the Methodist Conference, (Revd Michaela Youngson and Mr Bala Gnanapragasam), members of the House of Commons and Lords and Methodists from across the country. Mr Doug Swanney, Connexional Secretary of the Methodist Church in Britain gave the address and said, ‘Our leaders must seek to serve the whole people, not just the ones they agree with or find to be like them. As leaders we must all serve the whole community before us. The covenant we engage in tonight offers us a better understanding of who we are. It points us towards making choices and being active in the world to make changes. It is a covenant that calls us to be together in that endeavour – to be God’s people in the world.’
Revd Dr Martyn Atkins, Superintendent Minister of Methodist Central Hall Westminster who facilitate the service said, ‘None of us know what the year will bring for ourselves, our families, our communities, nations and our world. We hope the service provided a time for those meeting to reflect and prepare for the year ahead, among others, and before God.’
The service took place in the historic Chapel of St Mary Undercroft on Tuesday, 15th January 2019.
Notes
- Methodist Central Hall is a global Christian family following Jesus at the heart of London. With members from over 35 national groupings the church has been based in its historic building since 1912. In 1946 the church moved out for two months so that the first meeting of the United Nations could take place in the Great Hall. In 1966 the Jules Rimet World Cup trophy was stolen from the building and the first performance of Joseph and Amazing Technicolored Dream coat took place.
- From the earliest days of the Methodist societies, John Wesley invited the Methodist people to renew their covenant relationship with God. Wesley drew much of his material for the service from seventeenth-century Puritans and subsequently made changes to it. Methodists throughout the world hold a Covenant Service at the start of each year, more information can be found at https://www.methodist.org.uk/about-us/the-methodist-church/what-is-distinctive-about-methodism/a-covenant-with-god/the-covenant-service/
- For a copy of the whole address, please contact dan.forshaw@mchw.org.uk