I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
From the Covenant Service
Hear these words from our Covenant Service. Let the words come from our mouths. Feel the words as they roll from our tongues. Taste them on our lips. Some of the lines are honey, others are vinegar. But all together they provide the necessary seasoning for the Christian banquet.
These words quash the more sentimental notions of what it means to be a church. The force of these words is “other-centered.” “God use me as you see fit.” That is what the prayer is saying. But, that is not the way we approach ministry. Too often we come to God with a list of things we are willing to do. Some people will accept a position in the church as long as they don't have to do tasks they find unpleasant.
Fortunate for us, Our Lord came willingly to perform the most unpleasant of all tasks. He came to die for people who were depraved and wretched. People who would never measure up to what God had intended for them. Yes, he came for us.
Our Lord Jesus still comes amongst us. He is with us in the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup. He is with us as we lift up his name. Indeed he is present in all of creation - his creation.
Each month we have Holy Communion in this church. Granted, many things take place as though they don't happen. But it takes place. Christ is broken and offered. Christ is received. Christ is taken forth. After communion there is the Prayer after Communion which always end this way...
Grant that we may go into the world
in the strength of your Spirit,
to give ourselves for others,
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
This is a vision of a Christian community. It is a place where people gather to feast on the body and blood of Christ; to hear his Word; and thus empowered go into the world in his Name.
Everyday you make decisions. Everyday you are faced with choices. Are you able to decide like Jesus? Can you make his choices? Maybe we need more of Jesus to be more like him.
This Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Don't let that get in the way of remembering to celebrate his coming into our lives. He came into the world because of the Father's love for the world. He came into the world to bring salvation. Invite him into your heart, that by entering into your heart you may experience his gift of your salvation!
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
Luke 2:25-32, NRSV