Methodist Matters – Jan 2025
New Year’s Message by Rev Andy Murphy
Wishing you all every joy and blessing for this New Year, 2025. But as well as personal health and happiness, may it also be a year when everybody strives to make things better for Kibworth and the surrounding villages.
Where governments can often struggle to make the improvements a society needs, God’s Church can make opportunities to build community, to help the needy and vulnerable. And also to offer a safe place where people can find sanctuary, friendship, and hope. We can all continue to grow together in God’s love and between us, to reach out to those in need both locally and to the wider world.
We continue to hold in our prayers these communities and the world at large. Remembering those in need, both young and old, through our mission as a church during this coming year.
From the early days of Methodism, the Methodist people have been invited to renew their ‘covenant’ relationship with God on an annual basis. Each year the Church holds a Covenant Service during which the congregation makes the following declaration:
“I am no longer my own but yours. Your will, not mine, be done in all things, wherever you may place me, in all that I do and in all that I may endure; where there is work for me and when there is none; when I am troubled and when I am at peace. Your will be done when I am valued and when I am disregarded; when I find fulfilment and when it is lacking; when I have all things, and when I have nothing. I willingly offer all I have and am to serve you, as and where you choose. Glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. May it be so for ever. Let this covenant now made on earth be fulfilled in heaven.”
This is a challenging declaration for anybody to make. However, churches from other denominations in numerous locations often take the opportunity to join with their Methodist friends in their Annual Covenant Service to enable their own members to renew their own personal Covenant with God.
Enquiries: Roger Piper 07941 643809
www.kibworthmethodistchurch.org.uk
Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital
