WELCOME TO

HARWOOD METHODIST CHURCH

COVENANT SERVICE

AND

THE LAUNCH OF THE WAY AHEAD

HYMN

The trumpets sound the angels sing

The feast is ready to begin

The gates of heav'n are open wide

And Jesus welcomes you inside

HYMN

Tables are laden with good things

O taste the peace and joy He brings

He'll fill you up with love divine

He'll turn your water into wine

CHORUS

Sing with thankfulness

Songs of pure delight

Come and revel in

Heaven's love and light

Take your place at the

Table of the King

The feast is ready to begin (x2)

HYMN

The hungry heart He satisfies

Offers the poor His paradise

Now hear all heaven and earth applaud

The amazing goodness of the Lord

CHORUS

Sing with thankfulness

Songs of pure delight

Come and revel in

Heaven's love and light

Take your place at the

Table of the King

The feast is ready to begin (x2)

OPENING PRAYER

Glory to the Father, the God of love, who created us; who continually preserves and sustains us; who has loved us with an everlasting love, and given us the light of the knowledge of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ. Blessed be God for ever.

Glory to Jesus Christ our Saviour, who, though he was rich, yet for our sake became poor, and was tested in every way as we are, yet without sin; who proclaimed the good news of the kingdom, and was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross;

who was raised from the dead and is

alive for ever,

and has opened the kingdom of heaven

to all who trust in him;

who is seated at God's right hand in glory,

and will come to be our judge.

Blessed be God for ever.

Glory to the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of

life,

by whom we are born into the family of God,

and made members of the body of Christ;

whose witness confirms us;

whose wisdom teaches us;

whose power enables us;

who will do for us more than we can ask or

think.

Blessed be God for ever.

To the one God, Father, Son and Holy

Spirit, be praise and glory for ever. Amen.

COLLECT

God of grace,

through the mediation of your Son,

you call us into a new covenant.

Help us therefore to draw near with faith

and join ourselves in a perpetual

covenant with you; through Jesus Christ

our Lord. Amen.

READING - JEREMIAH 31.31-34

GOSPEL READING - JOHN 15.1-10

WAY AHEAD - LAUNCH

REDEV 2013 IN 3 SLIDES

Phase 1

Completed in January

Opened on 24th February

Opening worship attended by over 170 people

Already in use, with more new groups using this in the new year

Phase 2

Planning put on hold whilst funding issues are resolved

They are ready when we are ready and know the size of our budget

Ransom strip issues all sorted

CURRENT STATUS – SLIDE 2

Tennis Courts

18th Dec – agreement in principle – fine details in the next couple of weeks

Huge amount of negotiation by Phil to agree new site

Planners happy with what is proposed so . .

Tennis Courts – 2

As soon as we have the signed agreement we will exchange contracts on the Tennis Courts

Manse

New manse is in operation

Old Manse ready to be let for 6 months – then a decision made on future

Tottington Road

Two interested parties at present

WE NEED A THERMOMETER – SLIDE 3

Makes no sense, since we will build what we can afford

Headline approx. numbers

Tennis Courts £575,000 Connexion Grant £200,000

Manse (if sold) £200,000 Tottington Road £???????

Other grants, landfill etc

Realistically somewhere about £1.5Million so far

Fundraising brings in money – also helps to bring in grants

Amy and friends concert, Summer fayre, abseiling down the lighthouse and our second skydive (and much more) have all occurred in 2013

THE WAY AHEAD

The Churches in Harwood

HMC

Community

God

worship service

learning

and caring evangelism

4 POST-IT NOTES

Worship • Flexible

• Effective and Relevant

• Inclusive

• Spirit Led

• Engaging all generations

• Varied

Service • Making a positive difference to

the community • Welcoming the people on the

fringe • To serve and support others where

there is need • In partnership:

• With each other • With external agencies

• Recognised place where care is available and everyone matters

LEARNING AND CARING

• Growing as Disciples

• Bridging Generations

• Not one size fits all

• Learning from each other

• Exploring our gifts and talents

EVANGELISM

• Effective Communication

• Witness

• Making God Real to the

community

• Using our gifts and talents

• Open to all

WE NEED TO START TALKING ABOUT GOD

We need to talk about what God is doing in our lives

We need to start talking about what God is doing in our church

We need to start talking with each other about what God wants us to do

We need to talk about making the Vision a reality

We need to start talking to each other

WAY AHEAD

Starts with “Time to talk of God” in February

Seven sessions

Exploring our faith, modern culture, our traditions, and blocks within the church

Evening and day time sessions

Online Blog version for those not able to attend

Blog Boards for those not online

Books available for those who want to work through the material on their own

THEN . . .

Looking for new projects beyond our existing church base

What is God calling us to do in our community?

Incredible Edible to Dog Walking

Your ideas – your projects – we support you in doing them

A Day in April to present these ideas and to agree how we support them

How do these projects tie in with our established groups?

“If the Vision came truly from God – it does not change”

Looking to change some practical details of how we do things

New stewards in spring

Church Council issues resolved

Restructuring building group – more able to move and get on

WAY AHEAD – WHY???

5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.'

9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.

COVENANT PRAYER

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; when there is work for me and when there is none; when I am troubled and when I am at peace.

COVENANT PRAYER

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.

COVENANT PRAYER

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. Amen.

COVENANT

Abraham

Moses

Prophets

Exile

Jesus

Early Church

Reformation

Methodism in Harwood

THE WAY AHEAD

THE COVENANT

God made a covenant . . .

CONFESSION

Response:

Lord, have mercy,

Lord, forgive.

WE SAY TOGETHER

Have mercy on me, O God, in your constant love; in the fullness of your mercy blot out my offences. Wash away all my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Give me the joy of your help again and strengthen me with a willing spirit.

WE SAY TOGETHER

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Therefore to all who truly repent this is his gracious word: 'Your sins are forgiven'. Amen. Thanks be to God.

HYMN

Come, let us use the grace divine,

And all, with one accord,

In a perpetual cov'nant join

Ourselves to Christ the Lord:

HYMN

Give up ourselves, through Jesu's power,

His name to glorify;

And promise, in this sacred hour,

For God to live and die.

HYMN

The cov'nant we this moment make

Be ever kept in mind:

We will no more our God forsake,

Or cast his words behind.

HYMN

We never will throw off his fear

Who hears our solemn vow;

And if thou art well pleased to hear,

Come down, and meet us now.

HYMN

To each the cov'nant blood apply,

Which takes our sins away;

And register our names on high,

And keep us to that day.

THE COVENANT

Sisters and brothers in Christ,

. . . . .

We are no longer our own but yours.

COVENANT PRAYER

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; when there is work for me and when there is none; when I am troubled and when I am at peace.

COVENANT PRAYER

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.

COVENANT PRAYER

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. Amen.

INTERCESSION

As we have entered this covenant not for ourselves alone, but as God's servants and witnesses, let us pray for the Church and for the world.

Loving God, hear us as we pray for your holy catholic Church: make us all one, that the world may believe.

Inspire and lead all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world: establish justice and peace among all people.

INTERCESSION

Have compassion on all who suffer from any sickness, grief or trouble: deliver them from their distress.

We praise you for all your saints who have entered your eternal glory: bring us all to share in your heavenly kingdom.

Let us pray in silence for our own needs and for those of others . . .

THE PEACE

The Lord has made an everlasting covenant of peace with his people. The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.

HYMN

Just as we are, your servants here,

Sure of your loving presence near,

Offering all our hearts hold dear,

Accepting Lord, we come.

HYMN

Just as we are, with all our pain,

Deeply-felt wrongs which long remain,

Chances we know won’t come again,

Forgiving Lord, we come.

Just as we are, you made us so,

Plain earthen pots no beauty show,

Yet deep within your treasures glow,

Affirming Lord, we come.

Just as we are, we come to you,

Trusting your promise ever true,

“See, I am making all things new!”

Renewing Lord, we come.

THE THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. God our Father, fountain of goodness . . .

SANCTUS

With them and all the company of heaven we join in the unending hymn of praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

. . .

Do this, whenever you drink it,

in remembrance of me.'

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

And so . . . Bring us, with those who have done your will in every age, into the light of your presence and the joy of your kingdom. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, we worship you in songs of everlasting praise. Blessing and honour and glory and power be yours for ever and ever. Amen.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

As our Saviour taught his disciples, we

pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven . . .

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD

The things of God for God's holy people.

Jesus Christ is holy;

Jesus Christ is Lord.

Glory to God the Father.

THE SHARING OF THE BREAD AND WINE

Jesus said: 'I am the bread of life.

Those who come to me shall not hunger

and those who believe in me shall never

thirst.'

Draw near with faith.

DISTRIBUTION

PRAYERS AND DISMISSAL

Let us pray. Faithful God,with these holy gifts you have fed and strengthened us in Jesus Christ your Son. Guide us on our way, that with all your faithful people we may come to share the feast of your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

HYMN

O Jesus, I have promised to serve thee to the end; be thou for ever near me, my Master and my friend: I shall not fear the battle if thou art by my side, nor wander from the pathway if thou wilt be my guide.

O let me feel thee near me: the world is ever near; I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear; my foes are ever near me, around me and within; but, Jesus, draw thou nearer, and shield my soul from sin.

O let me hear thee speaking in accents clear and still, above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self-will; O speak to reassure me, to hasten or control; O speak, and make me listen, thou guardian of my soul.

O Jesus, thou hast promised to all who follow thee, that where thou art in glory there shall thy servant be; and, Jesus, I have promised to serve thee to the end: O give me grace to follow, my Master and my friend.

O let me see thy foot-marks, and in them plant mine own; my hope to follow duly is in thy strength alone: O guide me, call me, draw me, uphold me to the end; and then in heaven receive me, my Saviour and my friend.

BLESSING

The blessing of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen.