This service could be used at the beginning of the New Year or at the creation of a new Spiritual Formation Group.

Opening (read aloud in unison)

In the name and in the glorious fellowship of the triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - I this day;

• surround myself with the light of Jesus Christ
• cover myself with the blood of Jesus Christ
• and seal myself with the cross of Jesus Christ

Readings (read aloud in turn)

Old Testament: Ezekiel 37: 1-10

New Testament: Ephesians 4: 1-16

Gospels: Matthew 5: 1-16

Confession of Faith (read aloud in unison)

I call all heaven to witness today that I have put on Christ
I choose no other Lord than the Maker of Heaven and earth
This day I walk with him and he will walk with me
I fasten close to me this day that same Jesus
Who came to us as flesh and blood
And was himself baptized in the Jordan River
He died upon a cross to rescue me
Broke free from death, its conqueror
He left us, to return the more certainly

All these truths and their power
I fasten close to me this day
Resisting my own selfishness and sin
Refusing to live as a slave to riches
Pleasure, or reputation
Rejecting Satan and all his lies
I call on heaven to witness today
that I have put on Christ

Covenant Commitment (read aloud responsively)

Leader: Do you this day believe that Jesus Christ has risen and is, through the Holy Spirit, alive and present among his people?

People: Yes, we so believe!

Leader: Do you this day confess that Christ is among us as:

• Our Saviour to forgive us
• Our Teacher to instruct us
• Our Lord to rule us, and
• Our Friend to come alongside us

People: Yes, we so confess!

Leader: Do you this day commit yourself to seek continual renewal through

• Spiritual exercises
• Spiritual gifts, and
• Acts of service

People: Yes, we so commit!

Leader: Let us then make our commitment the more sure by speaking the words of the Renovaré Covenant.

All: In utter dependence upon Jesus Christ
as my ever-living Saviour, Teacher, Lord, and Friend
I will seek continual renewal
through spiritual exercises, spiritual gifts, and acts of service.

Community Commitment (read aloud in unison)

We journey alone
We journey together
We say Yes to God
We say Yes to each other

Alone in God
We will find
Ourselves together
And know the gift
Of community

Amen.