Epiphany, Baptism, Prayer: Oh My!
We Methodists have no shortage of traditions to ring in at the very beginning of each year:
Epiphany, marking the journey of the star-following visitors from afar who visit the Christ child with undoubtedly the most practical care package for a new family (gold, frankincense, and myrrh).
Jesus’ Baptism, when we also remember or anticipate each of our own baptisms.
(re)affirming the Wesleyan Covenant Prayer, part of our Methodist heritage to describe the way of life with God to which we are committed.
On Sunday we’ll talk most about baptism, so today I offer to you the Wesleyan Covenant Prayer that John Wesley adapted for the people called Methodist as a way of remembering and renewing our baptismal covenant:
“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.”
At a conference 10 or 15 years ago, I received this prayer printed on a plastic door hanger. We were meant to hang it in the shower, so that every time the water washed over us we could remember our baptism and pray this prayer: tangible words of what our baptismal covenant means to us. These words as Wesley wrote the are tremendously meaningful for me, but for some they can feel archaic and slightly theologically off for our modern context.
To that end, our own Rev. Jeremy Smith has paraphrased the prayer for something that may be more helpful for us today:
There, you’ll find your star (stickers)!
“I am not my own self-made, self-reliant human being.
In truth, O God, I am Yours.
Make me into what You will.
Make me a neighbor with those whom You will.
Guide me on the easy path for You.
Guide me on the rocky road for You.
Whether I am to step up for You or step aside for You;
Whether I am to be lifted high for You or brought low for You;
Whether I become full or empty, with all things or with nothing;
I give all that I have and all that I am for You.
So be it.
And may I always remember that you, O God, and I belong to each other. Amen.”
At the open house you’ll use your star stickers to mark which of the seven core value options you think are especially important to our church. This can be a hard decision! We believe the values that have been chosen are faithful and fit the gifts and passions of our church, but we also know that there are a few that uniquely rise to the top for us. Your stars will help us figure out which ones.
Do you find either to be meaningful in reminding you of your baptism and God’s covenant with you (or anticipating your baptism if you haven’t been baptized yet)? What other words or practices help you remember your baptism and recommit yourself to a life in covenant and in Christ?
I’d love to hear from you!
Happy new year,
Pastor Karyn
