Revd. Paul Arnold finds newness in the words of our annual Covenant Service.
The Covenant Service was not invented by John Wesley, but he popularised it and encouraged the people called Methodist to share in it each new year (or at any other significant occasion in the life of a fellowship). In this month of January I find myself leading this service yet again (many times) and the familiar Gospel reading from John 15 calls us to reflect on the words of Jesus: 'I am the vine, you are the branches.' (v.5) Whilst it is a key event in our church calendar (appreciated by many Christian traditions, not only the Methodists,) I cannot deny there are times when I find myself struggling with what can be said, that has not been said before? I have been leading the Covenant Service for decades and as the New Year loomed on the horizon, I felt unsure how to approach this (oh so) familiar scripture... You may want me to say I had some sort of amazing revelation and a new insight to pass on. However, instead I found something (in my opinion) even stronger, and that is the sense of release in simply accepting the promise that is contained in the image that Jesus employed. That, Jesus is linked to us, (to me) in a way that is intimate and personal – the ties are as close as the branches are to the stem of a plant. The one to whom we are linked and through whom we are united to God, sets free from the messages of this world that are so often linked to shame, fear, greed and guilt.
Suddenly, these well-known words have taken on a newness in my mind and heart. In this year's Covenant Services, I have discovered afresh the goodness of God. How has that happened? And why? I cannot tell – I only know that his life flows in and through me and though I cannot understand and am not worthy to be the recipient of his Covenant love, I gladly accept the gift of grace that he offers to me and to all.
Revd. Paul Arnold January 2025
c/o The Methodist Centre
Lansdowne Road
Bayston Hill
Shrewsbury
SY3 0HZ