PSA 08 January 2012 Covenant Sunday

Ken Howcroft. “Follow the Star of Grace!”. A sermon on the Sunday after the feast of the Epiphany which was also Covenant Sunday, when the opportunity was provided for any who wanted to do so to renew their covenant relationship with God in the context of a communion service. Christian discipleship does not mean being given an easy way round problems, but a way of living through them and redeeming them. And it is a great comfort to know that God is with you, carrying you, loving you. Even when things go against you, and your health or your relations or your work or world events or the government or even the Church are messing you about, God in Christ is with you. To know that helps you avoid being a victim in life. It takes you on a journey with God in the power of the Spirit. Like the Magi, it means you start to follow the Star. Like them you might find that you start off with some idea of where you are going, but you need further help along the way. But help is there. You will find it as you share bread and wine at the communion table. Here we take ordinary things, bread and wine, that nourish us, thank God for them and discover that Jesus Christ is really present with us in them and through them. Here we recognise that God has created us and each other, thank God for ourselves and each other and discover that we become the body of Christ together in the world. So you are not on your own. In the words of the covenant and then in communion with Christ around the table, you will discover that God is with you and for you if you will accept it. All you have to do is say “yes”. Go on, say “yes”!. 

The readings were Jeremiah 31.31-34; Romans 12.1-2; and Matthew 2.1-12.