Watch Night and Covenant Prayer Service

Watch Night is celebrated on New Year's Eve in the Black Church and in the Wesleyan Tradition. Find resources for church leaders preparing for Watch Night and/or the Covenant Prayer Service and learn more about this meaningful time for people of faith. 
 

In this video, Rev. Dr. Yvette Massey shares about the history and traditions of Watch Night and the Covenant Prayer Service.
 

Watch Night Resources and Information

Resources from the African American Lectionary

The African American Lectionary is a resource tool that not only highlights the African American ecclesial traditions and moments that creatively express the joy, freedom, and the challenges of being both African American and Christian (e.g., Watch Night, African Heritage Sunday, Usher's Day, and Women's Day), but also recognizes days on the liturgical calendar that are celebrated across a variety of ecclesial traditions (e.g., Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost). By incorporating both the moments of significance across many African American ecclesial traditions and some of the traditional moments of any lectionary cycle, The African American Online Lectionary allows users to select from a vast array of material that will exactly fit their congregation's needs and expectations." (The African American Lectionary http://www.theafricanamericanlectionary.org/about.asp)

Each link includes lectionary commentaries, sermons, songs, cultural and worship resources. We include the year below for reference, but the information is timeless.

Original Multimedia Piece

St James UMC Alpharetta offers "The Sign," a powerful multimedia piece written by Rev. Tavares Stephens.

Prayer from Rev. Dr. Walter Kimbrough

Join retired North Georgia Conference pastor Rev. Dr. Walter Kimbrough in prayer.

Wesley's Covenant Prayer Service Resources and Information

A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition (UMH #607)

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. 
 

Wesley's Covenant Renewal Resources

A Covenant Renewal Service liturgy that includes journal pages, plus a journal especially for children is shared by th Greater Northwest Episcopal Area.


Discipleship Ministries offers scripture, liturgy and a sample introduction. 


Seedbed offers a Covenant Renewal Service "for today." This is the Covenant service presented with a modern liturgical adaptation. The vocabulary and syntax have been updated to what would be more familiar in the world today. At the end of the service, there are some notes on how to plan for the service. 


The Methodist Church of the UK offers a study of the Covenant Prayer. This brief one-page document provides background for the prayer, encourages reflection and action to live into our faith.

The United Methodist Music & Worship Planner offers hymns and contemporary/modern music selections in addition to scriptural references. This is an item for purchase. 

Digital Ministry Resources