REV Alison Richardson led the Covenant Service at Crediton Methodist Church on Sunday, January 23.

John Wesley led the first Covenant Service on August 11,1755 at the French Church, Spitalfields, London when there were 1,800 people present.

Ever since then, Methodist people have held a Covenant service at Crediton Methodist Church at the beginning of each year at which we celebrate all that God has done for us and we affirm that we give our lives and choices to God.

The Covenant prayer makes it clear that this affirmation is a serious one and embraces the whole of our lives in all its parts.

In the readings from the Old Testament we heard how God made covenants with his people.

In Mark we read about the Last Supper where Jesus said the wine was His blood of the new covenant.

Alison spoke of “God for All”, a programme adopted by the Methodist Conference in 2020.

Trey Hall, Director of Evangelism and Growth called this a big journey made up of small steps.

Alison said we should devote ourselves to God’s teaching, fellowship, breaking bread and especially prayer.

The evening service was led by Rev Steve Santry and the reading was from Nehemiah where the people asked Ezra to read the law of Moses.

Reading of the law caused the people to change their ways.

Steve said the reading of scripture should define our decision-making and make us change our ways and it should be life enhancing. Bronwyn Nott