Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Covenant Prayer Project

Ok word nerds and theology geeks.  I am working on a Confirmation Retreat that I'm running in March, and I would like to use the Wesleyan Covenant Prayer in our closing worship.  The challenge is that while I don't want to dumb down the language and theology for youth, I would like to find more accessible language.  (I am well aware that sometimes I think language is beautiful and accessible only to find that my audience thinks its boring).  So I went to work paraphrasing, and I would love to get some feedback, suggestions, etc.  I'll put my version, and the version in contemporary language from the General Board of Discipleship website.  There are some words like "exalted" that I didn't want to get rid of, but I wasn't sure if they were too churchy.  What do you think?


My version:
I’m not my own anymore, I’m yours.
I’ll take any assignment, I’ll accept any status.
If something needs to be done, I’ll do it.
If you ask me to suffer, I’ll get through it.
I’ll be employed for you, or laid off for you.
Raised up for you, or brought low for you.
Whether I’m full or empty, 
whether I have everything or nothing,
freely, with my whole heart,
I give everything to you
to use as you please.

And now,
Glorious and blessed God
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
You are mine and I am yours.
So be it. 
This covenant is made on earth,
But let it be signed and sealed in heaven.
Amen.

Contemporary Version:
I am no longer my own by yours. 
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will. 
Put me to doing, put me to suffering. 
Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you, 
exalted for you or brought low for you. 
Let me be full, let me be empty. 
Let me have all things, let me have nothing. 
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, glorious and blessed God, 
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 
you are mine and I am yours. 
So be it. 
And the covenant now made on earth, 
let it be ratified in heaven. 
Amen.

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