Our Covenant prayer

Every year, on the first Sunday in January, we re-dedicate our lives to God at a special Covenant Service. This prayer forms part of the act of dedication. It is the subject of the tapestry in the church.

I am no longer my own but 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 which I have made on Earth, let it be ratified in Heaven.

Amen.

A Hymn

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Be all else but naught to me, save that thou art.
Be thou my best thought in the day and the night;
Both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true Word;
Be thou ever with me, and I with thee, Lord.
Be thou my great Father, and I thy true son;
Be thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
Be thou my whole armour, be thou my true might;
Be thou my soul's shelter, be thou my strong tower;
O raise thou me heavenward, great Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise;
Be thou my inheritance now and always.
Be thou and thou only the first in my heart;
O Sovereign of Heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of Heaven, thou Heaven's bright Sun,
O grant me its joys after victory is won!
Great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be thou my vision, O Ruler of all.

(Anon. Irish 18th century, tr. Mary Byrne, 1880-1931, versified Eleanor Hull 1830 - 1935)