Newton Highlands Congregational Church, UCC, September 2026
From the Salem Church Covenant, 1629, adapted each year
One: Our Jewish ancestors and our Christian history know the best of times and the worst of times. Birth. Delight. Grace. Blessing. Wars. Tyrants. Floods, draughts, fires, lies, and ill health brought on by these. Yet none if this is new to God, or to scripture. And throughout our history we see that new life is always God’s way. So we thank God that we begin a new year, as well as pray to God to lead us on the journey ahead. And we join our ancestors’ prayer saying…
All: We covenant with the Lord and with one another and do bind ourselves in the presence of God, to walk together in all divine ways, according as God is pleased to reveal himself unto us in the blessed Word of truth.
One: This is our timeless covenant, which relies on God, eternally. Our Christian covenant reveals who we are, whose we are, and how to love our neighbor, self, and our eternal hope.
Anyone who loves Music: So many Psalms ask us to rejoice, and share our voice and our harmony with verve and vocation. Indeed, Jesus’ Church was born singing. So we pray to invite all to celebrate God’s new song — even in the choir! We strive to share the Biblical melodies of justice, service, and praise.
Anyone who values Missions: In our ancient past our ancestors made it through terrible times and ecstatic eras — through deserts, floods, festivals, and fires, by loving our neighbors as ourselves. This year we long to share in such a way that prophecy, spirituality, and sanctuary are open to all, connected by all, and reflected by our own open hearts and doors.
All who pray: This year many in our world are grieving, so we all grieve together. This year some have sighs too deep for words, so we all pray for each other. This year we connect our global conditions, our personal needs, and the eternal joys of faith, so we all hold together.
One: Your Psalmist asks, How long O Lord? We ask, too. Yet we are able to begin such a time as this, as we pray that those right here and many beyond these walls are served by our covenant faith and mission — by our path through the reeds. For our church and our God are not for us alone, but for the love of the world that God so loves, as we know from Jesus.
All: So, let us refresh our hope in Jesus’ grace and God’s transformation: We covenant with the Creator of the fruit of the vine and of bread for the hungry — with all creation: sinners and saints. We gird ourselves with divinity’s gifts, in order to live together in life-giving mission, and in blessed peace, as God reveals herself to us and leads us with the miraculous Word of truth. So be it! Alleluia. Amen.