This is the season of Baptists (and others) having Covenant services.  It is also a season of troubled times - globally, nationally and locally.

Our Covenant Service takes place this Sunday afternoon, and one of my jobs today was to develop a suitable liturgy for a troubled times.  This is what I ended up with; interlinear exegesis is permitted, speculative eisegesis isn't!

A Covenant for Troubled Times

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.

These are troubled times

Times of violence and hatred in a world marred by war

Times of anxiety and uncertainty in a world wounded by greed

Times of sadness and loss in a world of vulnerability and finitude

Times when we must face tough questions with unpalatable answers

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no ill, for you are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me.

These are dark times

Times when we need to be reminded that God is with us

To guide our feet, one step at a time

To illumine our minds with new understanding

To protect us from despair, isolation and emptiness

To enable us to ‘prove’ our faith in resilience and fortitude

Now the dwelling of God is with human beings, and he will be with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

These are, mysteriously, hopeful times

Times in which the promises of a faithful God offer encouragement

Times in which new possibilities can be glimpsed

Times in which we must live the hope of eternity

Times when past, present and future meet.

So, let us profess our faith:

We believe and trust in God, creator of all, whose promises are faithful

We believe and trust in Jesus Christ, who redeems all, and who calls us to follow

We believe and trust in the Holy Spirit, who inspires and sustains us in hopeful service

Recognising that these are troubled times, let us covenant with one another and with God

My brothers and sisters in Christ, I covenant to walk together with you in faithful discipleship for as long as God shall so direct and lead us

Faithful God, as a community of your people, we covenant to walk with you, individually and corporately, in ways we know and in ways that you will show us

Grant us courage to face the challenges

Strengthen us with faith, hope and love

So that we may walk faithfully in the footsteps of him whose name we bear

Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

Next week I am going into school to "do" 'Baptism Today' with Year 4.  I will use some Baptism clips downloaded from Teddington Baptist church who have a superb selection (watch the minister age!) and also some resources from RE:Quest which are excellent - even an overview introduction to Baptist history, albeit a bit too precise, with photos of Loughwood Meeting House, Taunton and Metropolitan Tab.

This annoyed me though...

A Baptist church is led by a Senior Minister, who is normally a man. You may have other Ministers with different jobs, it depends on the size of the church.

You also have Deacons, who often look after the church building and the money that comes into the church. Money is given largely by the members of the church each week.

In my church we have a Leadership Council who look after the people and what they believe. In most churches these people would be called Elders.

Senior ministers are usually men, it is true, but most Baptist churches don't have a senior minister and plenty don't have a minister full stop.

In most Baptist churches deacons do what this person's Elders do.

I am assuming this is a (laudible) attempt at asking a young person to tell the story, and I'm sure it is a correct reflection of thier experience.  It's just not quite accurate - and so loads of people are fed a not-quite story that gets more "not-quited" over time.  Sigh.