Leadership In You

Good Morning Church Family and Online Community,

I pray you are well, safe and blessed on this icy morning. The roads were a mess as accidents have been numerous all around Pittsburgh this morning. I hope you are healthy too! It's been a bugger of season with flu and colds. My sick-free streak came to an end yesterday and now I am dealing with a head cold. I don't like it!

We had a beautiful morning of worship as many came out to share in praise of our Lord Jesus Christ! The children and youth choir, Sing Out Loud! sang in both worship services which was a delight! It is always a joy to hear our younger ones sing out to the Lord! We officially welcomed Jon Pincek as our permanent choir director. Jon has served as interim, but has done such a fantastic job, the recommendation came from Staff Parish Relations Committee to Council and he was unanimously approved by Church Council last week! Welcome Jon!

In worship yesterday, we concluded our Esther series from Esther 4:1-5:8. Read these words with me:


4:1 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2 He went up to the entrance of the king's gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth. 3 And in every province, wherever the king's command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4 When Esther's young women and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was. 6 Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate, 7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. 8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people. 9 And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say, 11 “All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”

12 And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. 13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

Esther Prepares a Banquet

5 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, in front of the king's quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace. 2 And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. 3 And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.” 4 And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king.” 5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked.” So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared. 6 And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, “What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” 7 Then Esther answered, “My wish and my request is: 8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”

Mordecai set the example. His influence, instruction and inspiration allowed Esther to discern what was right for her people. She exposed Haman's plot to kill all the Jews and in the end Esther freed the Jews of certain death and liberated them. Mordecai became the prime minister and had a leadership position.

Leadership is not about position as much as it is about example. I encouraged the church yesterday to look inwardly at one's self and see what example we are making in the lives of those around us. Is your example leading others to see Christ at work in you or are you leading others with your example to a path not desired by God? As your pastor, I pray you are sharing the light of Christ in all you do. Below is a link of a video we watched at 9:26.

I'm Watching Dad (Video on Example and Leadership)


A pot-luck lunch was held right after traditional worship and fellowship was enjoyed by all! Thanks to all those who set up, cleaned up and tore down!

I will be in Washington D.C. the beginning of the week through Wednesday evening with the Board of Ordained Ministry conducting interviews at Wesley Seminary. May the Lord bless you this week and know what an honor it is to serve and lead as your pastor.

The Cover-Ups & Dismantling Racism

Good Morning Church Family and Online Community,

I pray you are well and blessed on this Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Today, we remember a man whose life was given so that all would experience the love of God and that equality would reign upon all. Martin Luther King once said, "If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don't want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. Every now and then I wonder what I want them to say...I'd like somebody to mention that day, that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others. I'd like for somebody to say that day, that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody. I want you to say that day, that I tried to be right on the war question. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked. I want you to say, on that day, that I did try, in my life, to visit those who were in prison. I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity." May we, as followers of Jesus Christ, strive to live what King exemplified.

As we continued into chapter two of Esther, we focused on the "cover-ups" of King Ahasuerus and of Mordecai and Esther. King Ahasuerus tried to cover up the fact that he had Vashti killed and Esther covered up her faith as a Jew. We find ourselves in the same boat so often when we cover up things that may not "further" us or we try to cover up things that we are ashamed of. We cover-up our wrongs and in the end, have created so many falsehoods, that we don't even know what is truth or lie. Proverbs 28:13 calls us to "You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up; then God will show mercy to you."

Our message also took us into one area of life where we have tried to cover up, that of racism. Some may say racism is a thing of the past, but in reality, here in Western Pa, it is prevalent. Here the words of one of our church members as they posted an experience they had this week, yes, this week: (This person is a manager of a local store) "This guy literally came into my store telling me to call the police because a man was speaking Spanish outside of my store and he looks "suspicious"...dude are you serious?!?!?! Racism is alive and well...it blows my mind every time...nothing upsets me more than stuff like this..."

The Western PA Annual Conference has five areas of focus, which one focuses on dismantling racism:
(1) Developing Principled Christian leaders for the church and the world.  The church must recruit young people for ministry and provide them with the skills necessary to be effective in this new time of opportunity.  That includes women and people of color the world over.  Similarly, we must offer leadership training for Lay people who are in ministry in countless ways.

(2) Creating new places for new people by starting new congregations and renewing existing ones.  If we are to remain faithful to our commitment to transform the world, we will reach out with genuine hospitality to people wherever they are.  We will make them feel welcome as we start new faith communities, seek to renew existing ones and inspire faithful discipleship.

(3) Engaging in ministry with the poor.  As an expression of our discipleship, United Methodists seek to alleviate conditions that undermine quality of life and limit the opportunity to flourish as we believe God intends for all.  As with John Wesley, we seek to change conditions that are unjust, alienating and disempowering.  We engage in ministry with the poor, and in this, we especially want to reach out to protect children.

(4) Stamping out killer diseases by improving health globally.  Conditions of poverty cause illness and death.  The lack of access to doctors, nurses, medications and appropriate facilities is deadly, especially among those who live in conditions of poverty.  But the diseases of poverty are not inevitable. We believe the people of the United Methodist Church can play a significant role in educating others about diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria, and treating and preventing their devastating effects.

(5) Dismantling racism.  We are committed to creating a culture of inclusiveness.  The reality of racism keeps many persons way from fellowship with us.  We are richer with diversity and we will continue to find ways to witness with full inclusion and the embracing of all our sisters and brothers of color.

Racism is wrong because it separates us from God and from each other. Racism is wrong because it makes us blind to the reality of people's suffering and perpetuates racist attitudes and practices.
May we truly be in a spirit of prayer as we strive to bring unity as the church to all people, showing the love of God as revealed in Jesus Christ.

Church, have a blessed week. It is an honor to serve and lead as your pastor.

P.S. on lighter note, I shared about "covering-up" our son, Aaron's haircut at the age of four. Some saw a picture, here's the damage that was done! Nothing like taking it upon yourself to cut your own hair! He thought dad's beard trimmer was a cool toy!

Our 4 year old Aaron with his new haircut!

I'm Gonna Do It Again for Imagine No Malaria!

I am going to give it another shot! It was a great experience last year and I want to share in it again...The 2013 Pittsburgh Marathon for Imagine No Malaria on May 5, 2013!  

You can support me in this run by clicking on the link here Donate To Imagine No Malaria! . It will take you to a secure site for donating or you can send me a check and I'll put it in for you. 

Thanks for supporting me in the run as we save lives for Imagine No Malaria! 

Journey Into Esther

Good Morning Church Family, 

I pray you are well and blessed this day. In yesterday's blog post, I mentioned the events that took place regarding my family's announcement. I continue and will always thank God for you and your support during this period of transition. I will be praying for each of us as we continue to respond in faith. 

Some of our Youth this weekend at SPARK! 

This weekend our youth had the great opportunity to attend SPARK in Pittsburgh. It was a time of gathering for our youth and our Director of Youth, Cherie Loomis and her husband, Kevin as they gathered with hundreds of other youth from around Western Pennsylvania. From the reports I received, it was a blast! 

Yesterday, in worship we began our Esther series. I spoke that Esther reads much like a soap opera. Many twists and turns lead this book of the Bible as we see how a life engaged with God can produce great things. Yesterday, we read from Esther 1. Read these words. 


Esther 1
English Standard Version (ESV)
The King's Banquets

1 Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel, 3 in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, 4 while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days. 5 And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king's palace. 6 There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods[a] and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones. 7 Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king. 8 And drinking was according to this edict: “There is no compulsion.” For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus.

Queen Vashti's Refusal

10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown,[b] in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.

13 Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for this was the king's procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment, 14 the men next to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom): 15 “According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” 16 Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the queen's behavior will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt, since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’ 18 This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's behavior will say the same to all the king's officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty. 19 If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. 20 So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike.” 21 This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed. 22 He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, that every man be master in his own household and speak according to the language of his people.



Do you know why Queen Vashti was invited in the 1st place? Verse 4 says that the king threw the party to show everyone his stuff. It wasn’t for just one night, he threw this shindig for 180 days! 

Now Queen Vashti said no, she was not going to go. Why? First of all, would you go to a party where everyone is drunk and you are treated like a piece of property? Second, of all, the traditional Hebrew says that the King wanted her to just wear a crown and nothing else, so she refuses. Here we see a King who was so filled with pride. His pride brought discomfort to others. 


The story tells us that her crown and title of queen was taken away and the rabbis teach that she was beheaded for disobeying the king. The King was totally disengaged because the goal of a disengaged person is to collect as much stuff and control as many people as possible. 

Jesus taught that the goal was not to get others to serve you, it was serving others- that is an engaged life, serving the Lord and serving others. You will never find greatness if you are consumed by impressing people. Greatness is found in faithful, humble service to God. 

In order to be the church that God has called us to be, we must continue to live lives fully devoted to God and to each other in service. Too often, we become consumed about what is in it for me, we are dedicated to comfort and ease and not willing to take the risk of leaving the confines of comfort and ease and will never grow in Christ. Nor do we take the opportunity to bring the Light of Christ to others and thus, neglect our call as follows of Jesus. 

Sharing the Story to The People of God in Santiago, DR

I shared that some of the greatest moments of my life was when I preached in the Dominican Republic with a translator. Despite our barriers, we all were one. I will never forget the time when I went with the team into a remote village and distributed rice. 

A mother came up to me and pointed to my Ohio State hat. She wanted it. I gave it to her and in a few moments, walked over to her son under the tree and gave it to her son who did not have a hat. You would have thought I gave her a convertible! 

Now is the time to engage. Take risks for the furthering of the Kingdom of God. God has equipped you, use the gifts to bring the hope and joy of a relationship with Christ for the world to see.  Be blessed Church. It is an honor to serve and lead as your pastor. 

A new found friend!

Children in the Village Chasing Us As We Left!

Thank You For Your Prayers

Dear Church Family and Online Community,

Below are excerpts from the letter and announcement I delivered to the beautiful and loving people of Christ Community United Methodist Church in worship earlier today. I wish to thank Dr. Chris Cole, Church Council Chair and Mrs. Stacey Burk, Staff/Parish Relations Committee Chair for their leadership as they shared words of affirmation and direction today in worship. 

         I write this to you as one who has truly been grateful for the prayers of the faithful over this past year as we have been able to learn so much more about our son Aaron’s health issues. 

Many of you have kept our family in prayer as we have dealt with many respiratory health concerns with our son, Aaron. Aaron is a 14 year old boy who loves life to the fullest. When he is healthy, he can be found running and playing like any other 14 year old. When he is sick, he cannot do much of anything, including finding the strength to do basic necessities.  When Aaron is sick, he is confined to the the house or sometimes in the hospital until he recovers. The battle going on within his body is threatening to his overall long-term health as he has battled pneumonia seven times in just the last two winters.
Out of respect for Aaron’s personal health concerns, I will not go into depth about all of the specifics of Aaron’s multiple complications, but will, however shed light that is leading to the writing of this letter to you.
During the past two years, Jennifer, Aaron, and I have been blessed by having the opportunity to work with a wonderful pulmonology team consisting of top doctors, nurses, and researchers from across the country.  Throughout this time, we have been slowly learning about Aaron’s respiratory health issues.  Some of this information confirmed our observations over the past 14 years and some information surprised us greatly.  To make a very long story short, we have seen a pattern of severe chronic respiratory illness during the cold, dry winter months.  During these times of the year,  Aaron suffers multiple pneumonias, sinus infections, and extreme and disabling fatigue.  As a result of these illnesses, Aaron misses significant amounts of school and his quality of life during these times is very poor.  In order to provide our son with an improved quality of life and decrease the chances of developing permanent damage to his respiratory system, we must make decisions that are in his best interests to sustain a life that will be as free of sickness as possible.   
As parents, Jennifer and I must make decisions that will have the best interests of our children at heart. Decisions that are not always easy. In the end, though, we have to do what we now know is best for our son. We have been blessed with three amazing children and are called, as parents, to give them the life they deserve, free of health concerns, if possible.
Aaron has always responded well to warm or hot and humid weather. Aaron’s body is completely healthy in warm or hot and humid weather. We feel, to give Aaron a life in a consistently warm, humid climate is the type of life he needs in order to sustain a healthy life. We want Aaron free of those things that hold him from living a normal, healthy life. Therefore, we are in the process of relocating to Florida, a climate that will best suit his overall, long-term health.
 I am writing this to make you aware that this affects my appointment as your pastor. It was our hope, when we arrived to Butler: Christ Community, that we would be here for a long time. Each of us can make all the plans we want, but truly, we never know what each new day will bring. The realities we face are the things we ultimately have to attend to. When we began to find so many more specifics regarding Aaron in the last nine months, we began to confirm that this demographic area, based on climate and other pollutants is not the best place to give Aaron the life he deserves. 

Although our heart is heavy, in great prayer, discernment and in deep discussion with colleagues, friends, family, some members of church leadership, and our Bishop, Thomas Bickerton and District Superintendent, Dean Ziegler, this move is important, because it means giving our son the best we can possibly give for his long-term health. At the end of June 2013, we are seeking an appointment within The Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. We have been in discussions with Conference leadership in Florida. As I made the vow to be faithful to the itinerancy at my ordination, we continue to be faithful to the call and to the itinerant system that God has blessed us with in The United Methodist Church.
I want you to know how grateful we are for your prayers, support and encouragement that you have already given us relating to this and as we do what is best for our son. You have been there for us every step of the way and we are grateful to know that you will continue to be. This church is strong, it is vibrant and has even greater potential to grow under new pastoral leadership in the coming years. My favorite verse in Scripture is Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” I have witnessed you working for good over these last two years as you have continued to live into the vision that was placed on your hearts, “Loving People, Loving God!”As I have watched you grow in faith, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to be your pastor. For that, we are blessed by your ministry to us. I ask that you continue to pray over this entire situation, as well as be in prayer for our Bishop, Thomas Bickerton, our D.S., Rev. Dean Ziegler and Cabinet as they prayerfully discern who the next pastoral leader will be here at Christ Community. I am earnestly praying for each of you as we all move forward in ministry as the Church of Jesus Christ. You are loved church. Thank you for loving us. As always...It is an honor to serve and lead as your pastor. 

The Light Outshines the Dark

Good Morning Church Family,

I pray you are well and blessed as we begin a new week. If you were not in worship yesterday, you were missed. I understand from many yesterday that the flu is taking its toll on many. I pray God's healing hand upon all who are sick at this time of year.

Yesterday's message centered upon Matthew 2:1-12, the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child. Hear these words from Matthew 2:1-12:


Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

I felt led to focus on the journey of the wise men on this journey. What was it like? What did they see? Was there any grumbling on the journey? After hearing Jeremy Peffer's testimony the week before, it became clear that that all too often we grumble along the journey and to begin the year looking at the blessings of life can certainly shape the way we live our lives as Christ followers in 2013.

Will we live in a year where we grumble and complain or will we open it up to more of seeing the blessings that God delivers daily? To do this, a practical help that Jeremy mentioned was a gratitude jar. This gratitude jar will give you an opportunity daily to write the blessings you have experienced daily and write them and place in your jar. Maybe around Thanksgiving, take them out, as an individual or as a family and see where you found blessing in 2013.

These jars are available in the lobby. Feel free to take one for you or one for your family. They are a gift to you. Matthew 5:16 calls us to let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

I'd like to thank the many people who came out this weekend to tear down all the Christmas decorations! You are a blessing! Where did that time go?

I hope you have a blessed week church! Pray for our youth and our leaders as they head to SPARK this weekend. May it be a time of renewal for them! (Youth, thanks for the snowman this morning as I drove into church! You brought a smile to my face!)

Back here at Christ Community over the next three weeks, we will begin a new series on the book of Esther. May it be a time of growth and development for you as we share the Good News to all!

Church family, it is an honor to serve and lead as your pastor.
 

Wesley's New Year

Each new year, John Wesley - the founder of the Methodist movement - would begin the New Year with a "Covenant Service."

This service centered one upon beginning anew and growing one's faith in Jesus Christ.

John 15: 1-8 reads, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples."

The Prayer of Invitation from this service follows:

Commit yourselves to Christ as his servants. Give yourselves to him, that you may belong to him.

Christ has many services to be done. Some are more easy and honorable, others are more difficult and disgraceful. Some are suitable to our inclinations and interests, others are contrary to both.

In some we may please Christ and please ourselves. But then there are other works where we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves.

It is necessary, therefore, that we consider what it means to be a servant of Christ. Let us, therefore, go to Christ, and pray:

Let me be your servant, under your command. I will no longer be my own.
I will give up myself to your will in all things.

Lord, make me what you will.
I put myself fully into your hands:

put me to doing, put me to suffering,
let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you,

let me be full, let me be empty,
let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and with a willing heart
give it all to your pleasure and disposal.

I do here covenant with you, O Christ,
to take my lot with you as it may fall.

Through your grace I promise
that neither life nor death shall part me from you.

I make this covenant with you, O God,
without guile or reservation.

If any falsehood should be in it, guide me
and help me to set it aright.

Mighty God,
let this covenant I have made on earth
be ratified in heaven

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.

John Wesley, circa 1780