27 | 28
Dec 2025
WESLEY METHODIST CHURCH
WESLEYAN COVENANT RENEWAL WATCHNIGHT SERVICE
31 December 2025, Wednesday | Wesley Sanctuary | 10.00pm
About Covenant Renewal Service
The present service follows the United Methodist Basic Pattern of Worship, with the liturgy beginning with the Invitation taken directly from John Wesley’s service of 1780.
The heart of the service, focused on the Covenant Prayer, requires persons to commit themselves to God. This covenant is serious and assumes adequate preparation for and continual response to the covenant. Leaders of worship must take seriously the need to prepare the congregation for this service, possibly through study sessions and prayer.
The leaders must also assume responsibility to assist persons to be faithful to the covenant, possibly through meetings for spiritual discipline.
The Covenant Service is most commonly held on New Year's Eve or Day and therefore is sometimes called a Watch Night Service. Historically, a Watch Night Service would be three hours or longer, including readings from Scripture and hymn singing. Red is an appropriate color for paraments and vestments.
Source: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/book-of-worship/covenant-renewal-service
“Covenant Renewal Service” Copyright © 1992 UMPH. Wesley Covenant Service abridged by Ole E. Borgen and further abridged by E.H. Wong in 2025.
I. GATHERING
We gather in the Lord’s name weekly to be renewed in our hearts and minds. Our worship of God is a response to his revelation as he reveals his truth to us through Scripture, sermon, prayers and songs
MEDITATION VERSES
6 Observe the commands of the LORD your God,
walking in obedience to him and revering him.
Deuteronomy 8:6
17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
Deuteronomy 8:17 – 18
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1–8
6 He said to me: “It is done.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.
To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.”
Revelation 21:6
PRELUDE
GREETINGRev Ian Lee
| L: | May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. |
| P: | And also with you. |
OPENING PRAYER *David Tripp, England, 20th century
O God, Searcher of all our hearts,
you have formed us as a people and claimed us for your own.
As we come to acknowledge your sovereignty and grace,
and to enter anew into covenant with you,
reveal any reluctance or falsehood within us.
Let your Spirit impress your truth on our inmost being,
and receive us in mercy, for the sake of our Mediator, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
OPENING HYMN *
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
Words: John Greenleaf Whittier, 1872
Music (REPTON): C. Hubert H. Parry, 1888
1. Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
forgive our foolish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind;
in purer lives thy service find,
in deeper rev'rence, praise,
2. In simple trust like theirs who heard,
beside the Syrian sea,
the gracious calling of the Lord,
let us, like them, without a word,
rise up and follow thee.
4. Drop thy still dews of quietness,
till all our strivings cease;
take from our souls the strain and stress,
and let our ordered lives confess
the beauty of thy peace.
5. Breathe through the heats of our desire
thy coolness and thy balm;
let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
speak through the earthquake, wind and fire,
O still small voice of calm!
II. THANKSGIVING, OFFERING, SHARING OF PEACE
LITANY OF THANKSGIVINGRev Gladwin Lee
Let us give thanks for all of God's mercies.
O God, our Covenant Friend,
you have been gracious to us through all the years of our lives.
We thank you for your loving care,
which has filled our days and brought us to this time and place.
We praise your holy name, O God.
You have given us life and reason,
and set us in a world filled with your glory.
You have comforted us with family and friends,
and ministered to us through the hands of our sisters and brothers.
We praise your holy name, O God.
You have filled our hearts with a hunger after you,
and have given us your peace.
You have redeemed us, and called us to a high calling in Christ Jesus.
You have given us a place in the fellowship of your Spirit
and the witness of your Church.
We praise your holy name, O God.
You have been our light in darkness
and a rock of strength in adversity and temptation.
You have been the very Spirit of joy in our joys
and the all–sufficient reward in all our labors.
We praise your holy name, O God.
You remembered us when we forgot you.
You followed us even when we tried to flee from you.
You met us with forgiveness when we returned to you.
OFFERTORY PRAYERRev Chia Chin Nam
I Trust in YouWesley Heralds
Words and Music: Darcy Stanley
© 2019 Lorenz Publishing Company
SHARING OF GOD’S PEACE
Shalom to YouUMH 666
ORDER OF FAREWELLRev Raymond Fong
To Rev Adrian Ng and Rev Benjamin Lau
Doxology *
Now Thank We All Our GodUMH 102, St. 3
III. LISTENING AND OBEYING GOD’S WORD
Prayer for Illumination
Teach us your way, O Lord,
and lead us on a level path.
Teach us, O Lord, to follow your decrees;
then we will keep them to the end.
Give us understanding, and we will keep your law
and obey it with all our hearts.
Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Preparation Hymn
Speak, O LordSt. 1
Words and Music: Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
© 2005 Thankyou Music
1. Speak, O Lord, as we come to you
to receive the food of your Holy Word.
Take your truth, plant it deep in us;
shape and fashion us in your likeness,
that the light of Christ might be seen today
in our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
all your purposes for Your glory.
Sermon
The Good Fight (1 Timothy 6:12–16)Rev Raymond Fong
Hymn of Response*
Speak, O LordSt. 2 and 3
2. Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
holy reverence, true humility;
test our thoughts and our attitudes
in the radiance of your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
your majestic love and authority.
Words of power that can never fail,
let their truth prevail over unbelief.
3. Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
help us grasp the heights of your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
that will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on your promises,
and by faith we'll walk as you walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till your Church is built
and the earth is filled with your glory.
IV. OUR RESPONSE THROUGH COVENANT RENEWAL
INVITATIONRev Lilian Ang
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
the Christian life is redeemed from sin and consecrated to God.
Through baptism, we have entered this life
and have been admitted into the new covenant
of which Jesus Christ is the Mediator.
Today, let us renew the covenant that binds us to God.
OUR COVENANT WITH GOD
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.
Be satisfied that Christ shall give you your place and work.
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.
To make this covenant a reality in your life, listen to these admonitions: Rev Adrian Ang
First, set apart some time, to be spent alone before the Lord;
in carefully thinking through all the conditions of the covenant;
in searching your hearts
whether you have already freely given your life to Christ.
Consider what your sins are.
Consider the laws of Christ, how holy, strict, and spiritual they are,
and whether you, after having carefully considered them,
are willing to choose them all.
Be sure you are clear in these matters, see that you do not lie to God.
Second, be serious and in a spirit of holy awe and reverence.
Third, claim God's covenant,
rely upon God's promise of giving grace and strength,
so you can keep your promise.
Trust not your own strength and power.
Fourth, resolve to be faithful.
You have given to the Lord your hearts,
you have opened your mouths to the Lord,
and you have dedicated yourself to God.
With God's power, never go back.
And last, be then prepared to renew your covenant with the Lord.
Fall down on your knees, lift your hands toward heaven,
open your hearts to the Lord, as we pray:
O righteous God, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
see me as I fall down before you.
Forgive my unfaithfulness in not having done your will,
for you have promised mercy to me
if I turn to you with my whole heart.
God requires that you shall put away all your idols.Rev Benjamin Lau
I here from the bottom of my heart renounce them all,
covenanting with you that no known sin shall be allowed in my life.
In your power I will watch all temptations
that will lead me away from you.
Through Christ, God has offered to be your God again
if you would let him.
Before all heaven and earth,
I here acknowledge you as my Lord and God.
I take you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for my portion,
and vow to give up myself, body and soul, as your servant,
to serve you in holiness and righteousness all the days of my life.
God has given the Lord Jesus Christ
as the only way and means of coming to God.
Jesus, I do here on bended knees accept Christ
as the only new and living Way,
and accept you as my Lord and Head.
I renounce my own worthiness,
and vow that you are the Lord, my righteousness.
I renounce my own wisdom, and take you for my only guide.
I renounce my own will, and take your will as my law.
Christ has told you that you must suffer with him.
I do here covenant with you, O Christ,
to glory in my sufferings,
because I know that suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character;
and character, hope.
God has given holy laws as the rule of your life.
All your laws are holy, just, and good.
I therefore take them as the
rule for my words, thoughts, and actions,
promising that I will strive to order
my whole life according to your direction,
and not allow myself to neglect anything
I know to be my duty.
The Almighty God searches and knows your heart.
O God, you know that I make this covenant
with you today without guile or reservation.
If any falsehood should be in it,
guide me and help me to set it aright.
And now, glory be to you, O God the Father,
whom I from this day forward
shall look upon as my God and Father.
Glory be to you, O God the Son,
who have loved me and washed me
from my sins in your own blood,
and now is my Savior and Redeemer.
Glory be to you, O God the Holy Spirit,
who by your almighty power
have turned my heart from sin to God.
O mighty God, the Lord Omnipotent,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
you have now become my Covenant Friend.
And I, through your infinite grace,
have become your covenant servant.
So be it.
And let the covenant I have made on earth
be ratified in heaven.
Amen.
V. HOLY COMMUUNION
HYMN
You Satisfy the Hungry Heart (Gift of Finest Wheat)UMH 629, St 1
- You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat.
Come, give to us, O saving Lord, the bread of life to eat.
As when the shepherd calls his sheep, they know and heed his voice, so when
you call your family, Lord, we follow and rejoice.
INVITATIONRev Lim Jen Huat, UMH 12
Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him,
who earnestly repent of their sin
and seek to live in peace with one another.
Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.
CONFESSION AND PARDON
Merciful God,
we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have failed to be an obedient church.
We have not done your will,
we have broken your law,
we have rebelled against your love,
we have not loved our neighbors,
and we have not heard the cry of the needy.
Forgive us, we pray.
Free us for joyful obedience,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
All pray in silence.
Hear the good news:
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners;
that proves God’s love toward us.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
Glory to God. Amen.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING FOR NEW YEAR AND COVENANT REAFFIRMATIONRev Raymond Fong
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or you had formed the earth,
from everlasting to everlasting, you alone are God.
You created light out of darkness and brought forth life on the earth.
You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life.
When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast.
You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God,
and spoke to us through your prophets.
And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
The pastor may lower hands
Musical Setting B, UMH p19
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna,
in the highest, in the highest!
The pastor may raise hands.
Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ,
in whom you have revealed yourself, our light and our salvation.
You sent a star to guide wise men to where the Christ was born;
and in your signs and witnesses, in every age and through all the world,
you have led your people from far places to his light.
By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection
you gave birth to your church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death,
and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.
The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread, or touch the bread, or lift the bread.
On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread,
gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the cup, or touch the cup, or lift the cup.
When the supper was over he took the cup,
gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
The pastor may raise hands.
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Musical Setting B, UMH p20
Christ has died; Christ has died;
Christ is risen; Christ is risen;
Christ will come again, Christ will come again!
The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread and cup.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.
The pastor may raise hands.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,
all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever.
Amen.
And now, with the confidence of children of God, let us sing the Lord’s Prayer to the tune of WESLEY TULUS:
The LORD’S PRAYER (WESLEY TULUS)
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth as it is in heav’n.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory
forever more. Amen. Amen.
GIVING THE BREAD AND CUP
Congregation will go up to receive the bread and cup table by table.
SONGS FOR THE PARTAKING OF HOLY COMMUNION
#1. YOU SATISFY THE HUNGRY HEARTUMH 629
R: You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat.
Come, give to us, O saving Lord, the bread of life to eat.
1. As when the shepherd calls his sheep, they know and heed his voice,
so when you call your family, Lord, we follow and rejoice. R
2. With joyful lips we sing to you our praise and gratitude,
that you should count us worthy, Lord, to share this heavenly food. R
3. Is not the cup we bless and share the blood of Christ outpoured?
Do not one cup, one loaf, declare our oneness in the Lord? R
4. The mystery of your presence, Lord, no mortal tongue can tell;
whom all the world cannot contain comes in our hearts to dwell. R
5. You give yourself to us, O Lord; then selfless let us be,
to serve each other in your name in truth and charity. R
#2. IT IS WELL WITH MY SOULUMH 377
1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
R: It is well (It is well) with my soul, (with my soul,)
It is well, it is well with my soul.
2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul. R
3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! R
#3. O GOD, YOU SEARCH ME (Ps 139)
Text: Based on Psalm 139
Music: Bernadette Farrell
© 1992 OCP Publications
1. O God, you search me and you know me.
All my thoughts lie open to your gaze.
When I walk or lie down you are before me:
ever the maker and keeper of my days.
2. You know my resting and my rising.
You discern my purpose from afar,
And with love everlasting you besiege me:
in ev’ry moment of life or death, you are.
3. Before a word is on my tongue, Lord,
you have known its meaning through and through,
you are with me beyond my understanding:
God of my present, my past and future too.
4. Although your Spirit is upon me,
still I search for shelter from your light.
There is nowhere on earth I can escape you:
Even the darkness is radiant in your sight.
5. For you created me and shaped me,
gave me life within my mother’s womb.
For the wonder of who I am, I praise you:
safe in your hands, all creation is made new.
#4. I SURRENDER ALLUMH 354
1. All to Jesus I surrender; all to him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust him, in his presence daily live.
R: I surrender all, I surrender all,
all to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.
2. All to Jesus I surrender; humbly at his feet I bow,
worldly pleasures all forsaken; take me, Jesus, take me now. R
4. All to Jesus I surrender; Lord, I give myself to thee;
fill me with thy love and power; let thy blessing fall on me. R
#5. LEAD ME, LORDUMH 473
Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness;
make thy way plain before my face.
For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord only,
that makest me dwell in safety.
#6. THE LORD’S MY SHEPHERD (Psalm 23)
Words and Music: Stuart Townend © 1996 Thankyou Music Ltd
1. The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want.
He makes me lie in pastures green.
He leads me by the still, still waters, his goodness restores my soul.
R: And I will trust in you alone, and I will trust in you alone;
for your endless mercy follows me,
your goodness will lead me home.
2. He guides my ways in righteousness,
and he anoints my head with oil;
and my cup, it overflows with joy,
I feast on his pure delights. R
3. And though I walk the darkest path,
I will not fear the evil one;
for you are with me, and your rod and staff
are the comfort I need to know. R
#7. SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GODUMH 393
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
#8. O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISEDUMH 396
1. O Jesus, I have promised to serve thee to the end;
be thou forever near me, my Master and my friend.
I shall not fear the battle if thou art by my side,
nor wander from the pathway if thou wilt be my guide.
4. O Jesus, thou hast promised to all who follow thee
that where thou art in glory there shall thy servant be.
And Jesus, I have promised to serve thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow, my Master and my Friend.
THANKSGIVING PRAYERRev Raymond Fong
Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery
in which you have given yourself to us.
Grant that we may go into the world
in the strength of your Spirit,
to give ourselves for others,
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.
IV. ENTERING THE NEW YEAR 2026 AND SENDING FORTH
Having been renewed in our hearts and minds, we are to go forth into the world as Christ’s ambassadors in the ministry of reconciliation
COUNTDOWN
Meditation/Prayer Rev Raymond Fong
CLOSING HYMN *
O For a Thousand Tongues to SingUMH 57, St. 1, 2, 3 and
UMH 58 St. 1
UMH 57
- O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace! - My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim,
to spread through all the earth abroad the honors of thy name. - Jesus! the name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease;
' tis music in the sinner's ears,' tis life, and health, and peace.
UMH 58
- Glory to God, and praise and love be ever, ever given,
By saints below and saints above, the church in earth and heaven.
BENEDICTION *
POSTLUDE
* Congregation may stand.
AN ORDER OF FAREWELL TO REV ADRIAN NG AND REV BENJAMIN LAU
Pastor:
I thank you, the members and friends of Wesley Methodist Church,
for the love and support you have shown me and my family
while I have ministered among you.
I am grateful for the ways my leadership have been accepted.
I ask for forgiveness for the mistakes I have made.
As I leave, I carry with me all that I have learned here.
Congregation:
We receive your thankfulness, offer forgiveness,
and accept that you are leaving.
We express our gratitude for your time among us.
We ask your forgiveness for our mistakes.
Your influence on our faith and faithfulness
will not leave us with your departure.
Pastor:
I accept your gratitude and forgiveness, and I forgive you,
trusting that our time together and our parting, are pleasing to God.
I release you from turning to me and depending on me.
I encourage your continuing ministry here and will pray for you.
Let us pray.
All:
Eternal God, whose steadfast love for us is from everlasting to everlasting,
we give you thanks for cherished memories and
commend one another into your care.
Keep us in your love and grace as we seek and serve you together.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
[BACK]
WESLEYAN WATCHNIGHT CONVENANT RENEWAL SERVICE TEAM
Worship Leaders
Rev Adrian Ng, Rev Benjamin Lau, Rev Gladwin Lee,
Rev Ian Lee, Rev Lim Jen Huat, Rev Lilian Ang
PREACHER
Rev Raymond Fong
CONGREGATIONAL PASTOR
Rev Chia Chin Nam
CHOIR
Wesley Heralds
ORGANIST
Tan Wei Sein
CONDUCTOR
Kenny Chua
Pianist
Christabel Kiew
AV TEAM
Sound: Lim Siew Hong
Slides: Lionel Chew
Camera: Wong Chi Kong
Livestream: Goh Kheng Guan, Vanessa Wee
HEAD USHER
Leong Wing Kong
SERVICE MANAGERS
Dorcas Kwok, Ivonne Lo, Serene Teo
Wesley Methodist Church
5 Fort Canning Road
Singapore 179493
Singapore
5 Fort Canning Road
Singapore 179493
Singapore
