Methodism’s founder, John Wesley, first celebrated a covenant renewal as a “Watch Night” service in 1755. In its original use, the term “Watch Night” referred to a gathering for prayer that could last well into the night or even overnight.
For a number of years, Methodists would hold Watch Night services for covenant renewal—a fresh commitment to God. It eventually became tradition to hold this service on New Year’s Eve. Watch Night services on New Year’s Eve have also become an important part of African-American worship, Methodist and otherwise, because the Emancipation Proclamation would go into effect at midnight on January 1, 1863. Watch Night services are still widely held on New Year’s Eve in many Christian traditions, sometimes concluding at midnight.
We invite you to close out this year and begin the new year by praying the Covenant Renewal Prayer that Methodists and others have prayed for generations before us.
I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.