The New Year

"Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God who has reconciled us to himself through Christ." 2 Cor 5:17-18

Looking back, the blessings of 2008 have been extraordinary, the challenges for many have been  nearly insurmountable, but through it all, God is with us and for us.

Thank you, God, for the love you've shown me by putting so many precious people in my life.  I ask particularly that I may be a blessing to them.

 

New Year's Blessing Prayer

Lord, You who live outside of time,
and reside in the imperishable moment,
we ask Your blessing this New Year's Day
upon Your gift to us of time.

Bless our clocks and watches,
You who kindly direct us
to observe the passing of minutes and hours.
May they make us aware of the miracle
of each second of life we experience.
May these our ticking servants
help us not to miss that which is important,
while You keep us from machine-like routine.
May we ever be free from being clock watchers
and instead become time lovers.

Bless our calendars,
these ordered lists of days, weeks, and months,
of holidays, holydays, fasts and feasts --
all our special days of remembering.
May these servants, our calendars,
once reserved for the royal few,
for magi and pyramid priests,
now grace our homes and our lives.
May they remind us of birthdays and other gift-days,
as they teach us the secret
that all life
is meant for celebration
and contemplation.

Bless, Lord, this new year,
each of its 365 days and nights.
Bless us with new moons and full moons.
Bless us with happy seasons and a long life.
Grant to us, Lord,
the new year's gift
of a year of love.

Amen.

(From Prayers for the Domestic Church: A Handbook for Worship in the Home)
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