"...Behold, I am making all things new." Rev. 21:5a
Dear Friends in Christ,
Merry Christmas! And Happy New Year! Please join with me in praying this Litany for a New Year that Mother Elisa and I devised for a New Year's celebration some years ago.
A Litany for the New Year
For the year past, let us give thanks to the Lord;
We thank you, Lord.
For the year ahead, let us pray to the Lord;
We pray to you, Lord.
We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings you have given us this year;
Please provide for us and for those in need in the year ahead.
Thank you, Lord, for our safety and security;
Strengthen those who guard the public trust and those who uphold the peace.
Thank you, Lord, for the abundance of food and resources;
Give us this day our daily bread, and give us generous hearts to relieve the poor.
Thank you for the blessings of labor, learning and love;
May we tend the responsibilities you give us with diligence and delight.
We thank you for the gift of family and friends;
Strengthen us with your reconciling love to embrace the lonely and the stranger.
Thank you for your healing in our lives;
Bring health and wholeness to the sick.
Thank you for the blessings of those who have died;
Embrace the dying, Lord of life, and lift them to your eternal kingdom.
Thank you for relief from our troubles;
Have mercy on those who suffer, and use us to bring them relief and hope.
Thank you for forgiveness and absolution of our sins;
Remind us to repent, to forgive and to reconcile with others.
Thank you for growth as your disciples, Christ our teacher;
Increase our faithfulness, develop our wisdom, and help us grow others as your disciples.
Thank you for the blessings of this Christian Community;
May you be known, loved and followed by all people.
Thank you for the empowerment of your Holy Spirit;
Give us the zeal to bring your presence to the world.
Thank you for the opportunity to worship you, Lord God;
May we glorify you above all else.
Thank you empowering us to grow disciples of Jesus Christ;
May we grow in faithfulness and increase your harvest.
Thank you for sending us to serve Christ in the world;
May we share your abundance to lift others up.
Thank you, Almighty God, for the gift of the year past;
Lord, make the year to come holy by your presence.
Eternal Father, you gave to your incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be the sign of our salvation: Plant in every heart, we pray, the love of him who is the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
God bless you this year and always!
Yours in Christ,
-Tom