Liturgy for a New Year
Leader: As we look to the new
year, let us pause to remind ourselves of the Lord’s continuing faithfulness to
us.
All: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Great is
thy faithfulness. 1
Leader: May the turn of the calendar renew in us the
Spirit of Christ.
All: Let the law be written on our hearts so that we may walk worthy of
the Lord, Jesus Christ. Not of our own doing so that no man may boast.2
Leader: As we trudge through the monotonous, damp days of late winter, let not our hearts grow as cold as the bitter breeze.
May our faith not become as barren as the trees now robbed of their summertime
majesty. Even in the darkest days of the year, let us serve as a beacon of the
great light of Jesus Christ.
All: The people living in darkness have seen a great light. The light
of Christ has transcended darkness to bring eternal life to whosoever believes
upon Him.3
Leader: In accordance with His
perfect timing, winter slowly makes way for spring. Just as the towering trees
gain back the leaves that winter stole from them, through Christ we are made
heirs of a restored relationship with the Father than was poached from us by
Adam. In the same way that the seeds of the fall harvest must be fertilized in
the spring, we must fertilize the seeds of spirituality planted within us by
our God.
All: Let us be
nourished by the word of God, sealed by His promises made to us through our
Baptism, and fed by the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Leader: Slowly, the pleasant spring months acquiesce the
long, hot days of summer. Let not our faith wilt like the lush suburban lawns amidst
the sweltering heat but thrive with the life-giving waters that divinely flow
from above.
All: Let the one who
is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of
life. We have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as
Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too
might walk in newness of life. 4
Leader: In the blink of an eye, the lazy days of summer pave
the way for cooler temperatures and grandiose leaf displays. The seeds so
dutifully nurtured throughout the spring and summer produce bountiful harvests.
Though the fertilization of our spiritual seeds may produce earthly harvests,
we perpetually look forward to the eternal harvest – an eternity in the presence
of God.
All: Let us not
become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we
do not give up. Produce in us a faith that perseveres in all
circumstances. 5
Leader: As the people of God, let us resolve to make this
year one in which every thought and action is driven by a love of Him and
desire to know Him more intimately. We must share the message of the Gospel
with an unshakable boldness that can only come through faith in Christ. But
most of all, let us rest in Christ and His eternal promise and victory won for
us on Calvary.
All: Thanks be to
God!
Scripture References
No comments:
Post a Comment