Prayers for Use in Daily Devotions December 31, 2011
We come to New Year’s Eve, according to the calendar of the world. The Church’s calendar started with the first Sunday of Advent, the preparation for the Incarnation (literally, the “in fleshing”), the coming of Christ into the world as one of us – human just like us. For the Church this is the 7th day of Christmas – remember the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas? The twelve days of the Christmas season end on January 5th, and on January 6th we celebrate the Epiphany, or the manifestation, the revealing, of our Lord to all the world, not just to the Jewish people of Israel, by remembering the coming of the Magi, the Wise Men, who were Gentiles, that is, not Jewish. They represent the whole world which Jesus also came to save, as well as to be the Jewish Messiah.
Here is the e-mail message which I am sending to the adults participating in personal spiritual growth. While you are still off from school, I hope you will take the time to read and think about all of this.
While some of you are certainly familiar with this famous Tennyson poem, especially if you have been reading my e-mails in past years, I still expect it will be new to many of you. Though written well over a hundred years ago, it still, if you will pardon the expression, rings true and is a great favorite for the New Year because of its message which speaks to each new age. This year we once again hear so much talk about Change, about how this or that politician and/or political party is going to turn things around and really make a difference. So many people have placed their hope in our President and other elected officials only to have their hopes dashed. As we celebrate New Year’s Eve perhaps this old song may also serve to provide some perspective about Change and Hope.
Ring Out Wild Bells
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring our, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more;
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring our, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars or old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
The poem speaks volumes of theology, philosophy and common sense. It is well worth re-reading every year and through the year.
So break out the raw oysters, angels on horseback, sauerkraut, raw beef, and the extraneous delectables and libations, and celebrate the hope and promise that God will make all things new.
May each of you, and all of those you love, have a truly blessed New Year.
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A prayer for the New Year, by W. E. Orchard.
Eternal God, you make all things new, and abide for ever the same: grant us to begin this year in your faith, and to continue it in your favor, that, being guided in all our doings, and guarded all our days, we may spend out lives in your service, and finally, by your grace, attain the glory of everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
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This prayer is from South India:
O God, who before all others called shepherds to the cradle of your Son; grant that by the preaching of the gospel the poor, the humble and the forgotten may know that they are at home with you. Amen.
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Pray that this New Year will be filled with justice, peace and joy for all people, and that all people may come into the reality of your Kingdom. Pray that God will bless you in this New Year.
Pray for your own families and friends also.
Continue to look for ways to give gifts of your time and service to those who are in need – elderly neighbors, people in nursing homes, people who are new to the community and may not yet have any friends here, and those who are homeless. If you need suggestions, let me know.
In the midst of your busy schedules, please be intentional about finding some time, even 15 minutes a day, to connect to God. Please continue to do your reading and writing. Remember, you can call Rev. Dennis E. Dorsch at any time if you have questions or want to discuss your reading at 410-744-5127, or e-mail at ded10@aol.com.
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