Blessed are you, O Christ, our God; you were before time began, and came to the world to save us. Blessed are you, Sun of righteousness; you shine with the Father’s love and illumine the whole universe. Blessed are you, Son of Mary; born a child you shared our humanity. Blessed are you, son of David; born to rule, you received gifts from the wise men. Blessed are you, Son of Man; baptised by John, you saved us from ourselves. Blessed are you, heavenly King; teaching and preaching, healing and comforting, you proclaimed the kingdom. With all the voices of heaven we celebrate the coming of our Saviour. Let heaven and earth shout their praise. With all the creatures on earth we sing and dance at your birth. Praise and glory to you, O Lord Jesus Christ.
David Beswick, 1933 – , Australian Minister and Professor
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 those who journey through time.
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.
Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.
We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.
O come, faithful God, who empowers the weak, who encourages the fearful, who enlightens the blind, who intones the deaf, who energizes the lame, who emancipates the speechless, who enriches the poor, who invigorates the dead;
O come, faithful God, come and enable us, right now, to worship you and work for your Kingdom, filled with your strength, your hope, your vision, your melody, your motivation, your Word, your inheritance, your Life!
All this we pray, through him who came to be our Savior, who lives to be our Lord, who will return and fully make all things new;
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
Isaiah of old prayed, “Let the earth open wide her mouth; as justice descends, O heavens,
like the dew from above, like gentle showers, let salvation fall from the skies; let justice spring up and salvation bud forth.” Come gentle rain of Advent-tide, soak deep into my heart, calling forth signs of an early spring. Make buds appear on my heart’s barren rosebush and blooms on its dried flower stalks. Come showers of silence and wet my soul; soak deeply with your fertile fingers, dripping heaven’s dew. May I come forth from my times of prayer as from a bath: dripping wet from a sacred soaking,
refreshed, renewed, revitalized. Advent prayer of December stillness, dampen my dry soul, coax forth green leaves of the Spirit
and bring forth buds of bright flowers
as green trees flicker with magic lights
and green wreath circles whirl on front doors, red-bowed in festive joy. May soggy souls ooze out awesome gifts, for Emmanuel, God-among-us, is awakened from a yearlong slumber
by gentle mists of Advent longing
and is eager to give gifts of love,
presents of your presence. Radiant Rain God, make me your brimful cloud, ready to shower down Emmanuel’s justice and peace
upon all I meet.
Edward Hayes, 1931 – 2016, Catholic Priest, Kansas City
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
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