New Year’s Eve Prayers 12 31 98
Invocation
O Gracious and Almighty God, whose power and majesty stretches from century to century, we come tonight with the openness to hear your words for our lives, through this church, and into the world. We give thanks for the blessings of the past year and anticipate with hope and excitement of the promises that 1999 brings. Unite us in spirit and in truth as we pray and sing together tonight. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
Eternal God, as this year passes, we acknowledge your presence as ruler not only of the past but also of the present and future; we acknowledge that you make all things new.
As we have reflected upon all the activities and events that have happened to us this past year, we give thanks to you for your everlasting presence in all of our affairs. In both the joys as well as the disappointments, we have seen these life’s experiences through in faith. When there has been mystery, we have trusted in your will and believe that all things work for good.
We ask you to use us as your instruments in your work in the world. Empower us through your grace, that through knowledge we may in the present search out ways for the future. As we look around, we realize the tremendous human sufferings that still exist in our world. Trouble us with a conscience that we can not get away from. Quicken our actions so that more human misery can be eliminated. Help us to be instruments of peace and reconciliation because Jesus Christ is Lord and the Prince of Peace in the world.
We dedicate ourselves in 1999 to be strong witnesses to our faith. Use us, that others in despair may perceive hope in you. Give us the strength and encouragement to under gird those who need your healing power toward wholeness and health. As we have received your love, may we in turn fulfill loving relationships with you, with our sisters and brothers, and with ourselves. Help us not to be too hard on ourselves when we fail to live up to our own expectations. You have accepted us just for who we are, therefore, help us to accept ourselves and one another in grace and humility.
May your kingdom come and your will be done; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who taught us to pray together….
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed it be thy name;
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
Making Time Way Big Enough
We have all found ourselves saying, “I can’t believe where the time went!” or “I can’t believe it has been twenty years!” When we are involved in the moment of what we may be doing, it always feels that we are running out of time. And then as we look back for a moment, we can’t believe that it has been years that we have last seen someone. Time does, indeed, fly as they say. Perhaps, 1998 was one of those years for you that has gone too quickly.
God has made time way big enough for us to follow his ways. In a couple of hours, a new year will be ushered in and we will be given another year to serve Christ as his disciples. In 2 Corinthians, Paul writes,
If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has
passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who
reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of
reconciliation.
Let us go from this place bringing the peace of Christ in our hearts into all the world in 1999 and the many years to come.