Litany for the New Year

"...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