Prayer for the First Sunday in the New Year
Here’s an
opening prayer for the first Sunday of the year. It was written by Rev. Ian
Elston, and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website.
Opening
Prayer
Lord of
yesterday, today and tomorrow,
we gather here
this first Sunday of the New Year,
in a mixture of
hope, anticipation, fear, excitement, and expectation.
We do not know
what the year holds for us.
there are things
we are afraid of:
worries about
health and family, job security and finances.
There is much to
look forward to –
weddings or
anniversaries or baptisms,
holidays to
enjoy,
friends to laugh
with.
Lord God,
the coming year
is full of uncertainty and hope.
Whatever the
year holds for us, though,
we trust You,
and we place every day of this year in your care
knowing that, as
in the past, You are with us,
caring for us
with constant love.
And so Lord, we
place ourselves into your keeping
and dedicate our
lives to your service
through Jesus
Christ, your Son, our Saviour. Amen.
