Bulletin – Saturday, December 31, 2022 – New Year’s Eve Service

Saturday, December 31, 2022
New Year’s Eve Service

The Approach

Scripture Reading:           Psalm 95:1-7

¹ O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! ² Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! ³ For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods. ⁴ In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. ⁵ The sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed. ⁶ O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! ⁷ For he is our God,  and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.

Hymn – “On This Day of Celebration”

On this day of celebration, at this time when hopes are new,
God, we gather as your people, called to put our trust in you.
You have made the world we line in; you have worked through history.
In your plan we find our purpose, in your love, our unity.

Long ago, you sent our Saviour to this world in deep despair.
In your Word made flesh you came, our life to know, our sins to bear.
Christ has died and Christ is risen! At this new year we proclaim:
Yesterday, today, forever—Jesus Christ is still the same!

Through two thousand years of changes, through these passing centuries,
You have called your church to witness to Christ’s love that claims and frees.
Each new generation hears you, each must find a fresh new way
To make know the life you offer, to the people in their day.

On this day, we pause and wonder what the future years will bring,
Yet we know you clothe each flower and you make each sparrow sing.
How much more will you protect us with your guiding, caring hand!
By your Spirit, lead us boldly in the future you have planned.

Call to Worship

One:   We gather here in this sacred space to lift up your name in glory. At the start of this new year, we continue to be amazed by your Creation, Your heavens, with the multitude of stars in the vastness of space; the secrets found in the depths of your oceans; the majesty of your tallest mountaintops and the roar of your waterfalls; the splendor of your desert in bloom after a rainfall; and the vast expanse of the forests, blanketed in winter’s snow.

Response – “Let My Spirit Always Sing”

Let my spirit always sing, though my heart be wintering,
Though the season of despair give no sign that you are there,
God to whom my days belong, let there always be a song.

One:   You have set your glory above all the heavens and yet still care for us. You gave us responsibility for your creation giving us the power over the works of your hands. You shaped us in your image and filled our world with your creations, the sheep and oxen and all the beasts of the field, the birds of the air and the fish of the seas. We lift up our hearts and our hands in praise and thanksgiving for your Creation.

Response – “Let My Spirit Always Sing”

Let your wisdom grace my years, choose my words and chase my fears,
Give me wit to welcome change, to accept, and not estrange,
Let my joy be full and deep in the knowledge that I keep.

Prayer

God of new beginnings, give me the courage to begin again—to overlook the difficulties, to overcome the obstacles and to stay open to the moment as best I can. Help me be patient enough to know it takes time to start over, and wise enough to ask for help from friends and family when I need it.

As I look to the future, may I reflect on the past and remember the lessons it’s taught me. And God, may I always look to you for strength and guidance. Give me the strength to consult not my fears, but my hopes and my dreams. Help me to not think not about my frustrations, or my unfulfilled potential, so that I don’t concern myself with what I tried and failed in, but what it is still possible to do.

God help me see that now is the time to put aside past and present setbacks and failures and look with confidence to the new day called tomorrow. Amen.

Hymn – “God Gives Us a Future”

God gives us a future, daring us to go
Into dreams and dangers on a path unknown.
We will face tomorrow in the Spirit’s power,

We will let God change us, for new life starts now.
We must leave behind us sins of yesterday,
For God’s new beginning is a better way.

Fear and doubt and habit must not hold us back.
God gives hope, and insight, and the strength we lack.
Holy Spirit, teach us how to read the signs,

How to meet the challenge of our troubled times.
Love us into action, stir us into prayer,
Till we choose God’s life, and find our future there.

The Word

Scripture Reading:           Revelation 21:1-6a

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ² And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and be their God; ⁴ he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” ⁵ And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ⁶ Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.

Prayer

God of the new earth, on this day I ask You to grant this request. May I know who I am and what I am, every moment of every day. May I be a catalyst for light and love, and bring inspiration to those whose eyes I meet. May I have strength to stand tall in the face of conflict, and the courage to speak my voice, even when I’m scared. May I have the humility to follow my heart, and the passion to live my soul’s desires. May I seek to know the highest truth, and dismiss the gravitational pull of my lower self. May I embrace and love the totality of myself. My darkness as well as my light. May I be brace enough to hear my heart. To let it soften so that I may gracefully choose faith over fear.

Today is my day to surrender anything that stands between the sacredness of my humanity and my divinity. My I be drenched in my Holiness and engulfed by Your love. May all else melt away. And so it is. Amen.

(adapted from Debbie Ford)

Anthem – “Renew Us”

Scripture Reading:           Psalm 63

O God, you are my God; I seek you;  my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you,  as in a dry and weary land where there is no water ² So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. ³ Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. ⁴ So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name. ⁵ My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips ⁶ when I think of you on my bed  and meditate on you in the watches of the night, ⁷ for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. ⁸ My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. ⁹ But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; ¹⁰ they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be prey for jackals. ¹¹ But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

Prayer

God of all time, help us enter the New Year quietly, thoughtful of who we are to ourselves and to others, mindful that our steps make an impact and our words carry power. May we walk gently. My we speak only after we have listened well.

Creator of all life, help us enter the New Year reverently, aware that you have endowed every creature and plant, every person and habitat with beauty and purpose. May we regard the world with tenderness. May we honour rather than destroy.

Lover of all souls, help us enter the new Year joyfully, willing to laugh and dance and dream, remembering our many gifts with thanks and looking forward to blessings yet to come. May we welcome your lavish love. In this new year, may the grace and peace of Christ bless us now and in the days ahead. Amen.

(adapted from Vinita Hampton Wright)

Hymn – “As the Deer Pants for the Water”

As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you;
You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship you.
You alone are my strength, my shield,
To You alone may my spirit yield;
You alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship You!

You’re my Friend and You are my Brother even though You are a King
I love You more than any other so much more than anything
You alone are my strength, my shield,
To You alone may my spirit yield;
You alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship You!

I want You more than gold or silver only You can satisfy
You alone are the real joy-giver and the apple of my eye
You alone are my strength, my shield,
To You alone may my spirit yield;
You alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship You!

The Response

A Responsive Reading for the New Year

One:    Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter:1-3)
Two:    Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people. (Psalm 149:1)

One:    See, I will create new heaven and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. (Isaiah 65:17)
Two:    In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:13)

One:    You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)
Two:    For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. (Romans 6:6)

One:    A new command I give you: Love one another. As Jesus has loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are His disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34-35)
Two:    Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. (Psalm 71:3)

One:    See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland (Isaiah 43:19)
Two:    Sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord, all the earth. (Psalm 96:1)

Hymn – “Joy is Now in Every Place”

Joy is now in every place,
Christmas lightens every face;
Now be with us, in your grace,
O hear us, bless us, holy Jesus.

May the star that shone that night,
Making your poor stable bright,
Fill our hearts with love and light,
O hear us, bless us, holy Jesus.

Through the New Year let it stay,
Leading us upon your way.
Making Christmas every day,
O hear us, bless us, holy Jesus.

Now and ever may we find
Your good news to fill our mind,
Peace and love to humankind,
O hear us, bless us, holy Jesus.

Benediction

This year, let’s put our best foot forward as we enter a brand New Year walking together in the Spirit confessing faith instead of fear. Worldly resolutions? To diet, to exercise, to strive? To live a life of abundance? To be fully alive?

No, let’s put our best foot forward for it’s a brand new day. Let’s claim the promises of God and seek to go God’s way. To be partners in creating a new heaven and a new earth to love as God loves to engage in God’s work throughout this coming year.

Yet, those yearly calendars and planners are new. So let’s purpose in our heart to acknowledge God in all our ways for a beautiful brand new start. Amen.

Anthem – “10,000 Reasons”