As a New Year starts there is no better way to do this than with prayer. Whilst the prayer is longer than most (God it seems to me should not be short changed!) it is valuable in its scope, sincerity and simplicity of faith. I commend it to you that we seek to be the Lord’s followers together in this place for the sake of our local community, many networks and city.
A New Year Prayer
Our Father and our God, as we stand at the beginning of this new year we confess our need of Your presence and Your guidance as we face the future.
We each have our hopes and expectations for the year that is ahead of us—but You alone know what it holds for us, and only You can give us the strength and the wisdom we will need to meet its challenges.
So help us to humbly put our hands into Your hand, and to trust You and to seek Your will for our lives during this coming year.
In the midst of life’s uncertainties in the days ahead, assure us of the certainty of Your unchanging love.
In the midst of life’s inevitable disappointments and heartaches, help us to turn to You for the stability and comfort we will need.
In the midst of life’s temptations and the pull of our stubborn self-will, help us not to lose our way but to have the courage to do what is right in Your sight, regardless of the cost.
And in the midst of our daily preoccupations and pursuits, open our eyes to the sorrows and injustices of our hurting world, and help us to respond with compassion and sacrifice to those who are friendless and in need.
May our constant prayer be that of the ancient Psalmist: “Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end” (Psalm 119:33).
We pray for our nation and its leaders during these difficult times, and for all those who are seeking to bring peace and justice to our dangerous and troubled world.
We pray especially for Your protection on all those who serve in our armed forces, and we thank You for their commitment to defend our freedoms, even at the cost of their own lives. Be with their families also, and assure them of Your love and concern for them.
And our greatly valued public servants in the NHS who we especially remember with thanksgiving.
Bring our divided nation together, and give us a greater vision of what You would have us to be. Your Word reminds us that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).
As we look back over this past year we thank You for Your goodness to us—far beyond what we have deserved. May we never presume on Your past goodness or forget all Your mercies to us, but may they instead lead us to repentance, and to a new commitment to make You the foundation and centre of our lives this year.
And so, our Father, we thank You for the promise and hope of this new year, and we look forward to it with expectancy and faith.
This I ask in the name of our Lord and Saviour, who by His death and resurrection has given us hope both for this world and the world to come.
Amen
I shall be gathering teams to see we develop in the following areas, if you have an interest and would like to let me know then please drop me an email at mark.brown@allsaintsecclesall.org.uk
1. Our digital marketing footprint
2. Our pastoral care and seeking to re connect with members who we have lost touch with
3. Our forthcoming Lent course
4. Our work with young families
5. Our strategic and evangelistic outreach
6. Welcoming publications and packs (DTP and friendly writing skills needed)
Yours in Christ,
The Revd Canon Mark Brown