Entering a New Year

December 31, 2023

Preacher: Rev. Shirley Cochrane

Passage: ISAIAH 61:10 to 62:3; PSALM 148; GALATIANS 4:4-7; LUKE 2:22-40

Service Type: 1st Sunday after Christmas

St ANDREW’S CHURCH

December 31, 2023

LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Call to Worship

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens!

Praise God in the heights and the depths!

Praise God, all creatures of earth and sky!

Praise God, young and old, together!

Let us praise the Lord and worship God’s holy name!

HYMN 141 - Good Christians, all rejoice

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

God of grace and glory, we praise you from the heights and from the depths; from the courts of power and from the sidewalks of our lives. Your splendour shines from a manger, here the Light of the World was born for us. In fragile flesh, you are revealed to us face to face reaching out to claim our love. And so we gather with those who have glimpsed that love to rejoice that you have claimed us in Christ. We offer you our praise, Creator, Son, and Spirit; Source of life, Glorious light, and Wisdom of the ages.

UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God of our lives, we know you are with us through thick and thin,

in times of great joy and at moments of disappointment.

Yet we can feel let down when the joy of Christmas Day has passed.

Our hope gets folded away with the gift wrap,

our energy for the future feels a bit tattered.

Forgive us when our faithfulness flickers like a candle burning down. In Jesus name AMEN

Assurance of Pardon

Hear the good news of the Gospel: Jesus Christ is our light and our salvation. In him we are made new. Let us give thanks to God, and be at peace with ourselves and with one another.

HYMN 166 Once in Royal Davids city

Prayer for Understanding

Holy God, your Word makes all things new. Send your Holy Spirit to refresh our minds and hearts, and embrace your truth revealed in Christ, your Word made flesh.

Scripture Readings

ISAIAH 61:10 to 62:3

HYMN 157 The snow lay on the ground

PSALM 148

HYMN 148 It came upon the midnight clear

GALATIANS 4:4-7

HYMN 152 Still, still, still

LUKE 2:22-40

HYMN 161 What child is this

MEDITATION

Here we stand - at the closing of the year 2023 . A year in which few will celebrate as a wonderful exciting year of joy! Big issues world wide have hit everyone involving much we have no control over ; climate – drought, flooding , earthquakes, volcanoes ; many levels of politics ; wars– Ukraine, & Middle East of which the news hits us daily with outrageous numbers of people having been killed - both directly and indirectly, and other civil wars almost hidden in broadcast news. How do experiences of trauma and suffering shape us theologically, psychologically, and physically, and can our answers to these questions be different at this time of year? As we praise God for all that God has done and is doing, how do we hold our experiences in tension with God’s promises, and to which promises in particular?

Luke’s story of Jesus being presented in the temple tell us that his parents brought him to Jerusalem in accordance with the Law of Moses. and, in doing so, highlights his Jewish background.

Simeon is a leader filled with the Holy Spirit faithfully awaiting the consolation of Israel , an attitude revealing that he lived, not so much for himself but for others in the nation.

Simeon’s declaration that he will now go in peace, having met Jesus, reminds readers of the peace the heavenly host announced to people of good will (2:14). Simeon’s emphasis on the theme of salvation to all nations is important

Gabriel and the shepherds offered wonderful predictions about Jesus, but Simeon offers a slightly different and necessary perspective on the life of Jesus., “I know there have been many amazing predictions about Jesus, but there is more to the story. Not everything that will occur will be joyful or comforting” he says. Simeon predicts that the Christ child will cause the falling and rising of many. He speaks about the resistance and violence they will experience. His eyes have seen salvation, but they also see a sword that will afflict Mary. From Simeon’s perspective the two realities are not mutually exclusive. The gospel certainly means good news to some and bad news to others, but at times it brings joyful news and challenging times for the same group of people.

Simeon’s prophecy is for everyone to be prepared for both the good and the ugly.. The story cautions us against embracing simplistic narratives that are convenient.

Life will continue to have ups and downs, ecstasy and tragedy, harmony and division, and yet, God calls us to live in praise. Holiday seasons usher in a mixture of celebration and mourning. By orienting and reorienting ourselves to praising God’s creation, we not only remember God’s promises, but we literally re-member ourselves according to God’s design of harmonious creation of loving community. May great Blessings be upon you as we enter into the new year 2024. AMEN

Invitation to the Offering

Christmas isn’t over for us! We celebrate God’s gift in Christ Jesus again and again. Grateful for all we have received, we express our love for God in our gifts this day, and affirm our commitment to share God’s love with others in the year ahead.

Prayer of Dedication

Good and gracious God, your love overflows in the goodness we have met even in challenging times. As one year closes and another begins, help us trust your goodness. Bless these gifts so that they may provide others with the hope we know in Christ Jesus and the love you share with the world through him.

HYMN 168 see amid the winter snow

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession

God of love, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Saviour, we are filled with thanks that he has shared human life, and knows well both our joys and heartaches. We bring our prayers for the world you love, grateful that Jesus walks ahead of us into the year ahead. We pray for the Holy land – where Jesus was born as war engulfs all in its grip and Lord we pray for the miracle which will bring lasting peace between the Israelites and the Palestinians

We pray for all children for they embody our future. Protect them from danger, strengthen their characters, and give them joy. Help them look to the future with hope and trust. God of the ages, Hear our prayer.

We pray for the most elderly among us, those whom Simeon and Anna bring to mind. Protect them in these days of rising costs and rising tensions, and reassure them of their value to you and to the whole community.

We pray for those whose hearts are filled with pain and fear and for those whose Christmas has been touched with loss or grief. ( silence)

Surround each one with your comforting embrace.

We pray for those who cannot afford enough to eat, and for those who lack adequate shelter here and in desperate corners of the world. We pray for those who fear violence in their daily lives in so many regions of conflict. And we pray for those whose are anxious about the year ahead for whatever reason, ( silence)

Grant each one the courage and strength to face the days ahead.

As this year draws to a close, we surrender to you, O God,

the challenges it has held for us so that they will not remain as burdens.

Remind us of the good things that have offered us encouragement and pleasure. ( silence)

Give us wisdom to navigate whatever the coming year brings.

God of the ages, Hear our prayer.

In the new year, grant our leaders the wisdom and generosity of spirit to collaborate on decisions they face for the wellbeing of society and of the earth itself. Inspire us all with the hope, joy and peace we find through trusting you, as we pray together the words Jesus taught us:

The Lord’s Prayer

HYMN 811 – Standing at the portal