 |
| St. Francis Cathedral, Baker City, Oregon |
#1 Genesis 1.1 GNT
In
the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Song:
God, Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens (Cameron, 1967)
God,
who stretched the spangled heavens, infinite in time and place,
flung
the suns in
burning radiance through the silent fields of space,
we
your children, in your likeness, share inventive power with you.
Great
Creator, still creating, show us what we yet may do.
God
is in the business of NEW.
New
beginnings, new worlds,
New
relationships, new purposes,
New
hearts and souls.
New
is what the
God-of-Grace
does.
Lord,
in this new year, may I open myself to all the newness God offers.
Amen.
 |
| First Presbyterian Church, Baker City, OR |
#2 Genesis
12:1-2
GNT
The
Lord said to Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your
father's home, and go to a land that I am going to show you. I will
give you many descendants, and they will become a great nation. I
will bless you …
SONG:
In Every Time and Place (Wesley,
v. 1)
In
every time and place who serve the Lord most high,
Are
called His sovereign will to embrace and still their own deny;
To
follow His command, on earth as pilgrims rove,
And
seek an undiscovered land, and house, and friends above.
God
sends us OUT,
AWAY
from our comfort zone,
And
into new beginnings, new blessings.
We
often fear that unknown
Not
knowing the future outcomes,
But
we are ASSURED of God’s presence and blessing.
Grant
us the courage, Lord, to accept your call to enter new challenges.
Amen.
 |
| St. Stephens Episcopal Church, Baker City, OR |
#3 Job 8:7 Voice
From your modest beginnings, the future will be bright before you.
SONG:
Small Beginnings
(Carter-Banks)
Don’t
think you’re getting nowhere, you know we all must start
From
very small beginnings, off to a better part.
Every new adventure begins small
With
a single step, one forward motion.
Propelled
by God,
We
see our dreams to reality,
From
humble beginnings.
Guide
us, Lord, as we take the first initial step in your service. Amen.
#4 Psalm
40:3
ESV
 |
| United Methodist Church, Baker City, OR |
He
put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will
see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.
SONG:
In My
Heart There Rings a Melody
(Roth,
1924, refrain)
In
my heart there rings a melody, There rings a melody with heaven’s
harmony;
In
my heart there rings a melody, There rings a melody of love.
When
in the depths of grief or despair
When
nothing seems to go right,
God
can sing into our soul
And
put new hope in our heart.
Sing
out the melody of praise and promise!
Trust
in the God of Love.
Help
me to hear your songs floating on the breeze of my angst, Lord, and
to join the chorus of praise. Amen.
 |
| Shiloh Lutheran Church, Lewisville, NC |
#5 Psalm
51: 7,10
MSG,Voice
SONG:
Create in Me a Clean Heart, Lord
Create in me a clean heart And purify me, purify me
Create in me a clean heart
So I may worship Thee, everybody say it.
Create in me a clean heart And purify me, purify me
Create in me a clean heart
So I may worship Thee, everybody say it.
Images
of daily bubble baths
And
giant Love-Loofahs come to mind
As
God scrubs our souls with grace and forgiveness.
The
dirty clouds of doubt and sin are filtered out and
We
emerge renewed, cleansed, and restored.
Clean
my heart and soul, Lord, that I might be showered in your Love.
Amen.
 |
| St. Ignacious Mission, Montana |
#6 Psalm 98:1-3
“Oh,
sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His
right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.
SONG:
Sing a New Song
(Schutte)
Sing
a new song unto the Lord; Let your song be sung from mountains high.
Sing
a new song unto the Lord, Singing alleluia.
Sing
a new song!
Write
a love letter. Paint a memory.
Dance
as if only God were watching!
Fill
your world with thanksgiving and praise,
For
God has done marvelous things!
May
I shout it from the mountaintops, Lord, a new song of Love and Glory!
Amen.
 |
| Congregational Church of Littleton, NH |
#7 Psalm 102:27 V&MSG
SONG:
UNCHANGING GOD
(Brown-Cates-Brock-Furtick-Joye,
2013, refrain)
Your
promises remain forever and ever
You
won’t fade away, You never, you never change.
You’re
unchanging God, you will never change, you’re unchanging God.
For
time eternal, eons upon eons,
An
unchanging God in a changing world.
No
failing joints, no memory loss,
Always
present; always trustworthy.
We
can rely on the faithfulness of our Lord.
We
seek your constancy in our
ever changing world, O God.
Amen.
 |
| Jarrett Memorial Baptist Church, Dillsboro, NC |
#8 Psalm
119:50
V
SONG:
Thy
Word (Smith-Grant,
1984, v1)
When
I feel afraid, Think I've lost my way,
Still you're there right beside me.
And nothing will I fear As long as you are near.
Please be near me to the end.
Still you're there right beside me.
And nothing will I fear As long as you are near.
Please be near me to the end.
When
in the depths of despair
and
the world seems bleak
the
Word of God can bring comfort,
the
promise of hope lift our souls
and
Spirit renew our hearts.
Thank
you, God, for renewal that comes through your Word. Amen.
#9 Psalm
149:1
MSG
 |
| Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College, MN |
Song:
Give Praise to the Lord
(The
New Metrical Version of the Psalms, 1909, v1)
Give
praise to the Lord, and sing a new song,
Amid all the saints God’s
praises prolong;
A
song to your Maker and Ruler now raise,
all children of Zion: rejoice
and give praise.
It
is Sunday morning…
A
time to gather with fellow saints and sinners,
An
opportunity to select worship music.
What
NEW SONG shall we sing?
How
can we TRULY raise our voices in praise
And
find the new life behind new songs?
May
new songs and new attitudes
fill my heart this day, O God. Amen.
 |
| First Christian Church, Kittery, ME |
#10 Proverbs
9:10 CEB
The
beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord; the knowledge of the
holy one is understanding.
SONG:
W-I-S-D-O-M (Jones,
2010, Bridge)
I
wanna love it, live it, learn it, read it (W-I-S-D-O-M!)
I wanna know it, think it, speak it, breathe it (W-I-S-D-O-M!)
I wanna know it, think it, speak it, breathe it (W-I-S-D-O-M!)
A
new beginning of wisdom,
Using
the Word to lead my day,
Seeking
God’s will and knowing God’s presence.
Understanding
results, and Love overflows.
“Live
it, learn it, think it, speak it.”
BREATHE
the wisdom of God.
God
of Wisdom and Grace, fill us with an understanding of your will.
Amen.
 |
| Catholic Church of Littleton, NH |
#11 Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV
For
everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under
heaven.
SONG:
Turn, Turn, Turn
(Seeger,
1965, refrain)
To
everything, turn, turn, turn,
There
is a season, turn turn, turn,
And
a time to every purpose under heaven.
Each
new season provides renewal,
We
turn to something new,
New
possibilities, new opportunities, new purposes.
Rebirth
of spring, openness of summer,
Color
of fall, clarity of winter -
Seek
the newness with change, a renewal of life.
God,
help me look for the newness of each turning. Amen.
 |
| Rural church near Austin, Nevada |
#12 Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time.
SONG:
Hymn of Promise (Sleeth, 1986)
In
the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
In
cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In
the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed
until its season, something God alone can see.
We
prepare for new, we expect it daily;
But
it isn’t always time for new.
God
has a different time schedule,
Filled
with renewal and hidden promises.
Make
the most of each opportunity,
knowing
the unexpected is right around the corner.
Lord,
help me recognize your promise of spring in the winters of my life.
Amen.
 |
| Neveh Shalom Synagogue, Portland, OR |
#13 Isaiah 40:8 ESV
The
grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand
forever.
SONG:
O Word of God Incarnate (How, 1867, verse 1)
O
Word of God Incarnate, O Wisdom from on high,
O
Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky:
We
praise you for the radiance that from the hallowed page,
a
lantern to our footsteps, shines on from age to age.
Flux,
change, upheaval,
Our
world is constantly altering the “rules”;
But
God is our steadfast anchor.
God’s
WORD stands forever.
We
can use that faithfulness as our springboard
For
diving into the newness of life.
Thank
you, God, for the lantern of your light that illuminates our path in
a changing world. Amen.
#23 Ezekiel
11:19 GNT
I will give them a new heart and a new mind. I will take away their stubborn heart of stone and will give them an obedient heart.
 |
| Central Presbyterian Church, Chambersburg, PA |
#14 Isaiah 40:31 GNT
But
those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength
renewed.
They
will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they
will walk and not grow weak.
SONG:
Shout
to the North
(Martin
Smith, 1995, verse 3)
Rise
up church, with broken wings; Fill this place with songs again
Of
our God who reigns on high; by God’s grace again we’ll fly.
Eagle
wings. Soaring. Flight.
The
image evokes strength and freedom.
The
kind trust in God can provide.
Renewed
and empowered; the broken restored.
Again
and again.
Help
us soar, O Lord, with renewed strength through your grace. Amen.
 |
| Abandoned Church in Pagosa Springs, CO |
#15 Isaiah 41:4 MSG
“Who
did this? Who made it happen? Who always gets things started?
I did. God. I’m first on the scene. I’m also the last to leave.
I did. God. I’m first on the scene. I’m also the last to leave.
SONG:
Praise to the Living God!
(Daniel
ben Judah, 14th
C, v1)
Praise
to the living God,
All praised be that Name,
All praised be that Name,
Who
was, and is, and is to be, Is still the same;
The
one eternal God,
before what now appears,
before what now appears,
The
First, the Last, beyond all thought
through timeless years.
through timeless years.
What
starts us on a new path?
We
can cite circumstance or coincidence,
We
can pretend WE made a good choice.
But
God is busy in the background,
always
present, always working through others.
God
gets things started.
Do
we take advantage of the opportunity?
Praise
to our God of new starts and fresh chances. Amen.
 |
| First Presbyterian Church of Bandon, OR |
#16 Isaiah 43:18 MSG
“Forget
about what’s happened;don’t keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.
SONG:
This Is a Day of New Beginnings (Wren,
1978, vs 1, 4)
This
is a day of new beginnings,
time to remember and move on,
time to remember and move on,
time
to believe what love is bringing, laying to rest the pain that’s
gone.
Christ
is alive, and goes before us
to show and share what love can do.
to show and share what love can do.
This
is a day of new beginnings;
our God is making all things new.
our God is making all things new.
Put
aside that which is past,
the
pain, the failure, the hurt;
Look
ahead to the newness of life -
of
a fresh start with God.
God
is making all things new!
What
a joy, Lord, to look forward to fresh starts of your creation. Amen.
 |
| St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Tucson, Arizona |
#17 Isaiah
62:2-3 MSG
You’ll
get a brand-new name straight from the mouth of God. You’ll be a
stunning crown in the palm of God’s hand.
SONG:
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name! (Perronet,
1779, verse 1)
All
hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring
forth the royal diadem and crown him Lord of all!
Bring
forth the royal
diadem and crown him Lord of all.
Abram
to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah,
Jacob
to Israel, Simon to Peter.
A
new name, a new identity under God.
A
reminder that we are always
A
beautiful child of the Most High.
May
I live into my name, Lord, and give glory to yours. Amen.
 |
| Northminster Presbyterian Church, Sacramento, CA My 'growing up' church! |
#18 Isaiah 65:17 ESV
“For
behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things
shall not be remembered or come into mind.
SONG:
When All Is Ended
(Wren,
1988, verse 1)
When
all is ended, time and troubles past
Shall
all be mended, sin and death outcast?
In
hope we sing, and hope to sing at last: Alleluia!
Alleluia!
A
new heaven, a new earth,
The
old is ended, troubles past.
We
get a new start each sunrise,
A
new opportunity for love and service.
Alleluia!
We
celebrate the new beginnings that come with hope and faith in you, O
God. Amen.
 |
| St. Francis de Niri Mission, Old Town Albuquerque, NM |
#19 Jeremiah 1:4-5 ESV
Now
the word of the Lord
came to me,
saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you
were born I consecrated you..
SONG:
Lord, When I Came into This Life
(Kaan, 1976, v1)
Lord,
when I came into this life you called me by my name;
Today
I come, commit myself, responding to your claim.
We
belong to you, O God.
You
call us by name before our birth,
You
know our strengths and weaknesses.
And
then you wait...wait for our realization
Of
the newness of life, the richness of living
Within
the claim of your love.
Open
our eyes, Lord, to the fullness of life lived in the bounds of your
love. Amen.
#20 Jeremiah 29:11
 |
| Historic church on town plaza, Prairie City, OR Strawberry Mountains in background |
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
SONG:
Soft Rains of Spring Flow (Rack
Im, 1993, v2)
Tender
young shoots, green in the sun,
glisten with the beauty of spring.
God
will watch and care for each one,
bring the growth and strength to
bear fruit.
Speaking
the word, quenching their thirst,
healing their prayer, feeding their
souls.
God
will love and care for each one,
til the bright day harvest will
come.
The
hope of spring
New
growth, emerging buds,
Promises
of newness of life.
These
are the plans God has for us -
New
springtimes, new futures,
That
will color our world with God’s glory.
Like
an emerging flower, God, reveal your plans to us. Amen.
 |
| Pine Valley Presbyterian Church, Halfway, OR |
#21 Jeremiah
31:31
The
days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a new
covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah’’.
SONG:
O God, Who Gives Us Life (Daw
Jr, 1990, v1)
O
God who gives us life and breath, who shapes us in the womb,
who
guards our lives from birth to death, then leads us from the tomb;
deliver
us from fears that kill the life we have from you
Help
us to know your Spirit still is making all things new.
New
covenants, promises renewed,
Hopes
and dreams fulfilled.
That
is the business of God.
We
just aren’t always patience enough,
or
trusting enough,
To
wait upon God’s time-table.
Give
us patience, Lord, and trust that you ARE making all things new.
Amen.
 |
| Advent Christian Church, John Day, Oregon |
#22 Lamentations 3:22 Voice
How
enduring is God’s loyal love; the Eternal has inexhaustible
compassion. Here
they are, every morning, new! Your faithfulness, God, is as broad as
the day.
SONG:
Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Chisholm,
1923, refrain)
Great
is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning
by morning, new mercies I see.
All
I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great
is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
Every
morning we awake
to
a new day overflowing,
The
abundance of God’s mercies
showering
us with grace, forgiveness, and love.
Arise
and look!
Seek
God in every moment
of love and compassion.
Open
my eyes each morning, God, to your inexhaustible moments of mercy.
Amen.
 |
| St. Johns Episcopal Church, New Milford, CT |
I will give them a new heart and a new mind. I will take away their stubborn heart of stone and will give them an obedient heart.
SONG:
New Heart
(Figueroa,
2017,
Chorus)
Open
up my eyes to see You
My
mind to know You
My
soul longs only for You
Let
me hear Your voice resounding
Your
words creating
A
brand new heart in me.
One
heart,
a new heart;
Heart
renewed by love,
heart restored into hope.
Past
wrongs removed,
Hurtful actions forgotten.
Awaken
to the beat of a new heart within!
May
we feel the pulse of the new heart you have put within us, O God.
Amen.
 |
| Rural church near Boone, NC |
#24 Ezekiel 18:31-32 MSG
So
turn around! Turn your backs on your rebellious living so that sin
won’t drag you down. Clean house. No more rebellions, please.
Get a new heart! Get a new spirit!
Song:
Sinners!
Turn, Why Will Ye Die?
(Wesley,
1742, v7)
Turn,
he cries, ye sinners turn;
by
his life your God hath sworn;
he
would have you turn and live, ….
Turn
and live!
Turn
away from old ways of self,
and
live into a life with God!
A
new heart and spirit -
A
new approach and perspective -
Turn
to a new springtime of living!
Open
within me a new resurrection of spirit and heart, a new springtime of
living. Amen.
 |
| Presbyterian Church of Bryson City, NC |
#25 Ezekiel 36:26
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
SONG:
Spirit, Open My Heart (Duck,
1994,v1)
God,
replace my stony heart
with a heart that’s kind and tender.
All
my coldness and fear
to your grace I now surrender.
Spirit,
open my heart to
the joy and pain of living,
As
you love may I love,
In receiving and in giving.
Spirit Open my
heart.
Ezekiel
must have fixated
on
hearts of stone,
replaced
by new hearts, new spirits.
Multiple
times he uses these words.
Perhaps
the Israelites weren’t listening.
Are
we today any different?
May
I hear your call, O God, to renewal and change within me. Amen.
 |
| First Presbyterian Church of Natchez, Mississippi |
#26 Haggai 2:9 GNT
The
new Temple will be more splendid than the old one, and there I will
give my people prosperity and peace.
SONG:
Again, As Ev’ning Shadows Fall
(Longfellow, circa 1850, v2)
May
struggling hearts that seek release
Here
find the rest of God’s
own peace;
And
strengthened here by hymn and prayer,
Lay
down the burden and the care.
God
promises a new temple,
a new heart and soul,
All
the same in renewal of life.
How
well have I allowed
the
temple of my heart to be restored?
Peace
comes when Jesus
can mend my broken walls.
God
of temples seen and unseen, restore our brokenness and grant us
peace. Amen.
SONG:
New Wine (v2,
Mulligan, 1990)
SONG:
Ye
Must Be Born Again
(v1, Naylor, 1907)
#44 2
Peter 3:12-13 MSG
#27 Matthew 7:7
“Ask,
and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it
will be opened to you.
SONG: Seek Ye First (v1, Lafferty-Huff, 1971)
 |
Jemez
Pueblo Catholic Church,
Jemez, New
Mexico
|
SONG: Seek Ye First (v1, Lafferty-Huff, 1971)
Seek
ye first the Kingdom of God
And
His righteousness
And all these things shall be added unto you Allelu Alleluia
And all these things shall be added unto you Allelu Alleluia
We cannot obtain without asking;
We cannot find without seeking;
And the door will not open without a knock.
God is ready with answers;
God is waiting to be found;
God longs for us to knock.
Ready
my heart to knock at the open door of your grace, O God. Amen.
#28 Matthew
26:27-29
Then
He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying,
“Drink
from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for many for the remission of sins”
 |
| Trinity Presbyterian Church, Berwyn, PA |
SONG:
The
New Covenant Blessings (v4)
“I will propitiate,” forgiving all sin,
Cleansing the inward parts and washing within;
Christ’s efficacious blood has set us free,
Restoring fellowship, for eternity.
“I will propitiate,” forgiving all sin,
Cleansing the inward parts and washing within;
Christ’s efficacious blood has set us free,
Restoring fellowship, for eternity.
Covenants.
Promises.
A rainbow marked the old.
Wine
and bread the new.
A
covenant of love and grace -
Given
freely by God,
To
be shared by all.
Help
me, Lord, share
your promise of love to all. Amen.
#29 Mark
2:21 V
These
are new things I’m teaching, and they can’t be reconciled with
old habits. Nobody would ever use a piece of new cloth to patch an
old garment because when the patch shrinks, it pulls away and makes
the tear even worse.
 |
| Cowboy Church of Mancos, Colorado |
Now
it's not from moonshine, but it comes from Sonshine
Straight from Heaven above
It won't make you lazy or make your mind crazy
Or make you cry over some long gone lost love
New, new wine
Straight from Heaven above
It won't make you lazy or make your mind crazy
Or make you cry over some long gone lost love
New, new wine
The
kind that makes you smile all the time
Pardon my funny grin, I'm just a new wineskin
Pardon my funny grin, I'm just a new wineskin
Holding new, new wine.
New
wineskins, new patches,
New
habits of worship and living.
Toss
out the old completely,
And
begin life afresh
In
the forgiveness and grace
Of
a loving God.
Thank
you, God, for a fresh start each day and loving us in spite of our
‘patches’. Amen.
 |
| Methodist Church of Paintsville, Kentucky |
#30 Luke 8:48 MSG
Jesus
said, “Daughter, you took a risk trusting me, and now you’re
healed and whole. Live well, live blessed!”
SONG:
I’ve Touched the Hem of His Garment (Refrain,
Root, 1911)
I’ve
touched the hem of His garment, And now I, too, am free;
His
healing pow’r this very hour Gives life and health to me.
Sometimes
to find the new
We
must risk rejection,
Reaching
out in trust
To
grasp that which we cannot see.
Wholeness
and grace await
Those
who take the risk.
Strengthen
me, Lord, to risk trusting you with
all my heart and mind.
Amen.
#31 John 3:3-6
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
 |
| Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona, Arizona |
(v1, Naylor, 1907)
That
heavenly Teacher, in words that are plain,
This truth declared to men,
If ever they would to His kingdom attain,
They must be born again.
This truth declared to men,
If ever they would to His kingdom attain,
They must be born again.
Are
you a born-again Christian?
The
question is often asked
To
determine the depth of one’s faith.
But
truly, truly (to use the Teacher’s voice)
The
definition can be construed in many ways,
And
the proof is in the Love put into action.
Help
me, Lord, to truly realize what it means to be ‘born again’
wrapped in the arms of your love. Amen.
#32 John
13:34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you
must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my
disciples, if you love one anoter.”
 |
| First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa, Alabama |
SONG:
They’ll
Know We Are Christians by Our Love
(Refrain,
Scholtzes, 1966)
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
A
new command, just a new law
But
this one is a deal-breaker:
LOVE
as God LOVES.
Without judgment, without reservation;
Fully, completely, and with mercy.
Without judgment, without reservation;
Fully, completely, and with mercy.
By
this you shall be known.
Fill
me with such an awareness of your love, Lord, that it overflows from
my being. Amen.
 |
| Benedictine Monastery, Tucson, AZ |
#33 Acts 3:19 V
So
now you need to rethink everything and turn to God so your sins will
be forgiven and a new day can dawn, days of refreshing times flowing
from the Lord.
SONG:
10,000
Reasons (Bless My Soul) (v1,
Redman, 2011)
The
sun comes up
It’s a new day dawning
It’s
time to sing Your song again.
Whatever
may pass and whatever lies before me
Let
me be singing
when the evening comes.
When
we turn to God
And
truly release our selfish ways,
A
new day dawns indeed!
Every
day as the sun rises,
We
start afresh in partnership
With
a God who puts a song in our hearts!
May
I begin and end each new day with a song of gratitude erupting from
my soul, O God. Amen.
 |
| Catalina Methodist Church, Tucson, AZ |
#34 Romans 6:4 GNT
By
our baptism, then, we were buried with him and shared his death, in
order that, just as Christ was raised from death by the glorious
power of the Father, so also we might live a new life.
SONG:
We Know That Christ Is Raised
(v4,
Geyer, 1967)
A
new creation comes to life and grows as
Christ’s new body takes on flesh and blood.
The
universe, restored and whole, will sing:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
There
is a newness in resurrection,
A
freshness
of rebirth and restoration.
We
are washed clean,
Like
a morning shower, a springtime rain.
What
shall I do today
Worthy
of such a gift?
Thank
you, God, for the gift of new life through Jesus’ resurrection.
Amen.
 |
| St. Benedict's Painted Chapel, Big Island, Hawaii |
#35 Romans 6:22 MSG
But
now that you’ve found you don’t have to listen to sin tell you
what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God
telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life
right now, with more and more of life on the way!
SONG:
Baptized in Water
(v3,
Saward, 1981)
Baptized
in water, sealed by the Spirit,
Marked
with the sign of Christ our King;
Born
of the Spirit, we are God’s children;
Joyfully
now God’s praises we sing.
Baptism
means rebirth
A
new outlook and approach to life
That
joyfully proclaims the Spirit!
And
we can begin anew every day
With
fresh opportunities
To
show our gratitude in service.
Wrap
each new day with the joy of your love, O God. Amen.
 |
| Our Lady of the Way Chapel, Haines Junction, Alaska |
#36 Romans 12:2 ESV
Do
not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of
your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and acceptable and perfect.
SONG:
Wash, O God, Your Sons and Daughters
(v3,
Duck, 1987)
We
your people stand before you, waterwashed and Spirit born.
By
your grace, our lives we offer. Recreate us; God, transform!
Re-creation
and transformation,
Words
of change
That
evoke fresh starts.
How
have I been transformed?
Do
my actions reflect re-creation?
Daily,
I awake to such newness.
Re-create
my spirit each morning, Lord, that I might reflect your love. Amen.
 |
| St. Nicholas Orthodox Church of Coatesville, PA |
#37 Romans 15:32 GNT
And
so I will come to you full of joy, if it is God’s will, and enjoy a
refreshing visit with you.
SONG:
How Pleasant and How Good It Is
(v
1-2, arr
Wallace, 1800’s)
How
pleasant and how good it is when brethren
in the Lord
In
one another’s joy delight and dwell in sweet accord.
Such
oneness, like anointing oil on head to body poured;
Such
oneness, like the morning dew, with sweet refreshment stored.
When
did I last sit down
And
have a refreshing visit with God?
A
time to dwell in sacred presence
And
feel restored and renewed?
A
time when I made no request but
Merely
basked in glory?
May
I take the time today, God, to have a refreshing visit with you.
Amen.
 |
| Congregational Church of Bath, NH |
#38 2
Corinthians 4:16 ESV
Therefore
we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our
inner man is being renewed day by day.
SONG:
Made New
(v2
refrain, Brewster, 2014)
You’re
taking me deeper,
you’re making me whole
With
grace You redeem me,
You restore my soul.
You
hold my head up,
You remind me who I am
You
hold my head up,
I’m alive in You again.
I’m
made new, I’m made new.
Don’t
lose heart! Don’t give up!
We
are renewed DAY by DAY!!
When
I open my eyes,
Or
my feet touch the floor,
God
makes me alive AGAIN!
Hold
me up, Lord, in the newness each day offers. Amen.
#39 2Corinthians5:17 ESV
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
SONG:
There Is Now a New Creation (v5,
Gambrell, 2009)
There
is now a new creation through the grace of Jesus Christ,
Sing,
with thanks and adoration, to the God of endless life!
The
amazing grace of God
Bestows
this new creation
Over
and over again.
This
is the God of second-chances,
no
missed opportunities,
because
EACH DAY the old is gone!
Thank
you, God, for second chances and new opportunities to ‘get it
right’. Amen.
#40 Ephesians 4:24 MSG
 |
| Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish, Cottonwood, AZ |
And
then take on an entirely new way of life – a God-fashioned life, a
life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as
God accurately reproduces his character in you.
SONG:
Saying Amen to God’s Word
(v1
and refrain, Adapted)
What
a wonderful change in my living is wrought
By
saying Amen to God’s Word.
More
of Christ into me at each instance is brought
By
saying Amen to His Word.
Thus
the Lord takes my heart, and transforms every part,
By
saying Amen to His Word.
Transformation:
A
thorough change in character
Molded
every day by love and grace.
God
is sculpting us from within,
Changing
our hearts to God-hearts.
Can
you feel the artist at work?
Mold
me, sculpt me, transform me, God, to your image and character. Amen.
#41 Colossians 3:10-11 MSG
 |
| LDS Temple, Rexburg, ID |
Now
you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of
life is custom-made by the Creator, with His label on it. All the
old fashions are now obsolete.
SONG:
Clothed
With Christ (refrain,
Falleur)
Yes,
we have clothed ourselves with Christ
There
is no black nor white, nor slave nor free.
Yes
we have clothed ourselves with Christian
We
are all one, we are all one.
Putting
on God each morning
Is
like dressing in new clothes,
Wearing
the fresh feel of crisp cotton
Or
slipping into well-loved jeans.
Custom
designed with the Love Label -
Clothing
we should never take off!
May
I wear the Love-Label God-designed wardrobe each day, Lord. Amen.
 |
| Mission Espada, San Antonion, TX |
#42 Galatians 5:25 V
Now,
since we have chosen to walk with the Spirit, let’s keep each step
in perfect sync with God’s spirit.
SONG:
Walking in the Spirit
(verse
1)
Since
I accepted Jesus my life has really changed
Now
I am walking in the sunshine and no longer in the rainfall
My
heart is built with feelings
I simply can’t explain
I
am walking in the Spirit and with Him I shall remain.
Walking
WITH the Spirit or
Walking
IN the Spirit?
Either
way we are in sync -
Step
by step – with God.
What
a positive way to approach
Your
daily walk!
Help
me stay in sync with you, O Lord, step by step. Amen.
#43 1
Peter 1:23 MSG
 |
| Chapel of The Transfiguration, Tetons, WY |
Your
new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal
sperm; your new birth comes from God’s living Word.
SONG:
The Spirit Breathes Upon the Word
(v1, Cowper, 1779)
The
Spirit breathes upon the Word,
and
brings the truth to sight;
Precepts
and promises afford
A
sanctifying light, a sanctifying light.
The
sun is shining, the skies are clear
A
new day beckons with open arms;
The
mountains call forth with snowy white
To
wash me clean on snowshoe trails.
Thank
you, Creator God, for NEW -
NATURAL,
EXCITING,
and filled with WONDER!
Restore
me this day, O God, by the wonder of your creation. Amen.
 |
| Old Baptist Church in rural West Texas |
Daily
expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn
up
and
the elements melt down that day – but we’ll hardly notice. We’ll
be looking the other way, ready for the promised heavens and the
promised new earth.
SONG:
The Last Great Day
(v1,
Warner, 1911)
The
earth shall melt with fervent heat, The heavens pass away,
And
all mankind their doom shall meet, in that last great day.
We
fear the end days – the unknown,
But
in reality heaven awaits,
And
a new relationship with God.
Live
holy, love generously,
And
when the glory of God comes…
Be
ready and willing.
May
I live as if tomorrow were Judgment Day – with love on my heart.
Amen.
 |
| Covenant Presbyterian Church, Gresham, OR |
#45 Titus
3:5 V
He
brought us out of our old ways of living to a new beginning through
the washing of regeneration; and He made us completely new through
the Holy Spirit.
SONG:
Not What These Hands Have Done (V5,
Bonar, 1864)
Thy
grace alone, O God, to me can pardon speak;
Thy
pow’r alone, O Son of God, can this sore bondage break.
I
bless the Christ of God; I rest on love divine;
and
with unfalt’ring lip and heart, I call this Savior mine.
The
Holy Spirit, unseen yet ever present,
Is
a Soul-Detergent, always washing
Our
hearts to a renewed relationship with God.
Such
a daily cleansing restores us,
Fills
us with God-ways,
And
lets us approach our day with new light.
Thank
you, Lord, for the gift of renewal through the Holy Spirit. Amen.
#50 Revelation
21:5 MSG
The Enthroned continued, “Look! I’m making everything new. Write it all down – each word dependable and accurate.”
 |
| Russian Orthodox Church, Ninilchik, Alaska |
#46 2
John 1:5-6 ESV
...
I am not
writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I
ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in
obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his
command is that you walk in love.
SONG:
Walk in Love
(v1,
Toops, 2017)
When
I wake up in the morning gonna walk in love
When
the evening sun is falling gonna walk I love
Through
the troubles of the day gonna walk in love
Or
whatever comes my way gonna walk in love.
Just
one command -
Not
really new, but old:
Love
one another.
Nothing
more, nothing less;
Love
your neighbors, love the disagreeable!
Spend
your day walking in love.
Wherever
I go, whomever I encounter, may I walk today in love. Amen.
May
my actions be worthy of the grace you have given, O Lord. Amen.
 |
| Old St. Richard's Cathedral, Columbia Falls, MT |
#47 Revelation
5:9 ESV
“And
they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood
you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and
people and nation”.
SONG:
This Is the Feast of Victory
(v1,
Arthur, 1970)
Worthy
is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
Whose
blood set us free to be people of God.
We
are worthy,
Not
because of anything we do
Or
have done.
Worthy
simply because
In
Christ a New Song has been sung
And
we are part of the chorus.
 |
| Mankato, MN Presbyterian Church |
#48 Revelation
21:1 MSG
I
saw Heaven and earth new-created. Gone the first Heaven, gone the
first earth, gone the sea.
SONG:
Then I Saw a New Heaven
(v1,
Idle, 1973)
Then
I saw a new heaven and earth for the first had passed away;
and
the holy city came down from God like a bride on her wedding day.
And
I know how he loves his own,
for I heard his great voice tell
They
would be his people, and he their God,
and among them he came to
dwell.
A
new heaven, a new earth
The
universe is constantly in re-creation.
But
LOVE is a different creation
This
kind of Heaven can be here,
This
kind of new-earth is based on LOVE
And
how well we creatures can live it.
Help
us live into the new heaven and earth by loving one another, God.
Amen.
 |
| Chapel, Custer State Park, South Dakota |
#49 Revelation 21:4 GNT
He
will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more
death, no more grief or crying or pain. The old things have
disappeared.
SONG:
O for a World
(v5,
Winter, 1987)
O
for a world preparing for God’s glorious reign of peace,
Where
time and tears will be no more,
and all but love will cease.
No
more tears, only love;
But
sometimes love produces tears -
Tears
of empathy or joy.
The
new heaven may not be without sadness,
But
love and community will reign together
In
overcoming the old.
Prepare
us, Lord, for this new world built
on
love for one another. Amen.
 |
| National Cathedral of Brazil, Brasilia |
The Enthroned continued, “Look! I’m making everything new. Write it all down – each word dependable and accurate.”
SONG:
This Is a Day for New Beginnings
(v4,
Wren, 1978)
Christ
is alive, and goes before us to show and share what love can do.
This
is a day of new beginnings; our God is making all things new.
A
day for new beginnings!
Every
morning! Every day!
Forget
the failures,
The
slate is clean.
God
is making all things new!
Alleluia!Thank
you, God of New Beginnings, for the Love within fresh starts. Amen.
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