Prayer for a New Year

CATHEDRAL NEWSLETTER - 7 January 2025

Friends in Christ, I am writing this note from the Church Missionary Society Summer School at Katoomba. It's been lovely to see twenty or so other members of the Cathedral up here.

There have also been chances to hear from our link missionaries in Bari, Italy, Simon and Jess Cowell, on their brief home assignment visit, as well as from our former student ministers, Lachie and Zaneta Neal, who are now Missionaries-in-Training, about to head to St Andrew's Hall in Melbourne, for 6 months of cross cultural training, in preparation for ministry in Japan in 2026. 

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Last Sunday I promised to share the prayer I led for the New Year. Here it is:

Prayer for the New Year
Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. From everlasting to everlasting you are God, and the mountains are in your hands.

You have set our iniquities before you; our secret sins are seen in the light of your presence. So as another year has passed, we thank you again for all your mercies that lead us to repentance, through the sacrifice of your Son, our Saviour, whose blood covers our sin and brings forgiveness. 

As a New Year commences, teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

By the power of your Spirit, throughout 2025, might:
•    Jesus be our joy;
•    Faith be our foundation;
•    Scripture be our sustenance;
•    Love be our language; 
•    Mercy be our manner;
•    Integrity be our intention;
•    Truthful be our talking; 
•    Courageous be our commitment;
•    Gentle be our going;
•    and might your Glory be our goal.

May your favour rest upon us, Lord our God. Establish the work of our hands for us. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

You might be able to discern that it is based on Psalm 90, but the alliterative section of 'prayer wishes' was inspired by Dustin Benge. If you want an image of that section, you could go to the Cathedral Facebook page, where you can also 'like' or 'share' with friends.

As I have been reflecting on the New Year, where we often talk about resolutions for new conduct or habits, whether for exercise, spiritual disciplines, new hobbies or work practices, I was forcibly struck by this post on social media:

Smith was alluding to the fact that we so often fail in our resolutions. We fall short in our good intentions. Sometimes we are straight out lazy, ill-disciplined or rebebellious. But at the heart of the gospel is the great truth that Jesus will never fail in his resolution to save sinners. Smith's next tweet was as follows:

“Christ Jesus took hold of me” Phil.3:12.

This year won’t be about us “getting a grip,” but resting and rejoicing in Jesus’ grip of us. Nail-scarred hands are holding us, ruling the world, making all things new, and writing our stories with the ink of grace.

In a similar vein, the Aussie evangelist in Britain, Glen Scrivener, wrote a new year hymn, and the chorus goes like this, speaking of God:

Before our beginning, beyond all our plans,
Beneath all our pledges, your promises stand. 
Above all the heights we resolve to secure, 
Your resolution in Christ will endure.

There's a great truth never to forget this year and until we go to be with the Lord or until Christ returns,

Warmly in Christ,

Sandy Grant
Dean of Sydney