God, in the past year
We have been tested and tried.
We have been given joys and pains in their measure
Laughter and sadness in their measure.
And now we look forward into a new year,
A new leg of our journey,
Knowing that not everything will be easy
Joy and pain, laughter and sadness will meet us in turn.

Help us to live this year with intention
With compassion
With attention
With assertiveness
With kindness toward all (including ourselves)
With purpose
With calm
With gratitude.

And whatever storms we must navigate
Whatever roads we must travel
Be present with us.
Speak to us of your mercy;
Speak to us of your love,
That we may in turn speak mercy and love into being
In this world
And in this year.

Amen

Holy Spirit, Lover of our souls:
You have set us in this world
Each with intention, destiny, and purpose,
And given us opportunities to know you
To connect with you,
And to become our best selves.

You have given us freedom of choice on this journey.
In love you have allowed us to choose
Whether we will listen and pay attention to you;
Whether we will love you.

We choose you, our Friend and Redeemer.
Make our lives a testament to your love.
We don’t want to settle for surface level
Or for a spirituality that never changes us.

Help us to be patient with the process of growth,
     To even enjoy it;
     To be present with the journey of life, spirit, soul
     To dig deep and uncover whatever is hidden
     And bring it to light (Matthew 10:26).
     To encounter our inner darkness without fear
     To look for beauty, and do its work;
We set our intentions toward life and light.

We know that we are our best selves
When we most aware of your grace towards us.
Walk with us on this journey of life
Now and forever.

Amen