21st Century Africana Worship Resources for New Year's Day

Call to Worship
Leader: For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.

People: In all seasons we will trust in God.

Leader: God is an on-time God!

People: In doubt and wonder, we will trust in God!

Leader: He may not come when you want him.

People: In waiting and in hoping, we will still trust!

Leader: Our God is always on time!

People: For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.

Leader: Come now; let us praise the living God!

Opening Prayer
God of tomorrows, we thank you for the gift of a new day in a new year. Morning by morning, new mercies we have seen. As we come, we not only bring joy and anticipation, but we also bring the pain that is still fresh as we remember the ones we lost in the past year. We bring the sting of disappointment as we ponder over the relationships that have been broken in the year past. We bring the burden of sadness as we struggle to recover from losing jobs.

Free us, right now, that we may not be identified by the events in our lives, but by the God Event in our lives so that we might worship you this day in the beauty of your Holiness. Amen.

Litany for the New Year
(Based on Revelation 21: 1-6)
Leader: Yesterday was a time of sin and failure.

People: But today God is making all things new!

Leader: Yesterday was a time of pain and anguish.

People: But today God is making all things new!

Leader: Yesterday was a time of lying and cheating.

People: But today God is making all things new!

Leader: Yesterday was a time of smacking lips and rolling eyes in frustration.

People: But today God is making all things new!

All: God is making all things new! It's about to be on!

Or

New Year's Litany
(Based on Psalm 8)
Leader: A new day has begun!

People: (Congregation claps with joy and enthusiasm)

Leader: Are you ready to give God praise?

People: We ARE ready!

Leader: Are you ready to leave behind the baggage?

People: We are ready!

Leader: Are you ready to step out in faith?

People: We are ready!

Leader: Are you ready to forgive?

People: We are ready!

Leader: Even the one who hurt you the most?

People: We are ready!

Leader: Are you ready to release your doubts and fears?

People: We are ready!

All: O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! We are yours and we are ready!

Offertory Prayer
(Based on Matthew 25:31-46)
God of the ages, you have blessed us with yet another year. Help us to make room for the blessings that are in store for us in the coming months. May we be open to learn the right lessons, even if they hurt a little. Help us to obey, so that we won't have to start over ?? painfully. Help us to be patient so that we won't miss divine opportunities. Help us to hang in there when it seems as if everyone else is getting the hook-up except us. Show us how to be fulfilled without material possessions, so that we will not miss what it means to be a blessed people because we have become arrogant, selfish, stingy, and condescending. Enable us to be a blessing so much so that you will recognize us as the ones who gave you bread when you were hungry, drink when you were thirsty, and clothes when you were naked.

Accept our tithes and offerings today as an act of our faith and worship. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Benediction
(Responsive reading)
Leader: It's a new day folks!

People: And you know this!

Leader: It's a new day folks!

People: And it's about to be on!

Leader: It's a new day folks!

People: Our God is making all things new!

Leader: May you be wrapped in God's newness, clothed in God's plan, and stamped with God's design as you go and serve the world!

All: Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!

About the Author: The Rev. B. Kevin Smalls is the Associate Council Director for Young Adult and Campus Ministries for the Baltimore-Washington Conference.