"Songs of Prayer for the New Year!"
A sermon preached on The First Sunday after Christmas, Sunday, December 30, 2007 at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. The sermon is based on Romans 12:1-8.
Shortly out of high school, I used to work at the AmeriSuites hotel in Roanoke. Inevitably, we would get calls daily from people traveling into Roanoke from out-of-town wanting directions to the hotel. The first thing they would say when calling the hotel was; "How do you get to your hotel?" And, of course, our first response would be; "Where are you coming from?" You see, on any journey one needs to know the destination - where you are going; and the point of origin - where you are starting from, in order for it to be complete. And so it is with life. Tomorrow is the last day of the year. We stand at the threshold of a New Year - 2008!
I read once that in the language of the Navajo Indians, there is more than three hundred thousands words for the phrase "to go," while the English language has only one verb. For the Navajo Indian, like many Native Americans, directions are very important and meaningful. Giving directions is done so in one sequence, always starting with the east, then following the movement or direction of the sun. Each direction represents a time of the day, a time in one’s life journey, and a season of the year. For instance, east is the direction where the sun begins its journey. It also represents new life, or infancy, as well, the end of the cycle of life, such as old age and that transition to the "Other Side." East represents the season of spring. South represents the summertime, and noontime, and the end of childhood. West is the season of fall, as well as the time of young adulthood. North is the wintertime, middle age, and nighttime.
Now, while we are not that detailed nor, that symbolic in our sense of direction, we do see the new year as an opportunity for a new beginning - a fresh start on our journey of life and well as our faith journey. The idea of determining one’s direction at this time of the year is not new. That’s what resolutions are: setting goals for a new direction for ourselves. Whether it is to get in better shape, or to spend more time in prayer and Bible study, or to quit smoking, or to pay off a credit card, or just something very simple, the desired end results define the plan of action - our goal, our destination, if you will.
As we gather on this last Sunday of 2007 and prepare to begin a new year, I want us to do so in song and prayer. A lot of church will reserve the fifth Sunday for a hymn-sing. And, in sense, that is what we are going to be doing this morning, the only difference is ours is a "sermon-sing."
I am sure that many of you are familiar with the hymn writer, Fanny Crosby. It is estimated that she wrote nearly 9,000 hymns throughout the course of her life. She began writing at the age of 8 years old. The unique thing about Fanny’s life is, she lost her eyesight when she was only 6 weeks old due to an eye infection. And, somehow, this disability encouraged her in her faith and in her writing. One of my favorite hymns, which she wrote is "I Am Thine, O LORD." This hymn is based on the words of Hebrews10:22, which reads; "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the profession of our faith without wavering, for God is indeed faithful." May this hymn be our prayer as we enter the new year - a prayer of adoration and consecration. Let’s sing this hymn together, it is found in our song book. (Sing: "I Am Thine, O LORD!")
I read once that in the language of the Navajo Indians, there is more than three hundred thousands words for the phrase "to go," while the English language has only one verb. For the Navajo Indian, like many Native Americans, directions are very important and meaningful. Giving directions is done so in one sequence, always starting with the east, then following the movement or direction of the sun. Each direction represents a time of the day, a time in one’s life journey, and a season of the year. For instance, east is the direction where the sun begins its journey. It also represents new life, or infancy, as well, the end of the cycle of life, such as old age and that transition to the "Other Side." East represents the season of spring. South represents the summertime, and noontime, and the end of childhood. West is the season of fall, as well as the time of young adulthood. North is the wintertime, middle age, and nighttime.
Now, while we are not that detailed nor, that symbolic in our sense of direction, we do see the new year as an opportunity for a new beginning - a fresh start on our journey of life and well as our faith journey. The idea of determining one’s direction at this time of the year is not new. That’s what resolutions are: setting goals for a new direction for ourselves. Whether it is to get in better shape, or to spend more time in prayer and Bible study, or to quit smoking, or to pay off a credit card, or just something very simple, the desired end results define the plan of action - our goal, our destination, if you will.
As we gather on this last Sunday of 2007 and prepare to begin a new year, I want us to do so in song and prayer. A lot of church will reserve the fifth Sunday for a hymn-sing. And, in sense, that is what we are going to be doing this morning, the only difference is ours is a "sermon-sing."
I am sure that many of you are familiar with the hymn writer, Fanny Crosby. It is estimated that she wrote nearly 9,000 hymns throughout the course of her life. She began writing at the age of 8 years old. The unique thing about Fanny’s life is, she lost her eyesight when she was only 6 weeks old due to an eye infection. And, somehow, this disability encouraged her in her faith and in her writing. One of my favorite hymns, which she wrote is "I Am Thine, O LORD." This hymn is based on the words of Hebrews10:22, which reads; "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the profession of our faith without wavering, for God is indeed faithful." May this hymn be our prayer as we enter the new year - a prayer of adoration and consecration. Let’s sing this hymn together, it is found in our song book. (Sing: "I Am Thine, O LORD!")
Mary Lathbury has written a beautiful hymn titled; "Break Thou the Bread of Life." Typically, this is a hymn sung as a Communion Hymn, but it is actually intended to be sung with the Scriptures in mind. The "bread of life" refers to the Word of God. All of us need to spend more time reading and studying the Scriptures. As the Psalmist reminds us; "Thy word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path..." They give us a sense of direction and guidance. May our prayer be that we will spend more time in Bible study in this coming year. As Joshua wrote in chapter 1, verse 8; "This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous and then you shall be successful." Mary Lathbury voices for us a prayer that is appropriate when we open up our Bibles and read. Let’s sing this hymn together as a reminder of the resolution we will make to read and study God’s Word more in the new year. (Sing: "Break Thou the Bread of Life.")
As we enter this new year let our prayer be for spiritual illumination. Only God can open our eyes and our ears that we might see and ear spiritual realities. Clara Scott wrote the familiar hymn; "Open My Eyes, That I May See." The opening words of the first stanza are similar to those found in Psalm 119:18 reads; "Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law." The prayer is for "glimpses of truth" that shall "set me free." Scott, in the second stanza asks God not only to open her eyes but her ears so she may hear "voices of truth" that shall banish all that is false. The final stanza is a prayer for God to open the mouth to "bear gladly the truth everywhere. What a fitting prayer for this new year, and may this be our prayer. (Sing: "Open My Eyes, That I May See.")
Our next hymn is derived from the words of Peter in first epistle; "Ye shall be holy; for I am holy," it is the hymn "Take Time to Be Holy". The words of this hymn speak to our need for quiet meditation and reflection, as well as prayer. It reminds us that when we are centered with God, we will do God’s work. Nonetheless, the focus of this hymn is not on the tasks but on the centering. This is a call for personal holiness, for a personal quiet relationship with God through prayer, study, listening. Holy acts will come from a holy relationship with God. Certainly, there is no more fitting a hymn or prayer to offer as we enter this new year. (Sing: "Take Time to Be Holy.")
And, our final hymn, is perhaps one of the greatest prayer hymns of all. "Take my life." Too
often, we are willing to pray "Take my life and let it be..." But how difficult it is to finish that prayer, "consecrated, Lord, to thee." Frances Havergal wrote this hymn after an unusual vivid prayer experience. She was praying that the Lord might use her in some way and somehow these words came to her; "Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee. Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of thy love. Take my voice, and let me sing; unto thee my praise I bring. Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold. Take my will and make it thine, it shall be no longer mine. And take my love; my Lord, I pour at thy feet its treasure store." And she finishes this hymn by saying; "ever, only, all for thee." May this truly be our prayer, as we enter this new year, "take our lives - every aspect, and let them be consecrated, Lord, to thee." (Sing: "Take My Life.")
When we pray, we let God come into our lives to help us - to give us a sense of direction and guidance. We also dedicate ourselves to helping God with God’s work in the world. Let us rejoice because of the year that is ahead of us and the opportunities for doing just that, that await us. And so, as we begin a new year, let us barrow from the tradition of the Navajo Indians and follow the movement of the Son, S-O-N, and allow him to light our path and strengthen us in our journey of faith. Happy New Year!
And, our final hymn, is perhaps one of the greatest prayer hymns of all. "Take my life." Too
often, we are willing to pray "Take my life and let it be..." But how difficult it is to finish that prayer, "consecrated, Lord, to thee." Frances Havergal wrote this hymn after an unusual vivid prayer experience. She was praying that the Lord might use her in some way and somehow these words came to her; "Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee. Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of thy love. Take my voice, and let me sing; unto thee my praise I bring. Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold. Take my will and make it thine, it shall be no longer mine. And take my love; my Lord, I pour at thy feet its treasure store." And she finishes this hymn by saying; "ever, only, all for thee." May this truly be our prayer, as we enter this new year, "take our lives - every aspect, and let them be consecrated, Lord, to thee." (Sing: "Take My Life.")
When we pray, we let God come into our lives to help us - to give us a sense of direction and guidance. We also dedicate ourselves to helping God with God’s work in the world. Let us rejoice because of the year that is ahead of us and the opportunities for doing just that, that await us. And so, as we begin a new year, let us barrow from the tradition of the Navajo Indians and follow the movement of the Son, S-O-N, and allow him to light our path and strengthen us in our journey of faith. Happy New Year!
posted by Pastor Christopher @ 4:49 PM
