cold, clear night
moon wandering low in the west
end of a day, of a month, of a year
in the darkness, we long for sleep
in our sleeping, we hope to awake
in our waking, we yearn for renewal
new year, new day
renewed energy, courage, hope, opportunities
we count planetary revolutions and orbital trajectories
hours, days, months, seasons, years, epochs
numbered by light instead of darkness
mercy not marking mistakes
grace given generously
promise-planted peace
faith, hope and love
our sleeping is a time for resurrection recharge
the light will always lighten our lives
the Lord Immanuel is with us
in every sunrise, in every new day, in every new year
in our baptism, in our singing,
in our confessing, in our communing,
in our living and in our dying and in our rising again
begin again, my soul
the light of the glory of God calls to you
By Pastor Martin Doering