A New Year Dawns With Grace And Hope

What a wonderful way to start the New Year at church today!  

Here is a song that we sang together as a hymn. I had never heard this before, although the tune is the same as "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna", so that is familiar.

The reason this song spoke to me today was because it was all about renewal...Renew is my "One Word" for 2018, and I believe I heard this word several times this morning in the worship service and the sermon.  This was God's confirmation that this word will become a very big part of my life in this New Year.  I pray that it will be used to bring honor and glory to God, my King.

"A New Year Dawns with Grace and Hope"

by Jon Paige and Jonathan Martin

Chorus:

"Rejoice, sing alleluia!

Break forth in joyful song.

Rejoice, sing alleluia!

Alleluia, Alleluia, Rejoice!

"A new year dawns with grace and hope,

A chance to start again.

The past has sung its weary song,

fresh music now begins.

Revived, we stand to face the sun,

We rise at its command,

to work, to serve, to find our place

in God's creative plan.

The morning breaks with golden plans,

awake, the night is through!

The sorrows of the night have passed,

our joy has been renewed.

The winter's sad and lonesome cry

surrenders to new life.

New journeys wait and we must go and dance into the LIGHT.

A new year dawns, let earth be glad,

creation, lift your voice.

Give thanks to God for old and new,

let every heart rejoice.

The valleys that have challenged us,

the undiscovered lands.

And everything is possible when you are in God's hands!"

Hebrews 12:1-2

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by 

so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight, 

and the sin which so easily ensnares us, 

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,

who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,

despising the shame, 

and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.."

Amen!