New Year
January 1

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Click on Scripture Lessons below for study links and resources for each individual pericope:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

Psalm 8

Revelation 21:1-6a

Matthew 25:31-46

Reading and Studying the Text This Week

• Texts:
  • Illustrated lectionary readings at Vanderbilt Divinity Library.
  • Lectionary readings from the Episcopal Lectionary.
• Commentary, Exegesis & Sermon Preparation (see also listings at individual scripture pages, linked in listings at top of page)
  • Preaching Helps (New Year 2008). Safiyah Fosua, United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship.
  • "Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World," The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B. Clendenin, Journey with Jesus Foundation, 2006.
  • Selected Sermon, Christmas 1 / New Year's Eve (RCL), by the Rev. Melford Bud Holland, in Worship that Works, ECUSA, 2006/07.
  • Selected Sermon, Holy Name of Jesus/New Year's Day, by the Very Rev. Anthony Clavier, in Worship that Works, ECUSA, 2006.
  • Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors:
    • "Freed to Plan Tomorrow," 1 January 2007, David Zersen
    • "Thoughts about Judging and Pleading," 31 December 2006, David Zersen
    • "What Are You Waiting For?" 1 January 2006, David Zersen
    • "Time and Eternity," 31 December 2005, Hubert Beck
    • "When Love Catches Us By Surprise," 31 December 2004, David Zersen
  • "Happiness," Rabbi Herbert Bronstein, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 1991.
• A list of links to on-line Bibles and general Bible study resources.
• A list of links to scholarly and preaching discussion groups and their homepages.
• A list of links to other lectionary-based preaching and worship resources.

OnLine Worship and Liturgy Resources

• Complete Liturgies and General Worship Planning Resources:
  • Worship Planning Helps (New Year's Eve/Day, 2008): Worship & Preaching Notes, Hymn Suggestions and Worship Resources from the United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship.
  • Worship and Music Resources for Christmas 1A (and New Year's), John Maynard, posted by Will Hume at Word & Table.
  • A Service for New Years Eve (with communion), Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
  • United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship resources: Watch Night Vespers, Watch Night "Owlah" Service, Hymn for the New Year, etc.
• Prayers, Prefaces, Litanies, etc:
  • Laughing Bird Liturgical Resources, New Year, by Nathan Nettleton, South Yarra Community Baptist Church, Melbourne, Australia. Prayers, blessings, Eucharistic prefaces and scripture paraphrases.
  • 21st Century Africana Liturgical Resources, New Year 2008, Cynthia A. Bond Hopson, PhD, United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship.
  • Prayer of the Church, New Year's Eve, 2007, Let Us Pray, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Worship and Music Resources for Christmas 1A (and New Year's), John Maynard, posted by Will Hume at Word & Table.
  • "At the Turning of the Year," A Hymn for the New Year by Michael Hudson. United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship.
  • "O Lord, Our Lord," hymn for the New Year based on Psalm 8, F. Richard Garland, United Methodist Church GBOD.
  • Hymns of the Spirit Three, New Year, Richard E. Hurst, Universalist National Memorial Church.
• Graphics and Bulletin Materials:
  • Lectionary Puzzles, New Years Day. Word search puzzles in RTF or plain text, by Reg McMillan, St.Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Peterborough, Ontario.
• For Children:
  • Lectionary Puzzles, New Years Day. Word search puzzles in RTF or plain text, by Reg McMillan, St.Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Peterborough, Ontario.
• A list of links to other lectionary-based preaching and worship resources.