Ship of Fools: New Year Liturgy

Thread: New Year Liturgy Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Known as my father's child (# 4310) on :

Happy New Year to you all.
My church is running a night of prayer this Friday, and I'm taking some time to do a more structured slot entitled 'giving the next year to God'.
Some of it will be personal reflection, but I wanted some good prayers/blessings/responses (liturgy) to give it some structure. I thought it would be easy to find some online- (it must exist surely!), but haven't found much so far. Can any of you lovely shipmates point me towards any good resources.
Thanks

Posted by gog (# 15615) on :

Sounds a little like a Watchnight service. Some resources here:

http://www.gbod.org/lead-your-church/lectionary-planning-helps/new-years-eve-watch-night

http://www.gbod.org/planning-calendar/new-years-eve-day/resource/planning-for-new-years-eve-covenant-making-or-prayer#anchor2

There are other new year/watchnight resources on this site as well.

Hope these help
gog

Posted by Known as my father's child (# 4310) on :

That's the kind of thing. It's not quite a watch service, but there is certainly an element of covenanting that I want to explore in the section I'm doing.
More suggestions also welcome

Posted by Clotilde (# 17600) on :

The Times and Seasons book of the Church of England has some useful resources for the New Year too. Its available online too.

See this link for help.

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :

I wonder if we can steer this away from a homework thread to the broader question "why"?

I have never bothered with New Year's services because I see Advent Sunday as the beginning of the Christian year, and January 1 as a merely secular festival. Of course anyone is welcome to pray at any time, but by and large, especially a week after I have exhausted myself with Christmas liturgies, I'd prefer to spend time with family and friends on New Year's Eve, leave the church locked, perhaps get on the piss, whatever.

Actually these days I'd rather sleep, but my family won't let me [Roll Eyes]

[ 02. January 2014, 17:29: Message edited by: Zappa ]

Posted by Known as my father's child (# 4310) on :

In many ways I agree with you Zappa. I've never been to a new year's service as the churches I've belonged to haven't done them- often I suspect because the clergy are exhausted or away spending time with friends and family.
But I started this 'homework' thread as I have some 'homework' that needs doing before tomorrow night!

As to the why: We are having a night of prayer at this point because we a)have a new(ish) prayer shed that requires more playing with b) the demographic of our church (well the evening congregation at least) is largely 20/30s so many of us have been away, but are now back, excited to see what God has in store for the year ahead. c) we have fairly regular nights of prayer throughout the year anyway

Posted by fabula rasa (# 11436) on :

Zappa, I agree that there's a lot of room for questioning the theological significance of a New Year's service, but in many congregations there's an overriding cultural reason to have one: because in many African countries, it's an important socio-spiritual tradition. In the UK, it can be the one service of the year when your church is absolutely heaving. And is one of the ways a white parish hierarchy can respond to the needs of (some parts of) the African community.

Posted by Clotilde (# 17600) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Known as my father's child:
In many ways I agree with you Zappa. I've never been to a new year's service as the churches I've belonged to haven't done them- often I suspect because the clergy are exhausted or away spending time with friends and family.
But I started this 'homework' thread as I have some 'homework' that needs doing before tomorrow night!

As to the why: We are having a night of prayer at this point because we a)have a new(ish) prayer shed that requires more playing with b) the demographic of our church (well the evening congregation at least) is largely 20/30s so many of us have been away, but are now back, excited to see what God has in store for the year ahead. c) we have fairly regular nights of prayer throughout the year anyway

How did it go? - well I hope [Smile]

Any reflections to share from it?

Posted by ken (# 2460) on :

We have a watchnight service. In some years it has been our best-attended service of the whole year. I have never been to one.

Posted by Clotilde (# 17600) on :

quote:
Originally posted by ken:
We have a watchnight service. In some years it has been our best-attended service of the whole year. I have never been to one.

Thats a shame Ken! Would be interesting to read a report from one

[Smile]

Posted by Bishops Finger (# 5430) on :

We used to have one at The Tin Tabernacle Of My Yoof (45 years ago..... [Frown]

). Abbreviated BCP Evensong, with about a dozen elderly folk in the congo (plus me - I wasn't elderly then). In all fairness, that wasn't a bad turn-out, given the average Sunday attendance of 30 or so.

I could never quite see the point of it. IIRC, Watchnight Services (call them what you will) have never been a part of mainstream Anglican liturgy or practice.

The church at which I now serve has a well-established Mass on New Year's Day, to celebrate The Naming of Jesus, but that's a different thing altogether.

Ian J.

Posted by ken (# 2460) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Clotilde:

quote:
Originally posted by ken:
We have a watchnight service. In some years it has been our best-attended service of the whole year. I have never been to one.
Thats a shame Ken! Would be interesting to read a report from one

Other things to do that night!

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