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FOCUS VERSE: “There’s a season for everything and a time for every matter under the heavens.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1 (CEB)

PRAYER OF PRESENCE: Dear Lord, help me to present to all your have to offer in this moment. Amen.

SCRIPTURE: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

HYMN FOR REFLECTION:
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1zLN9feCDE 

Come, Let Us Anew
Charles Wesley, 1707–1788

  1. Come, let us anew our journey pursue,
    Roll round with the year,
    And never stand still till the Master appear.
    His adorable will let us gladly fulfill,
    And our talents improve
    By the patience of hope and the labor of love,
    By the patience of hope and the labor of love.
  2. Our life as a dream, our time as a stream
    Glide swiftly away,
    And the fugitive moment refuses to stay;
    For the arrow is flown and the moments are gone.
    The millennial year
    Presses on to our view, and eternity’s here,
    Presses on to our view, and eternity’s here.
  3. Oh, that each in the day of His coming may say,
    “I have fought my way thru;
    I have finished the work thou didst give me to do.”
    Oh, that each from his Lord may receive the glad word:
    “Well and faithfully done;
    Enter into my joy and sit down on my throne;
    Enter into my joy and sit down on my throne.”

REFLECTION:

As we step into this new year, it is fitting to turn our attention to the timeless wisdom of The Teacher in Ecclesiastes. These opening verses remind us of the cyclical nature of life—seasons come and go, the sun rises and sets, the rivers flow into the sea, and yet, the rhythms of creation continue unchanged. The Teacher’s reflections compel us to pause, recognize the patterns of life, and discern what these rhythms mean for us in this season.

However, simply hearing these wise words is not enough; they require action on our part. We must engage in the challenging work of discernment—recognizing and accepting the differences in seasons and adjusting ourselves accordingly. Discernment asks us to take an honest look at where we are, what is changing within us, and how we are called to respond.

A few months ago, a clergy colleague shared that the biblical commentaries he had relied on for years no longer felt as helpful in his sermon preparation. After some conversation, we realized the issue was not with the commentaries but with how he was engaging them. He had grown in his process, moving from using commentaries as sources of knowledge to valuing them as conversation partners. This internal change reflected his growth as a preacher and thinker, but he had not yet paused to discern what had shifted within him.

The lesson here is profound: life is filled with seasons of internal and external change, and growth often comes not just from the change itself but from our willingness to discern and respond to it. Ecclesiastes calls us to recognize these seasons, not as futile repetitions but as opportunities for transformation and alignment with God’s purposes. As we begin this new year, let us commit to listening, reflecting, and discerning where God is calling us in this season of life.

CLOSING PRAYER:

We give You thanks—yea, more than thanks O Lord our God, for all Your goodness at all times, and in all places, because You have shielded, rescued, helped, and guided us all the days of our lives, and brought us unto this hour. We pray and beseech You, merciful God, to grant in Your goodness that we may spend this day, and all the time of our lives, without sin, in fullness of joy, holiness, and reverence of You. But drive away from us, O Lord, all envy, all fear, and all temptations. Bestow upon us what is good and meet. Whatever sin we commit in thought, word, or deed, do You in Your goodness and mercy be pleased to pardon. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, through the grace, mercy, and love of Your only begotten Son. Amen. 

Source: Liturgy of St. Mark.

WEEKLY PRACTICE: Jan 1 - 4 (Wed - Sat)

Writing as a Spiritual Practice: Keeping a Prayer Journal

Start strong with a journal as you pray. For just 4 days, make a point of putting pen to paper with at least one word. You may copy down a scripture focus for the day, or write an expression of thoughts during your prayer time. Even if all you can think of is one word or theme, when written down you will find success as you are writing a spiritual practice. Feel free to carry this practice into the rest of the days of this month as well. 

May this act of praying on paper be a practice of renewal and hope. Amen.

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