Tuesday, January 19, 2010

A New Year tradition that keeps giving . . . 365 days of the year

For as long as I can remember, and maybe longer, we have a New Year tradition that has been very meaningful and powerful.
I've already mentioned that my grandfather was the pastor of a church in New Jersey.
We always had amazing watch-night services on New Year's Eve. The service would begin at 10 p.m. As people would come in the door, they would take a handwritten 3x5 card, from a basket perched on a chair by the door (sometimes Gram would hold them out like a fan of cards and let the people pick, blank side up of course), that had a scripture on it. That was to be "their scripture" for that year.
My gram, who took the time to write each scripture, would spend days praying and asking God what scriptures to include in that year's batch.
During the service, we would spend time singing and worshiping, and then each person would get up and testify about the year that was slipping away, and read their scripture about the year that was approaching new and full of possibility.
At midnight, we would have communion together and pray, and then dismiss to the basement fellowship room for some amazing Italian food and goodies. We were always there well into the early morning hours. It was such a wonderful way to ring in the New Year.
Grandpa no longer pastors the little church in Newark, and Gram has gone on to heaven, where she is no longer restricted by time, but my family has always continued the New Year scripture tradition. Grandpa has taken up grandma's post, and lets us pick our scriptures out of a bowl when we are together around the table on New Year's Eve. And he continues to send the scripture cards on to his family and certain old friends who are far away now as well.
Through the years, these scriptures have been a source of comfort and strength, a reminder of the promise of God for the year.
I keep mine with me, in my planner or in my wallet, and we either hang the boy's cards on the fridge or on their bedroom door, somewhere they can see it.
Our scriptures for 2010:
Joe ~ " . . .being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." Phil. 1:6
Joy ~ "Be anxious for nothing, but in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God." Phil. 4:6
Isaac ~ "When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you shall lie down and your sleep shall be sweet." Prov. 3:24
Josiah ~ "God is your refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1
Daniel ~ "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight O Lord, my strength and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14

3 comments:

Michelle said...

Awesome. Nuff said.

Patti said...

Hey....where's my scripture?

Joy N. said...

Ask gramps . . . he has one for you. (You may have to remind him.)