It’s a “New Year,” a time for thinking about how we might consider adjusting our lives to live with more purpose and meaning. When we live in a world seemingly dominated by negative news coming from every direction, living with faith sufficient to maintain a spirit of hope and optimism can become a non-stop challenge. Looking for more “positives” in our lives, while standing firm in our convictions and beliefs, isn’t an easy task. But when it’s achieved, we can become a more powerful people, filled with mental, physical, and spiritual strength.
When I had the calling of ward organist for many years, I always made sure that the hymn, “Come, Let Us Anew,” (hymn # 217), was on the sacrament program for the first Sunday of the new year, to be sung as the opening hymn.