THE OFFICE OF THANKSGIVING AT THE NEW YEAR
After the Divine Liturgy is ended, the Deacon says: Bless, Master.
Priest: Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Cantor: Amen.
Reader: O Come, let us worship God Our King. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, Our King and Our God. O come, let us worship and fall down before the Very Christ, Our King and Our God. O come, let us worship and fall down before Him. (Three reverences.)
Psalm 65
Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion; And to You the vow shall be performed. O You who hear prayer, To You all flesh will come. Iniquities prevail against me; As for our transgressions, You will provide atonement for them.
Blessed is the man You choose, And cause to approach You, That he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple.
By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation, You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, And of the far-off seas; Who established the mountains by His strength, Being clothed with power; You who still the noise of the seas, The noise of their waves, And the tumult of the peoples. They also who dwell in the farthest parts are afraid of Your signs; You make the outgoings of the morning and evening rejoice. You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; The river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, For so You have prepared it. You water its ridges abundantly, You settle its furrows; You make it soft with showers, You bless its growth.
You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance. They drop on the pastures of the wilderness, And the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks; The valleys also are covered with grain; They shout for joy, they also sing.
(The psalmist prays for those who have been fruitless, and have become full of good harvest through faith in God. In the Orthodox Church, v. 4 is used often in prayers for the departed, and for their rest in a place of peace.)
Then the Deacon says the following Litany:
In peace let us pray to the Lord. For the peace that is from above, and for the salvation of our souls. For the peace of the whole world; for the welfare of God's Holy Churches, and for the union of all. For this holy Temple, and for those who with faith, devoutness and in the fear of God have entered therein. For our Archbishop Nathaniel; for the honorable Presbytery, the Diaconate in Christ; for all the clergy and the laity. For this city, and for every city and land, and for the those who with faith dwell therein. That he will graciously accept this present thanksgiving and supplication of us unworthy sinners on His most heavenly Altar, and in His compassion and have mercy upon us. That our prayers may be well-pleasing in His sight, and that He will forgive us and all His people their transgressions, both voluntary and involuntary, which we have wickedly committed in the year that is past. That He will bless the beginning and continuance of this year with the grace of His love for mankind; and will grant unto us peaceful times and favorable seasons, and that we may live without sins...
The Priest offers the following Prayer:
O Master, Lord Our God, the Source of life and of immortality, the Author of all created things both visible and invisible, who has place all seasons and years in Thy power, and dost direct all things with Thy Most-Wise and All-Gracious Providence: We thank Thee for Thy bounties, which Thou hast poured out upon us during our life that is past, and we entreat Thee, O All-Bountiful Lord! Bless the crown of the coming year with Thy goodness: preserve Thy beloved servants, our president, and all the authorities; Multiply the days of their life in health unalterable, and grant them progress in all virtues. Bestow Thy good things from above upon all Thy people, as also health and salvation, and good furtherance in all things. Deliver Thy Holy Church, this city, parish and all cities and lands from every evil assault, and vouchsafe unto them peace and tranquility; and grant that we may always offer thanksgiving unto Thee, the Father Who is from everlasting, together with Thine Only-begotten Son, and Thine All-Holy, Good, and Life-Giving Spirit, God glorified in one Essence, and to hymn Thine All-Holy Name.
Exclamation:
Glory to Thee, O God, Our Benefactor, unto ages of ages. Amen.
Priest: May Christ, Our True God, Who for our salvation condescended to be circumcised in the flesh, through the prayers of His Most Holy Mother, and of all Saints, have mercy upon us and save us, forasmuch as he is gracious and loveth mankind.
(The holy service above is not presented in its entirety.)
MAY OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST BLESS US ALL SO THAT WE MAY HAVE A PEACEFUL, HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS AND SPIRITUALLY UPLIFTING NEW YEAR 2019!
With agape in Christ,
+Father George