In his article, Pastor Treglown talked about New Year’s traditions—things people do to usher in the new year. Whenever I read about these traditions, I’m always struck by the thing that so many of these traditions have in common. Here’s what I mean: here’s a list of some common things people do around the world for New Year’s and then also why people do those things:

Tradition:	Rationale:
Eat twelve grapes (Spain)	To have good luck
Break a plate (Denmark)	To have good luck
Hang onions over your door (Greece)	To have good luck
Wear white (Brazil)	To have good luck
Eat a marzipan pig (Germany)	To have good luck
Let nothing leave the house (Ireland)	To have good luck
Get the piece of bread with a coin in it (Mexico)	To have good luck

Notice the pattern here? So many of these traditions have to do with hoping for good luck in the new year. And I think the reason for this is that a new year can be a cause for real anxiety.

After all, a new year might not be marked by good fortune. If the last year was difficult, then there’s the fear that the next year will be no better. If the last year was good, then there’s the fear that the next year won’t be—that it’s only a matter of time until things go wrong.

In the midst of all the uncertainties and anxieties that come with a new year, then, let us turn to God’s word—and let us turn especially to the epistle readings that we’re going to hear in church this January, because these readings all focus on the blessings that God has given to us. From calling us his own children (Ephesians 1:3–14) to the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:1–12) to the promise of resurrection and eternal life (Romans 6:1–11) to all of the various gifts we have (1 Corinthians 12:1–11 and 12–31), we hear that God has richly blessed us.

And so as we turn to face another year, let this be a time not of anxiety, but of joy—because even as this year will certainly be full of struggles, sorrows, disappointments, and fears, just as every year past has been, this year will also be marked with something that every year past has also brought us: the blessings and mercies of our God. At the start of a new year, let us rejoice in our God whose mercies are certainly new for us every year (and, indeed, every morning!).

Happy New Year!

-Pastor Duncan