Eric Heath - January 2, 2026
A Prayer for the People of Central Abbotsford, Upon the Dawning of the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Twenty-Six:
LORD, we love You;
teach us to love You more.
You have created the heavens and the earth;
You have set them in their courses.
As we dwell on the latter and gaze at the former,
We mark the completion of one orbit around the greater light;
And the beginning of another.
The year that we have just left behind
Was full of tragedies and triumphs,
All of which You ordained, and
All of which we began the year without knowing.
Likewise, the year that has just awoken
Is filled with tragedies and triumphs,
All of which You have ordained, and
All of which we begin the year without knowing.
There is comfort in this truth;
comfort in knowing that we serve a God in whom there is no shadow of change.
There is challenge in this truth;
challenge in acknowledging that we are but finite creatures.
And, so, as we look forward to seeing all that You will reveal in Your creation this year,
Let us, as the people of the Central Abbotsford gathering of Northview Community Church,
Grow in the knowledge of You
in Your Scriptures;
through Your Son; and
by Your Spirit,
Grow in the love of one another
in our gatherings;
through our days;
by Your strength,
Grow in care for the world
visiting orphans;
caring for widows in their affliction;
yet remaining unstained by that world;
by Your grace.
Lord, knowing that
You have placed us in this place, at this time,
we ask You to strengthen Your church and Your people,
at Northview Central Abbotsford:
Remind us that we are brothers and sisters in Christ;
Reveal to us the beauty of restored relationship with You and others;
Sanctify us in truth, honour, justice, purity, love, encouragement, excellence, and praise;
Keep us faithful to Your word and, moreover, faithful to our first love;
Provide us all that we need for life and godliness;
Create in us clean hearts.
Lord, You love us;
teach us to love You more.