Church New Year

Today marks a New Year for the Church. As in every New Year we resolve with God's help to do better. It's September first and many of the children will go back to school today, marking a new beginning for them in a new classroom, with old and new friends. Maybe today would be a good day to renew old acquaintances and make new friends. Maybe its a good day to revisit our priorities in life and it might be a good day to change our ways, putting off the "old man" and taking on the new. Giving all this new prospective, is the change in the season with a nip in the air. Time to buy some new fall flowers and change the color scheme around here to prepare for the coming fall. Warm clothing and wood stacking. Fall cleaning, and football. This is my favorite time of the year. Apple and spices fill the air and good home cooking. Yes it is....time for change, in more than one way, it's a new beginning. I like change. Mostly, we will need a change of heart, and for that we ask God's blessing.....

Apolytikion in the second tone
Creator of the universe, setting times and seasons by Your sole authority, bless the cycle of the year of Your grace, O Lord, guarding our rulers and Your nation in peace, at the intercession of the Theotokos, and save us.
Kontakion in the fourth tone
You who created all things in Your infinite wisdom, and set the times by Your own authority, grant Your Christian people victories. Blessing our comings and goings throughout this year, guide our works according to Your divine will.