Weekly reflection

Happy New Year from all at Cruden Parish Church!


New Year Reflection - 1 January 2021

The poem ‘Ring out, wild bells was written by Alfred Lord Tennyson, in commemoration of the death of a close friend Arthur Hallem who passed away at the age of only 23.
The poem both resonates with the intensity of grief and the resurgence of hope. In a time of pandemic and the weariness of soul being felt by so many, it is an appropriate reflection for a New Year. Today we look forward, with the hope of faith coupled with the coming of an extensive vaccination programme which will ensure an end to the dreary lockdown.
Rev Sean Swindells,
Cruden Parish Church

Ring out, wild bells
                by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
   The flying cloud, the frosty light:
   The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
   Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
   The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind
   For those that here we see no more;
   Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
   And ancient forms of party strife;
   Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
   The faithless coldness of the times;
   Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
   The civic slander and the spite;
   Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
   Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
   Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
   The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
   Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

A New Year's Prayer
Lord, You make all things new You bring hope alive in our hearts And cause our Spirits to be born again. Thank you for this new year For all the potential it holds. Come and kindle in us A mighty flame So that in our time, many will see the wonders of God And live forever to praise Your glorious name.
Amen