As we come to the end of 2024 Advent Retreat, I want to thank everyone for your prayers. We give God the glory for the last day in the year 2024. John Wesley, co-founder of Methodism started a tradition of spending New Year’s Eve together in prayer and reflection. Beyond keeping his parishioners out of the bars and streets on the New Year’s Eve, Wesley’s idea about Watchnight is to reflect on the past year, think about the next one, and focus on our relationship with God and God’s love to us. Christmas is sufficient proof that God loves us and the need for us to surrender to His love (Jn 3:16).

Wesley’s thought about Watchnight as a time to focus and to renew our relationship with God reminds us about the essence of Christmas, Immanuel, God with us. God is evidently with us for He has given us His ONLY son, Jesus Christ not just for Christmas celebration or for New Year’s Eve. God is with us any day any time and no one can successfully be against us. God is with us because He settled the question of sin. The purpose for which Christ came into the world, was to become a sacrifice for our sins and to offer Himself upon the cross of Calvary. God is with us because He has given us the Holy Spirit as our Helper and Senior Partner- even in the New Year 2025. God is with us because He has made us joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. God is with us, all things will work together for our good even in the New Year. God is with us, eternal life is guarantee for us even as we prayerfully sing, ‘Another year is dawning.’

1.ANOTHER year is dawning :
Dear Master, let it be,
In working or in waiting,
Another year for Thee :

2.Another year of mercies,
Of faithfulness and grace;
Another year of gladness
In the shining of Thy face :

3.Another year of progress,
Another year of praise,
Another year of proving
Thy presence all the days:

4.Another year of service,
Of witness for Thy love;
Another year of training
For holier work above.

5.Another year is dawning :
Dear Master, let it be,
On earth, or else in heaven,
Another year for Thee.