O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home. Isaac Watts (paraphrasing Psalm 90)

O God our help,

While we number the year past and one now present, give us wisdom of heart.

Our year last seemed long. Our next perhaps longer still.

And we are weary, becoming wary.

How much longer?

To you? A thousand are like a moment. Be with us, small as we are, throughout this moment.

How much help will we need?

All of it we fear, we pray, we hope.

Till the years become eternity and we are home.

With you, who with us has always been.

Amen.

Rev. Dr. Jerry Andrews serves at First Presbyterian Church, San Diego