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The start of a New Year is always a time for resolutions, even though any day of the year can be a new beginning if we choose it to be! One resolution which lends itself to January 1 is reading the Bible in a year. This sounds like a simple enough task, but in reality it’s very difficult. One reason is that you reach a difficult part of the Bible in February/March time, another reason is that some of the material is duplicated (and told from different perspectives), and the arrangement of the Bible is not chronological. These three difficulties conspire to confound even the most dedicated reader, as I know from experience!

An answer to this problem is to read the Bible in chronological order, and there are a number of Bibles which set out the material in this way. One year I read the Bible through in the New International Version, although I didn’t find the associated commentary helpful as it was written by a very conservative scholar. This year I am using the Bible pictured above, which has minimal notes as you progress through. The translation is the inclusive language New Living Translation. And so to Genesis chapter 1…

Today is Epiphany in the Christian calendar. There is an ancient custom in the Church (especially the Eastern Traditions) that at the Epiphany Eucharist, chalk is blessed for everyone in the parish. This chalk is then taken home, and used to inscribe the names of the three Kings over the doorway. This is a sign of the Christian faith lived in that home, and as a sign of God’s blessing. For 2011 the inscription is 20+C+M+B+11, as seen in the photo of the south door of Leicester Cathedral.

The inscription recalls the human nature taken by Jesus in the womb of Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit at his Incarnation. The letters have two meanings: they are the traditional names of the three Magi, Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. They also abbreviate the Latin words, Christus Mansionem Benedicat, “May Christ bless this house.” The numbers recall the year of the inscription.

You make like to take up the tradition and make this inscription on (or near) your front door, as a witness to the world that all your comings and goings in the New Year will be in search of the Truth, Jesus, the Word made Flesh, who the Magi searched for by the light of the star. You’ll have to supply your own chalk though!

Note: Since posting this a number of people have asked me if I’ve chalked my front door, click here to see!

It was good on the first Sunday of 2011 to be able to sing one of my favourite hymns: Lord, for the years… by Timothy Dudley-Smith. All of the words are inspiring and challenging, but I especially like the words of the last verse as it brings together past, present and future.

Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided,
urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way,
sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided:
Lord for the years, we bring our thanks today.

Lord, for that word, the word of life which fires us,
speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze,
teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us:
Lord of the word, receive your people’s praise.

Lord, for our land in this our generation,
spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care:
for young and old, for commonwealth and nation,
Lord of our land, be pleased to hear our prayer.

Lord, for our world where we disown and doubt you,
loveless in strength, and comfortless in pain,
hungry and helpless, lost indeed without you:
Lord of the world, we pray that Christ may reign.

Lord for ourselves; in living power remake us-
self on the cross, and Christ upon the throne,
past put behind us, for the future take us:
Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.

Following on from my last post about Doctor Who, I thought this would be a good image for the New Year! The line struck me at the time, and so I share it with you. Happy New Year!