For the new year,
just days old,
beginning today,
always beginning:

We light our chalice,
symbol of faith, perseverance, and hope,
in astonished thanksgiving and irrepressible praise.

For beginnings that
emerge out of endings,
appear amidst continuity,
become visible in hindsight:

We light our chalice,
symbol of faith, perseverance, and hope,
in astonished thanksgiving and irrepressible praise.

For all the times,
and all the ways,
we have begun anew, together:

We light our chalice,
symbol of faith, perseverance, and hope,
in astonished thanksgiving and irrepressible praise.