229 - Rosh Hashanah

When we gathered for worship Erev Rosh Hashanah, the words of the High Holy Day liturgy held a special poignancy this year. That the fate of so many had been cruelly sealed, not by Divine hand, but by the evil of man - it was more than we could fathom. Still, we have come again to our beginning, and to the time of contemplation. Now more than ever, we need to return to God, to find in ourselves the sparks of the Holy One so that we can continue the world’s repair.

Two Hundred Twenty-Nine

Rosh Hashanah

We bless You, Life Creator, for beginnings:
You set time aside as we start again;
We sanctify these acts of reflection,
In solitude and in company, You bid us pause.

We bless You, Life Decider, for beginnings:
The world’s rebirth compels our own;
Here we can find our yearly chance,
Now we can focus opportunity.

We bless You, our Beloved, for beginnings:
We discover blessing as the new year opens;
Turn our hearts to Your work of renewal,
Favor us with the bounty of shalom.