Voice: Kae Chee
Today is Thursday, 1st of January. And welcome to 2026! Whatever you are planning to do today, take a moment to commit your plans to the Lord.
We pray:
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
whose years never fail and whose mercies are new each returning day:
let the radiance of your Spirit renew our lives,
warming our hearts and giving light to our minds;
that we may pass the coming year in joyful obedience and firm faith;
through him who is the beginning and the end,
your Son, Christ our Lord,who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Psalm 103:6-14
The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as It was in the beginning, is
now, and shall be forever. Amen.
Romans 2:25-29
25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law.
28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.
29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Today is the Feast of the Naming and Circumcision of Jesus.
It reminds us that Jesus did not stand above the Law, but willingly entered into it. Circumcision was the sign of God’s covenant with Abraham — a mark of belonging to the people of Israel. In submitting to this rite, Jesus fully identifies Himself with the people He came to save.
His submission is also a sign of humility. The shedding of His blood did not begin on the cross alone. It began on the eighth day of His life, in quiet obedience. From the very beginning, His life was marked by self-giving love.
His name, Jesus, means “The Lord saves.” Salvation is no longer merely a messianic promise spoken of in Scripture. Salvation has entered our world. It has a name — and that name is Jesus.
On this first day of the New Year, we are invited to respond in a similar spirit of surrender. In Anglican Covenant Services, we recite our baptismal vows. Baptism is not merely a past event; baptism has a “past continuous” tense. We remain baptised Christians. This is our spiritual circumcision — a sign that we belong to the Lord forever.
As St Paul put it:
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
— Romans 6:4-5
As a new year begins, we remind ourselves that as baptised believers, we have a new life in Christ. And we can also look forward to share in His resurrection. The passage of time merely draws us closer to His presence.
As St Paul will put it succinctly, “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
May this year be one where you will follow Christ and grow to be like Him. May we learn to love Him deeply from our hearts.
We recite again our Baptismal Vows
I believe and trust in God the Father
who made the world.
I believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ
who redeemed humankind.
I believe and trust in his Holy Spirit
Who gives life to the people of God.
I believe and trust in one God
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Be blessed by this New Year hymn, The Old Year Now Has Passed Away
The old year now has passed away
We thank You Lord, our God, today
That You have kept us through the year
When danger and distress were near
O help us to forsake all sin
A new and holier walk begin
Forgive the times our footsteps strayed
Lead us on paths that You have made
So now as Christians let us live
In strength and grace Your spirit gives
Until the day this old world fades
Into the glory of Your face
There shall we worship and adore
With all the angels evermore
Around the throne forever sing
In praise to You, eternal King.
Link to today’s Morning Office
About This Daily Devotion
This weekday devotion is drawn from the Morning Office and is part of a project initiated by Revd Canon Terry Wong, with contributions from clergy and members across various parishes. Each entry includes selected readings from the appointed Psalm and another Scripture passage, accompanied by a reflection and prayer. An audio option is also available, often ending with a hymn or song. We encourage you to both read and listen.
Our aim is to help Anglicans engage more deeply with our rich liturgical tradition, while meeting the devotional needs of today’s believers. This project began on Ash Wednesday 2025 and is offered on weekdays only.
For feedback, please write to us at info@mpcc.org.sg
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