Praying in the New Year: Local churches mark significance in starting the new year with prayer

When the presents are all unwrapped, the Christmas trees are bare and the shopping madness has died down, there is still something to look forward to: New Year's Day.

All celebrate in differing ways, either through parties the night before on New Year's Eve, or through meals featuring the holiday favorite black eyed peas.

Last night some local churches held special services, noting that praying in the New Year can be beneficial.

St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau held an evening service Saturday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Emily Hornburg, director of Christian education and youth minister at St. Andrew Lutheran, says that even though it is a new year, Christ is never changing.

"Our service featuring Pastor Mark Martin's sermon entitled 'Ending the New Year Well' was a quiet, reflective way to bring in the new year. The focus of the evening was that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, including the new year." Hornburg said.

Hornburg's duties at St. Andrew Lutheran are vast, including making sure the Sunday school lessons are prepped and Youth Group is organized. She has been on staff at St. Andrew Lutheran since June 2008.

"I really feel as though New Year's Eve is a time to think about the things that are really important in life and to gain some perspective on goals and things that I care about," Hornburg said. "Everyone should take the time to reflect."

The Victory Life Center, a church in Oran, Mo., held a party on New Year's Eve as well -- a party with prayer.

Brian Flanigan, pastor at the Victory Life Center, says that as a Christian church they believe that prayer works.

"We held a New Year's Eve get-together time, and right before midnight we had a prayer event," Flanigan said. "We believe that praying helps to bring in the new year right."

The Victory Life Center's event started at 9 p.m. and went until midnight.

The Apostolic Promise Church in Cape Girardeau held an evening of prayer and activities for church members ages 13 to 36.

Senior pastor Timothy Lee said that the focus this year is starting 2012 with new goals through prayer.

"We wanted our New Year's Eve celebration to kind of reinstate what the rest of the world thinks of when it comes to New Year's: a time of new beginnings and new goals for everyone," Lee said. "The reason for significance is that through prayer, we can be energized and ready for 2012."

At 7:30 p.m. the Apostolic Promise Church opened its doors with a time of prayer and worship.

Later the group moved to the cafe for fellowship and games until 11:30. Right before midnight they met again to pray for individual members of the congregation and then as a group to welcome in 2012 at midnight.