Happy New Year! (1951)

For the past few months, I have been going through the periodicals of Canadian Baptists searching for material on Baptist chaplains during the Korean War (1950-53). While my attention was on scouring pages for references to chaplains, I made sure I spent some time in the early January issues looking for what they said about the new year. In fact, in my over twenty-five years of researching over 200 years of Canadian churches and war, I always paid special attention to what was said at the beginning of a new year. 
 
There are two main reasons for that attention.

The first is related to my focus as an historian. State simply, during the start of a new year we get expressed in prose, poetry, hymns, liturgies, and sermons some of people's most poignant convictions, fears, and aspirations.
 
The second – the focus of this blog – is more pastoral and personal. I often hear today that we are in unique and apocalyptic times, that everything is coming to an end, and that no one in the past has ever faced such uncertainty or struggles. I find it helpful and encouraging to be reminded that things have been grim before … but lo and behold here we still are!
 
This is not an attempt to downplay the suffering and uncertainty of today. However, it is to place today’s suffering and uncertainty in a larger historical context. And to see how previous Christians understood and expressed their faith, but also how we today can be encouraged with the same.
 
Take the years of the Korean War. North Korea invaded South Korea on 25 June 1950. Before the ceasefire on 27 July 1953, there were over 750,000 dead and wounded among United Nations troops, over 1.5 million North Korean and Chinese combatants dead and wounded, and over 2.5 million citizen casualties on the peninsula. 
 
On the heels of two catastrophic world wars the Korean War seemed to be clear evidence that the world was in a death spiral. To make matters worse, humanity could now exterminate itself with its burgeoning arsenal of nuclear weapons. 
 
But as the images below indicate, there remained hope in the midst of fear and uncertainty. 
 
Their confidence was not some Pollyanna view of the world. In fact, they were very well informed about world affairs (probably more so than many – most? – today). They were also infused by a sense of faith, as the prayer below indicates.
 
What follows are some of the pages of the new year’s issue so that you can “read the paper” yourself. I have also made the prayer more accessible by updating the King James Bible language.
 
And with that, I say happy reading and happy new year!

A Prayer for the New Year
 
ALMIGHTY GOD, the unfailing Source of Light and Mercy, who has brought us into the beginning of this New Year, and are sparing us to love you and keep your commandments, prepare us, we implore, you for the coming days.
 
Let your grace in light in our darkness, and strengthen our weakness. Help us to forget the sins and sorrows of the past, cherishing only the wisdom and humility that they may have taught us. Inspire us with new purposes and new hopes for the days ahead. Deepened within our hearts love of goodness and truth.
 
Enable us to discern the solemn meaning of these earthly days and the high in sacred purpose for which they are given. Grant that we may never be unfaithful to you.
 
You have richly blessed us up to this point; continue to lead us by your hands; continue to admonish and guide us by your Spirit; leave us not to walk alone, Shepherd of our Souls.
 
Let not our sins and failures take us from the truth that we are Yours. Let not sorrow and weariness, nor the darkness, confusion and mystery of this world, rob us of our faith in you.
 
Whatever light may shine or shadow fall, keep us in the fellowship of those who trust and obey you…and in your love and service.
 
We pray in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.