New Year’s Eve, Service for

The BOS provides a vigil for New Year's Eve, which is the eve of the Feast of the Holy Name (Jan. 1). It begins with the Service of Light from an Order of Worship for the Evening (BCP, p. 109), using the collect for the First Sunday after Christmas as the Prayer for Light. After the Phos hilaron, at least two lessons are read. Each lesson is followed by a psalm, canticle, or hymn; and a prayer. The form provides eight scripture readings, three of which are from the NT. The last reading in the service is always from the NT. A homily, sermon, or instruction may follow the readings. An act of self-dedication may also follow. The vigil may conclude with the Great Litany, or another form of intercession; or with the singing of the Te Deum laudamus or another hymn of praise, followed by the Lord's Prayer, the collect for Holy Name, and a blessing and/or dismissal; or with the eucharist, beginning with the Gloria in excelsis or another song of praise. The proper for the Feast of the Holy Name is used if the eucharist is celebrated at this service.