This Is the Day of New Beginnings
Brian Wren
This is a day of new beginnings, time to remember, and move on,
time to believe what love is bringing, laying to rest the pain that's gone.
For by the life and death of Jesus, love's mighty Spirit, now as then,
can make for us a world of difference as faith and hope are born again.
Then let us, with the Spirit's daring, step from the past, and leave behind
our disappointment, guilt and grieving, seeking new paths, and sure to find.
Christ is alive, and goes before us to show and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings; our God is making all things new.
“This a Day of New Beginnings?” by Brian Wren is a thoughtful and forward looking hymn that invites the church to reflect on renewal, repentance, and God’s continuing work in history. Written in the late twentieth century, the hymn addresses a modern congregation that stands between memory and mission, asking how faithfulness to Christ is lived out in changing times. Rather than focusing on nostalgia alone, the hymn challenges believers to recognize that God is always at work doing something new.
The opening statement sets the tone for the entire hymn. It asks whether a new beginning is truly possible, especially after failure, fear, or disappointment. Wren does not ignore the weight of the past, but he insists that it does not have the final word. The hymn affirms that God’s grace renews individuals and communities, calling them out of stagnation and into fresh obedience. This theme strongly echoes the biblical promise that in Christ all things are made new.
Throughout the hymn, memory and hope are held together. The church is reminded of its story, including both faithfulness and failure, yet it is also urged to listen for God’s call in the present. The hymn emphasizes that new beginnings often require repentance, humility, and a willingness to be changed. Faith is not portrayed as static tradition, but as living trust that responds to God’s voice today.
Blessings,
Dorene
Source: https://www.hymnallibrary.org/hymns/is-this-the-day-of-new-beginnings/