_Be not afraid, dear friend. What of sickness! What of sorrow! What of failure! What of misfortune! What of death! Is not this God's world? Are not you God's child? Go forth into the New Year with brave heart. When fortune smiles, smile with her. When fortune frowns, smile the more, and trust in God._ GEORGE L. PERIN. Our Heavenly Father, we stand upon the utmost verge of the old year. Forgetting the things that are behind, we stand with our faces looking earnestly into the future. We do not despise the past, we do not forget its manifold blessings. We do not forget that Thou hast been with us in the old year; for all this we would be grateful. With clear vision and earnestness of purpose, we would stand looking into the future expectantly, ready for its duties and its responsibilities; yet not ostentatiously nor with over-confidence, for we know our own infirmities, our own weaknesses. We would enter upon the New Year with confidence, not because of our own strength, but because of Thy living presence. Thou art always with us, Thou art pouring out Thy spirit upon us. O Lord, let us believe in Thee, and believing, let us have a heart for any fate. Amen. GEORGE L. PERIN. Services for Special Days _Good Friday_ _Easter_ _Thanksgiving Day_ _Birth of a Baby_ _Child's Birthday_ _Father's Birthday_ _Mother's Birthday_ _General Birthday_ Good Friday _Why dost thou glare so fierce O Death, as thou wouldst pierce, With thine uplifted dart, My sinking heart?_ _Yet though men fear thee so Wherever thou dost go, And tremble at thy feet, Thou art a cheat!_ _Though men thy pity crave, Though naught from thee can save, Thy Master rules above, Thou servest Love._ HENRY NEHEMIAH DODGE. O Thou, who didst not spare Thine own Son, but didst deliver Him up for us all, we cannot ask Thee to withhold us from our Gethsemane nor even from our Calvary. But when Thou callest us to go down into the gloom or up to the cross, remember, O God, that we are dust. Might we so dwell with Thee in Thy secret place, as to abide under Thy shadow! There, sheltered and unafraid, we should sustain the rod as eager for its chastening stroke, praying only for wisdom to learn its lesson and acquire its discipline. With the picture of the crucified Savior before us, we only cry this day as He taught us, Thy will be done. Amen. C. ELLWOOD NASH. Easter