First Sunday in Advent: Hope

First Sunday in Advent : Hope

Reader One: “We light this candle in hope” 

Reader Two: Hear God’s promise of hope from Isaiah 2:2-4

In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house

shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

and shall be raised above the hills;

all the nations shall stream to it.

Many peoples shall come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

to the house of the God of Jacob;

that he may teach us his ways

and that we may walk in his paths.”

For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,

and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

He shall judge between the nations,

and shall arbitrate for many peoples;

they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

neither shall they learn war anymore.

Reader One: Let us pray: Faithful God,

Out of war’s chaos, you bring the order of peace.

Renew us in hope,that we may work toward

Christ’s advent of peace among all nations.

God of promise, God of hope,

into our darkness come.