Sunday, December 3, 2017

Hope


First Sunday of Advent 

 Reader 1: O God, we light the first candle of Advent. We kindle it with hope. We long for you to come to our world, to break through and reign with compassion, justice, and peace. 

Reader 2: The prophet Isaiah also cried to God to tear open heaven and come down. He called God's people to do right. Isaiah called them to be refashioned like clay by God, the potter. This Advent, we call out to God. 

All : Mighty God, creator of the world, break through all that keeps us from you. We ask for your mercy to reform us in your image. This Advent, visit us with your justice, love, and peace. Amen.


Isaiah 64:1-9Modern English Version (MEV)

64 Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down,
    that the mountains might shake at Your presence,
as when the melting fire burns,
    as the fire causes the waters to boil,
to make Your name known to Your adversaries,
    that the nations may tremble at Your presence!
When You did awesome things for which we did not look,
    You came down; the mountains quaked at Your presence.
For since the beginning of the world men have not heard,
    nor perceived by ear,
neither has the eye seen a God besides You,
    who acts for the one who waits for Him.
You meet him who rejoices in doing righteousness,
    those who remember You in Your ways.
Indeed, You were angry, for we had sinned;
    in our sins we remained a long time,
    and shall we be saved?
But we all are as an unclean thing,
    and all our righteousness is as filthy rags;
and we all fade as a leaf,
    and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
There is no one who calls on Your name,
    who stirs up himself to take hold of You;
for You have hidden Your face from us
    and have consumed us because of our iniquities.
But now, O Lord, You are our Father;
    we are the clay, and You are our potter;
    and we all are the work of Your hand.
Do not be wrathful beyond measure, O Lord,
    nor remember iniquity forever;
look upon us, we pray,
    we all are Your people.
Modern English Version (MEV)
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.

No comments:

Post a Comment