Advent 1.7
Theme – Hope
Gather
The nights are long…
…the darkness deep…
…but the reason for our hope draws near.
Song – We Have Waited
Prayers of the People
God of the hopeful as well as the hopeless, we pray this day for those in our community who are struggling during this time. Help us serve those who bear these burdens, that we all may experience the hope You give, for this life and the one to come.
Lord, in Your mercy…
Hear our prayer.
Lighting of the Advent Candle/Song – In This Season (Week 1)
Reading – Isaiah 52:6-10
Therefore my people shall know my name. In that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am.”
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;
together they sing for joy;
for eye to eye they see
the return of the Lord to Zion.
Break forth together into singing,
you waste places of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people;
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
The Lord has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.
Song – Wintertide
Peace/Benediction
And now may we eagerly watch for the God of our hope this day, this week, and this season. May we see the dawning of the day at the end of the long night. Go in hope to love and serve the Lord.
Next: Advent 2.1