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First Sunday of Advent: The Candle of Hope

A short candle liturgy for the first Sunday of Advent. This year I am basing them on the Lectionary readings from Isaiah, which today is Isaiah 2:1-5







VOICE 1: The day is coming when the mountain on which the LORD’s temple sits
                              will be lifted up over all other mountains;
VOICE 2: Soaring high above the hills all nations will flow into it,
                              like salmon swimming upstream.
VOICE 1: The people will say,
VOICE 2: Come, let us climb the mountain of the LORD;
VOICE 1: Let us go the House of God.
VOICE 2: He will teach us the right path to take
VOICE 1: so that we will walk in his way.
VOICE 2: The law will go out from Zion,
VOICE 1: the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
VOICE 2: He will judge fairly between warring nations
VOICE 1: and will settle long standing disputes between people.
VOICE 2: Then they will be able to beat their swords into shovels
VOICE 1: and turn their spears into scythes.
VOICE 2: Nation will not take aim against nation,
VOICE 1: So they can concentrate on commerce not conflict.
VOICE 2: So come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.

The first candle is lit.
Let us pray:
Lord we thank you for the hope that is ours
The vision you give us of your kingdom
Free from injustice and conflict
Guided by your word
May we live our lives in the light of that hope.
AMEN

Shalom

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