Second Week of Advent
December 9, 2020

Call to Worship

L: We come from a world of darkness

P: Into Christ’s world of light.

L: We come from a world of weariness

P: Into God’s strength and hope.

L: We come from a slumbering world.

P: Strengthened by the Spirit, we come to awaken our souls and watch for the coming of Christ.

 

First Reading – Isaiah 11:1-10 (NLT)

Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—
    yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.

And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
    the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
    the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

He will delight in obeying the Lord.
    He will not judge by appearance
    nor make a decision based on hearsay.

He will give justice to the poor
    and make fair decisions for the exploited.
The earth will shake at the force of his word,
    and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.

He will wear righteousness like a belt
    and truth like an undergarment.

In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together;
    the leopard will lie down with the baby goat.
The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion,
    and a little child will lead them all.

The cow will graze near the bear.
    The cub and the calf will lie down together.
    The lion will eat hay like a cow.

The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.
    Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.

Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,
    for as the waters fill the sea,
    so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.

In that day the heir to David’s throne
    will be a banner of salvation to all the world.
The nations will rally to him,
    and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.

 

Prayer

L: Anticipation grows within us.
P: The day of Your incarnation is near.
L: There is no war nor division in the world that is beyond Your capacity to heal.

P: The day of Your incarnation is near.
L: There is no hatred in the cosmos that cannot be transformed by Your forgiving love.
P: The day of Your incarnation is near.
L: There is no social ill, relational breach, nor systemic evil that will not dissolve at Your touch.
P: The day of Your incarnation is near.
L: In this second week of Advent, we sing with the prophets.
P: That One will come who will bring the shalom peace of God to all human conditions.
L: In this second week of Advent, we shout with the children.

P: Prince of Peace, quiet a world screaming in pain, and hungry for your Presence.
L: In this second week of Advent, we pray with believers around the world.

P: Master of hearts, bring harmony to the discord between us and those unlike us.

ALL: Prince of Peace, we recognize that You are the God who alone can bring restoration to a fallen planet. Your capacity to restore broken relationships, communities, nations and ancient rivalries is boundless. Come, restore peace to our hearts today, and intervene among our restless human family. Lord, make us instruments of this same transforming peace wherever we go.

  

Silence

Second Reading – Psalm 72:1-7 (NLT)

 

Give your love of justice to the king, O God,
    and righteousness to the king’s son.

Help him judge your people in the right way;
    let the poor always be treated fairly.

May the mountains yield prosperity for all,
    and may the hills be fruitful.

Help him to defend the poor,
    to rescue the children of the needy,
    and to crush their oppressors.

May they fear you as long as the sun shines,
    as long as the moon remains in the sky.
    Yes, forever!

May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass,
    like the showers that water the earth.

May all the godly flourish during his reign.
    May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.

 

 

Lighting of the Advent Wreath

As the candle is lit, we proclaim together:

Our peace is in Jesus, the light of the world. In his goodness we find our rest.

  

Closing Prayer

Faithful God,
you are at work to restore all of creation in its intended harmony.
Give us your shalom
that we may be reconciled to all enemies in the peace that passes all understanding through Christ Jesus our Lord.
God of promise, God of hope,
into our darkness come.