Community Updates

Hello everyone!

Below are the advent readings for the second week of advent. There really is a lot of good stuff that goes by very quickly on Sunday morning. I invite you to spend some time this week reading slowly, thoughtfully, and prayerfully meditating on this week’s readings and listen for the whisper of the Holy Spirit.

Hope Chapel
2017 Advent week 3

Leader:
Come, let us walk
in the light of the LORD.

Leader:
Why do we light this candle?

Leader:
This candle reminds us
that Jesus came to be
the Light of the whole world,
so that we can rejoice
with the words of the prophet
Zephaniah:

Leader:
I will purify the speech of all people,
so that everyone can worship
the LORD together…
I will remove all proud and arrogant
people from among you…
Those who are left will be
the lowly and humble,
for it is they who trust
in the Name of the Lord.

WOMEN:
Sing, O daughter of Zion;
shout aloud, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice
with all your heart!
For the Lord will remove
His hand of judgment…

MEN:
And the Lord himself, the King of Israel, will live among you!
At last your troubles will be over,
and you will never again fear disaster…

ALL:
For the Lord your God
is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With His love, He will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you
with joyful songs…

Leader:
Mary is an example to us
of one who lived in this lowly humility.
Let’s remember her song of praise.

WOMEN:
“My soul glorifies the Lord,
for He has remembered
the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations
will call me blessed, for the Mighty One
has done great things for me—
holy is his Name.

MEN:
His mercy extends to those who fear Him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds
with His arm;
He has scattered those who are proud
in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers
from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.

ALL:
He has filled the hungry
with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.”

Leader:
How can we now wait
in humble anticipation
of Christ coming into the world?
Paul says this in his letter to the Romans:

MEN:
May the God who gives endurance
and encouragement
give you a spirit of unity
among yourselves
as you follow Christ Jesus,

ALL:
so that with one heart and mouth
you may glorify the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ.

WOMEN:
Accept one another, then,
just as Christ accepted you,
in order to bring praise to God.

Leader:
For I tell you that Christ has become
a servant of the Jews

ALL:
so that the Gentiles may glorify God
for His mercy, as it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you
among the Gentiles;
I will sing hymns to Your Name.”

ALL:
“Merciful God,
May your Church,
being gathered together in unity
by Your Holy Spirit,
show forth Your power
among all peoples,
to the glory of Your Name;

ALL:
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God,
forever and ever.
Amen.