Advent: Hope - Isaiah 2:2-5

1. The Church Calendar
- Advent
* Hope
* Peace
* Love
* Joy
* Light

2. ADVENT ~ Week 1

3. In days to come the mountain of the Lord's house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations
shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach
us his ways and that we may walk in his paths."
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Isaiah 2:1-3

4. He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
O house of Jacob, come, let us walk
in the light of the LORD!
Isaiah 2:4-5

5. ADVENT ~ Week 1

6. To each and all we bring this announcement:
God will come, and God’s justice will prevail,
and God will destroy evil and pain in all its
forms, once and forever. To be a Christian is to live
in expectation of that fulfillment. The life of the
church, lived in solidarity with those in darkness,
carries with it the embodiment of a certainty:
when God comes again, it will be the God of Mercy
and no one else, and it will be morning.
Amen.
Fleming Rutledge

7. ADVENT ~ Week 1

8. Benediction
God of justice and peace,
from the heavens you rain down mercy and kindness,
that all on earth may stand in awe and wonder
before your marvelous deeds.
Raise our heads in expectation,
that we may yearn for the coming day of the Lord
and stand without blame before your Son, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen.