Advent Reading: HOPE

This is the Advent reading we used at River Run Church this past week as we began the season with the traditional lighting of the HOPE candle on the wreath.

WEEK 1- HOPE
                   
READING:

Many of us grew up with the story of Advent beginning in a stable. But, the story begins in a Garden.                   
When God created the world, all things were just as they should be. Creation functioned in perfect order and moved in seamless harmony. Humanity walked in unbroken relationship with God, fully known and unafraid. But in an instant, all that changed as Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s good instruction. They took of the fruit, ate, and sin entered the world. Fellowship broken. Peace shattered. Creation thrown into chaos. Darkness, depravity, fear, shame and selfishness flooded the human heart, separating man from God. The situation was dire.



But right then, amid the darkness, God spoke a word of HOPE: a Savior would come, born of a woman, to defeat the enemy and deliver God’s people.

Genesis 3:15: “But to you, serpent, I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

From the first moment of our need for rescue, God’s promise was there. Before He addressed Adam and Eve, God turned to the serpent and announced that sin would not have the final say and that the schemes of the enemy would not prevail.

This first week of Advent we remember that God provides HOPE in the midst of chaos. From the very beginning, he gave us HOPE to hold on to.

*One Person will light the candle while another reads the following:*

SCRIPTURE:


Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naff-tali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.
The people who walk in darkness
    will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
    a light will shine.

You will enlarge the nation of Israel,
    and its people will rejoice.
They will rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest
    and like warriors dividing the plunder.
For you will break the yoke of their slavery
    and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.
You will break the oppressor’s rod,
    just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.
The boots of the warrior
    and the uniforms bloodstained by war
will all be burned.
    They will be fuel for the fire.

For a child is born to us,
    a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
    And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace
    will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
    for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
    will make this happen!

--- Prayer ---