Advent 1 - All God’s People Waiting in Hope

by Chris Lane 27 November 2022

Waiting.....expecting.....watching.....anticipating 

Hope.....expectation.....dreaming.....longing.....yearning

Abby's Perspective 
‘The passage of time in pregnancy is strange. The first twelve weeks felt agonisingly slow waiting for the scan that would confirm there was a real life inside. Days of uncertainty stretched unbearably until I knew for sure. Then the weeks were on fast forward preparing the house. Expectation was exciting and it was hard. Hope for what was unseen was a very real experience. ‘

Isaiah 9: 2-3, 6
The people who walked in darkness
   have seen a great light.
They lived in a land of shadows,
   but now light is shining on them.
You have given them great joy, Lord;
   you have made them happy.

A child is born to us!
   A son is given to us!
   And he will be our ruler.
He will be called, Wonderful, Counsellor,
   Mighty God, Eternal Father,
   Prince of Peace.

The world waits for a miracle. 
The heart longs for a bit of hope.
O come. O come Emmanuel

Song: Light of the world
 

God of all hope.
We pray that hope will be born in those who feel they have nothing to look forward to. 
We pray that we may still be full of hope, looking for the coming of Christ in the world. 
We pray that in these days of uncertainty we may be a light shining for you in the world. 
Amen

To all who wait
To all who hunger
To all who’ve prayed
To all who wonder

O Come, O Come Emmanuel!