ADVENT SERVICE - FITST WEEK

ADVENT SERVICE - FIRST WEEK



ISAIAH 9

THE PEOPLE THAT WALKED IN DARKNESS
HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT
ON THOSE WHO DWELL IN A LAND OF DEEP SHADOW
A LIGHT HAS SHONE


LET US MEDITATE A MINUTE
ON ADAM'S FIRST NIGHT
OUTSIDE THE GARDEN


THEY TELL OF ADAM:
HOW FRIGHTENED
HE MUST HAVE BEEN
WHEN,
FOR THE FIRST TIME,
HE SAW THE SUN DISAPPEAR,
ENDING THE LIGHT OF DAY.

IT WAS ADAM'S FIRST DARKNESS

HOW COULD HE ACCEPT THE NIGHT,
WHEN HE HAD NEVER SEEN A DAWN?

AFTER THE SPLENDOR OF THE SUN,
HOW DARK THE DARKNESS
WAS FOR HIM

HOW DESPERATE
THE LONG TERROR
OF THE FIRST FALL OF NIGHT...

UNTIL ADAM LEARNED
THAT DAWN WOULD COME AGAIN
COULD SEE THAT THERE IS LIGHT
AND ORDER
IN THE UNIVERSE

AND THEN ADAM BEGAN TO SEE
HOW MUCH LIGHT REMAINS
IN THE SKY AT NIGHT:

THE STARS
AND THEIR ENDURING PROMISE OF THE SUN,

THE RETURNING STAR OF DAY

ADAM LEARNED
THAT THE NIGHT IS NEVER WHOLLY DARK,
AND THAT NO NIGHT IS ENDLESS.








EVEN AS EACH OF US MUST LEARN IT,
IN OUR OWN TIMES
OF TROUBLE
AND DARKNESS

THE LIGHT IS NEVER FAR


WE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DWELT IN DARKNESS
WE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE LOST OUR INNOCENCE
WE ARE THOSE WHO DWELL OUTSIDE THE GARDEN
WHO LIVE IN A LAND OF SHADOWS

AND YET
WE
ARE THE INHERITORS
OF THAT GREAT PROMISE

I WILL RESTORE THE SUN TO YOUR DARKENED LIVES
AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED EMMANUEL.


ADVENT SERVICE - SECOND WEEK


PETER 2


BUT YOU ARE A CHOSEN PEOPLE
A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
A CONSECRATED NATION
A PEOPLE SET APART

SET APART TO SING THE PRAISES OF A GOD
WHO CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS
INTO HIS WONDERFUL LIGHT

ONCE YOU WERE NOT A PEOPLE
NOW YOU ARE PEOPLE OF GOD
ONCE YOU WERE OUTSIDE THE MERCY
NOW YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN MERCY




WE ARE THE ONES FORCED FROM THE GARDEN
BECAUSE WE HAD REJECTED GOD
CHOOSING OURSELVES INSTEAD

WE HAVE BEEN DIGNIFIED
FAR BEYOND OUR WORTH

BY GOD'S LOVE HAVE WE BEEN RAISED UP
AND FORGIVEN
BY GOD'S LOVE
WE HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN FROM THE DARKNESS
AND MADE TO DWELL IN LIGHT

BY GOD'S LOVE WE HAVE BEEN REBORN
AND AS REBORN CHILDREN
WE SHOULD FACE THE RISING SUN

FOR OUT OF THE EAST
LIKE THE SUN HE WILL COME
BRIGHT AS AN ARMY READY FOR BATTLE

STRONG BE HIS VOICE
FOR HIS VOICE WILL BE HEARD
HIGH O'ER THE SEA
AND THE SOUND OF ITS' THUNDER

NOW COMES THE WARRIOR
FOR AGES FORETOLD
TO BATTLE THE GODS
TO BRING MAN THE FIRE
TO DIE IN THE BATTLE
TO RETURN FROM THE SHADE
TO BUILD A NEW CITY

TO BUILD A NEW CITY
A RACE SET APART

AND WE BE THAT PEOPLE
THE WARRIOR'S CHILDREN
THE CHOSEN
THE HOLY
THE RACE SET APART

STRONG BE OUR VOICE
TO TELL OF HIS GLORY
TO TELL OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS HE WILL DO

PEOPLE LOOK EAST
AND BOW YOUR HEADS
FOR THE LORD HE WILL COME
AND HIS VOICE IS LIKE THUNDER

PEOPLE LOOK EAST
AND BOW YOUR HEAD
FOR THE LORD HE HAS PROMISED
AND THE LORD HE HAS COME

AND THE PEOPLE WHO DWELT IN DARKNESS
NOW SHINE AS A LIGHT UPON THE MOUNTAIN