Advent One (Isaiah 64: 1-9)
Number of Readers: 5 (3 women, 2 men)
All Readers:
From Luke 1:26-55
Reader 5:
As we begin the advent season let us hear with open hearts and minds,
Reader 3:
the prophetic prayer of Isaiah.
Reader 4:
A prayer for the return of God’s grace and mercy
Reader 2:
to an expectant and waiting people
Reader 5:
as recorded in –
Reader 1:
Isaiah 64:1-9
All Readers:
Oh, that you would tear open the heavens and come down
Reader 5:
so that the mountains would quake at your presence!
Reader 2:
As when fire kindles brushwood,
Reader 3:
as when fire causes water to boil –
All Readers:
to make your name known to your enemies
Reader 4:
so that the nations might tremble at your presence!
Reader 1:
When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect,
All Readers:
you came down,
Reader 3:
and the mountains quaked at your presence.
Reader 2:
From ages past no one has heard,
Reader 4:
no ear has perceived,
Reader 5:
no eye has seen
All Readers:
has seen any God besides you, –
Reader 1:
you who work for those who wait for him.
Reader 4:
You come to those who gladly do right,
Reader 2:
to those who remember your ways.
Reader 3:
But you were angry, – and we sinned
All Readers:
and because you hid yourself – we transgressed.
Reader 1:
We have all become like one who is unclean,
Reader 5:
and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.
Reader 4:
We all fade like a leaf
Reader 2:
and our iniquities, like the wind take us away.
Reader 3:
There is no one who calls on your name,
Reader 5:
or attempts to take hold of you.
All Readers:
for you have hidden your face from us,
Reader 1:
and have delivered us into the hand of our enemies.
Reader 5:
Yet, O Lord
All Readers:
You are our Father
Reader 2:
we are the clay,
Reader 4:
and you are our potter.
All Readers:
We are all the work of your hand.
Reader 1:
Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord,
Readers 1, 3, 4:
and do not remember iniquity forever.
All Readers:
Oh, look upon us with favor, we pray, for we are all your people!
Readers 1, 3, 4:
Tear open the heavens and come down.
Reader 5:
Come down, O Lord!
Reader 2:
Come down.