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Woship Resources 2007-2008 — Year A: Passionate for Peace
Return to Year A: 2007-2008
Resource Index
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Bring Hope!
Second Sunday of Advent (Hope)
Scriptures: Isaiah 11:1–10; Psalm 72:1–7,
18–19; Romans 15:4–13; Matthew 3:1–12/3:27–39 IV; II Nephi 9:117–124; Doctrine
and Covenants 10:6–7
Sharing Christ’s Peace
[Share] Christ’s message of hope and restoration for
creation.—Doctrine and Covenants 163:5a
Worship Center
Place all kinds of examples of the lion-and-lamb theme, as well as other
animals mentioned in the scripture, in the worship center.
Prelude
Welcome
Light the candle used last week.
Advent Theme Song: “An Advent Song” (Tune: “Away in a Manger,” —HS
232/233)
Add a new verse each Sunday.
A candle is burning, a candle of PEACE,
A candle to signal that conflict must cease.
For Jesus is coming to show us the way,
A message of peace humbly laid in the hay.
A candle is burning, a flame warm and bright,
A candle of HOPE in December’s dark night.
While angels sing blessings from heaven’s starry sky,
Our hearts we prepare now for Jesus is nigh.
—Used by permission, Sandra Dean, Ottawa,
Ontario, Canada.
Light the second candle—the candle of hope.
Intergenerational Activity
Hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” HS 211
Call to Worship: Psalm 72:18–19
*Hymn
“In a Stable Wrapped in Starlight”
OR “Word of God, Come Down on Earth” HS 227
*Invocation
*Response
Time of Reflection
Either print stanza 1 of HS 201 in the bulletin or have it read
aloud. Then provide one or two minutes for silent reflection.
Disciples’ Generous Response
Each Sunday, as part of the Disciples’ Generous Response, we ask you to
integrate the message of “share equally” between Local and World Ministries
Mission Tithes. Offertory stories are provided to keep the church in touch
with how contributions to Mission Tithes spread the peace of Jesus Christ.
Please use the stories, testimonies, and up-to-date contribution information
as part of your offertory ministry. Visit
www.CofChrist.org/offertory
to print a copy, or contact your pastor, congregational financial
officer, or worship coordinator for a copy.
Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 10:6
Blessing and Offering of Mission Tithes
Hymn
“Hope of the World” HS 208/209
OR “Heir of All the Waiting Ages” HS 253
Sermon
Based on Isaiah 11:1–10
Meditation/Ministry of Music: Instrumental only HS 255
*Hymn
“On This Day Earth Shall Ring” HS 245
OR “Sound over All Waters” HS 261
*Pronounced Benediction
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace
in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
—Romans 15:13
*Postlude
Intergenerational Activity
Divide the congregation into groups of three or four people, and give them
pictures of a pair of animals with opposing behaviors. Discuss what behaviors
the animals display. Then discuss how we display these same behavior patterns.
Ask each group to conclude the discussion with this question: “If we hope to
become children of God, how can we use these behaviors to achieve the peaceable
kingdom in our communities?” Have each group give a summary of the last question
to the congregation.
In a Stable Wrapped in Starlight
Beach Spring 8.7.8.7.D.
Tune: HS 287
When the present holds no promise and the path is sown with
strife
And bleak darkness swirls around you and deep thunder crowds your life
Have no fear of murky shadows; give no thought to failing light.
In a stable wrapped in starlight, joy and hope are burning bright.
Should you pause to peer behind you, viewing valleys of the
past
Where your dreams and fears collided and your faith was fading fast
You will see where seas divided, where fear’s walls came tumbling down.
In a stable wrapped in starlight, peace and courage can be found.
When the future looms before you posing questions and demands
And the bright plans you projected fade like footprints in the sand
Live the promise you are tasting, fan the flames of faith within.
In a stable wrapped in starlight, you will find the way again.
Though the path may not be easy, new horizons capture you
And the truths that you discover draw your maps of God anew.
Do not weary of the journey; boldly venture with each stride
In a stable wrapped in starlight, joy, hope, love, and peace abide.
—Danny A. Belrose, Wave Offerings
(Independence, Missouri: Herald Publishing House, 2005), 116.
Sermon Helps
Scriptures: Isaiah 11:1–10; Psalm 72:1–7, 18–19; Romans
15:4–13; Matthew 3:1–12/3:27–39 IV; II Nephi 9:117–124; Doctrine and Covenants
10:6–7
Exploring the Scriptures
On the second Sunday of Advent our focus turns to the prophet Isaiah’s great
vision of the “peaceable kingdom.” Isaiah’s vision kindles hope for a time and
place devoid of the miseries afflicting his own historical period, and endemic
throughout most of human history.
Hope has been defined as the opposite of helplessness or the opposite of
fear. The people of Israel were plagued by a sense of helplessness and lived in
constant fear. Isaiah’s anticipation of what was coming brought hope to Israel.
Isaiah’s expression of the peaceable kingdom brings hope to people of all times
by providing an alternative to their sense of helplessness and fear—often
stimulated by what is experienced or seen in the world.
Isaiah announces a future king in the line of David. The peace achieved by
God’s ideal ruler encompasses not only human history but all of creation. Being
endowed with the Spirit of God, the promised king is able to fulfill the
long-held desire for justice. The Promised One will bring justice for the poor,
retribution for sinners, and a restoration of peace. The peaceable kingdom
brings hope through transformed attitudes and behaviors: enemies become friends,
the hunted become companions with the hunter, appetites are modified so that all
can live.
How is such transformation made possible? Isaiah proclaims it is through the
message of the Promised One who is “the shoot from the stump of Jesse.” Through
the sharing of the Good News, all are made full of the knowledge of the Lord.
This is good news for Israel and for us—the Advent of the Messiah brings hope!
As Christians, we turn to the life, ministry, and message of Jesus to understand
God’s Good News. Jesus is our example of how to bring hope to others. Through
Jesus we see how to pattern our lives so we can reach out and bring hope to the
lost, labeled, unloved, and lonely.
The challenge to “bring hope” is not something we accomplish by doing what
conveniently fits within our existing schedules. It is not accomplished by
sharing our leftovers. To rise to the challenge of bringing hope, we must be
willing to speak out like Isaiah. We must be willing to share our vision of the
peaceable kingdom by proclaiming Jesus Christ and promoting communities of joy,
hope, love, and peace—even when it goes against the popular opinion of our
culture. We must be willing to have our lives disrupted by the Spirit so we can
more generously share our time, giftedness, and resources. The Advent of the
Messiah brings hope as people begin to see a glimmer of Zion through our faith
in action.
Central Ideas
1. The peaceable kingdom brings hope through transformed attitudes and
behaviors. As we grow in our discipleship, our image and
understanding of the peaceable kingdom also grow. We begin to see the
possibilities of what this kingdom might be like in our world, and we have
hope that the peaceable kingdom is attainable. Then our attitudes and
behaviors are transformed as we seek to make this vision a reality.
2. The Advent of the Messiah brings hope that can be shared through our
testimony and resources. As our understanding of the Messiah deepens,
we are compelled to share our understanding. We share our testimony of how
life as a disciple has brought hope to us. We also modify our attitudes and
behaviors so we are able to more generously share with others so they might
also have hope.
Questions for the Speaker
1. How would you describe the peaceable kingdom?
2. What attitudes and behaviors do you have that can be transformed by
becoming full of the knowledge of the Lord?
3. How can you bring hope to others by sharing your witness and
resources?
4. To whom are you sent? Who needs hope in your family? congregation?
community?
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