THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT: HOPE

INTROIT - O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

VOICE - Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Hope.

VOICE - Our hope is in God, and in his son Jesus Christ. He is the one appointed by God to be judge of all things. He is the one through whom God has promised to save and redeem his people.

VOICE - We light this candle today to remind us that he is our hope and the hope of the world. We thank God for the promises he has made to us and for the light he has brought into the world.

Light the First Candle

VOICE - Let us pray: O God of Hope, Emmanuel, God with Us -- we pray you to send your light into our hearts …