Opening Litany based on Isaiah 11:1-10

Pastor: We live in hope for we know a shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse and from these roots a Branch will bear fruit, the Messiah will come.

Congregation: The Spirit of the LORD will rest upon this one and all who follow in his name; the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD, and we will delight in the awesome joy of living in the light of the Lord.

Pastor: For the Lord will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy and with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.

Congregation; The Lord will shake the earth with the words of his mouth and those who misuse others for gain will shake in his presence, for righteousness and faithfulness will surround his every move.

Pastor: We light the candle of Peace this day as we celebrate the righteousness and justice of the Lord bringing peace to our lives and to our world

Light the second candle of Peace

Congregation: In a world ruled by the Lord’s view of righteousness and justice the wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together.

Pastor: The gentleness and joy of a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

Congregation; In this world of righteousness and peace the infant will play near the cobra’s den, the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest and there will be neither harm nor destruction for all of creation will live in peace on the Holy Mountain of the Lord.

Pastor: Then the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

Congregation: In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the people of the earth and all the nations will live under the peace and righteousness of the Lord our God.