4. Advent

Oh, that you would rend the
   heavens and come down,
      that the mountains would
                tremble before you! As
                    when fire sets twigs ablaze
                 and causes water to boil,
           come down to make your
    name known to your
enemies and cause the
nations to quake
   before you! 

   Since ancient times no
     one has heard, no ear has
       perceived, no eye has seen
               any God besides you, who
                  acts on behalf of those
                who wait for him. You
         come to the help of those
 who gladly do right,
who remember your ways. But
   we continued to sin
against them,
     you were angry. How then
        can we be saved?

           No one calls on your name
           or strives to lay hold of you

Yet, O Lord, you are
  our Father.
    We are the clay,
          you are the potter; we
              are all the work
       of your hand.  Oh look
  upon us, we pray
for we are all
your people.
               
Excerpts from Isaiah 64