ADVENT
A Time of Waiting and Anticipation Celebrated:
The Greatness of Christ and His Return
Bethel AMEC - Saginaw
2025 Season of Advent Devotional Readings
WEEK 1: Lighting of The First Candle of Advent
Sunday, November 30, 2025
HOPE
It is the season of Advent. A time of expectation, anticipation, and spiritual preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ, a celebration of His birth or of His return.
We, as Christians, recognize, reflect, and prepare through the lens of four spiritual themes: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. This week's focus is on HOPE.
Scripture: Isaiah 9:2 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
This first week of Advent, we begin our preparation through the lens of HOPE. This Hope is not just wishful thinking or idealistic thinking, but a confident expectation firmly established in the Promises of God. The prophet Isaiah, in chapter 9, verse 2, tells us: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Isaiah spoke of God’s promises. Although Israel was surrounded by darkness, uncertainty, and spiritual silence, Isaiah spoke of God’s Promise of the light, the light that was Jesus Christ. We experience our own forms of darkness today. We endure illness, financial stress, strained relationships, grief, what seems to be unanswered prayers, and just plain weariness from things that are out of our control. The season of Advent whispers to us through the noise, even as we are surrounded by darkness and chaos: the light is coming! Wait, Hope, because God is working!
But this Hope is not passive. It is a confident, consistent, and conscious trust in God’s Promises. It is an opportunity to wait and not forget that Christ will come and fulfill every Promise.
Hope in Action:
This week, take some time and act in Hope!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, as we begin this Advent season, help us to secure our hearts in the Hope found in your Promises! Shine your light on our dark places and situations. Strengthen our faith as we anticipate, expect, and prepare in this season. Please help make our lives a reflection of the confident Hope that comes from you, so we can live as believers and share that belief with others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Blessings,
Rev. Rochelle Laffoon
We, as Christians, recognize, reflect, and prepare through the lens of four spiritual themes: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. This week's focus is on HOPE.
Scripture: Isaiah 9:2 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
This first week of Advent, we begin our preparation through the lens of HOPE. This Hope is not just wishful thinking or idealistic thinking, but a confident expectation firmly established in the Promises of God. The prophet Isaiah, in chapter 9, verse 2, tells us: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Isaiah spoke of God’s promises. Although Israel was surrounded by darkness, uncertainty, and spiritual silence, Isaiah spoke of God’s Promise of the light, the light that was Jesus Christ. We experience our own forms of darkness today. We endure illness, financial stress, strained relationships, grief, what seems to be unanswered prayers, and just plain weariness from things that are out of our control. The season of Advent whispers to us through the noise, even as we are surrounded by darkness and chaos: the light is coming! Wait, Hope, because God is working!
But this Hope is not passive. It is a confident, consistent, and conscious trust in God’s Promises. It is an opportunity to wait and not forget that Christ will come and fulfill every Promise.
Hope in Action:
This week, take some time and act in Hope!
- Declare each morning: “My Hope is in Christ, The Light of the World.”
- Find and write down a Bible verse about Hope and keep it where you can see it each day
- Encourage someone and share your Hope with them
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, as we begin this Advent season, help us to secure our hearts in the Hope found in your Promises! Shine your light on our dark places and situations. Strengthen our faith as we anticipate, expect, and prepare in this season. Please help make our lives a reflection of the confident Hope that comes from you, so we can live as believers and share that belief with others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Blessings,
Rev. Rochelle Laffoon