The Epworth & Belton Group of Churches

Monthly Reflection – December 2025

“Advent: A Season of Light and Promise”

December always seems to arrive with a certain sparkle, doesn’t it? Even before Christmas decorations go up, there’s a quiet anticipation in the air — a sense that something hopeful is drawing near. In the life of the Church, Advent holds that feeling beautifully. It’s a season that invites us not just to look forward, but to lift our eyes, open our hearts, and allow God’s light to meet us again.

At its heart, Advent is a season of promise. Not a vague or wishful promise, but the kind of promise God has always made to His people — steady, faithful, and full of grace. The prophets spoke of a light that would break through the deepest darkness, and Christians across the centuries have held on to that hope. Isaiah’s words still speak with remarkable clarity: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). Advent reminds us that God’s light isn’t just something we wait for; it’s something already dawning.

One of the quiet gifts of this season is its invitation to notice where signs of that light are already shining. It might be in the generosity of a neighbour, the laughter of a child, or an unexpected moment of kindness. It might be in the courage someone shows in difficult circumstances, or in the warmth of community life across our six churches. Even the simplest things can become reminders that God is at work — sometimes gently, sometimes boldly, but always with love.

Advent also encourages us to make room — not just in our diaries or in our homes but in our inner lives. John the Baptist’s call to prepare the way of the Lord isn’t about frantic activity; it’s about clearing space so that hope can take root. When we pause long enough to pray, to reflect, or even just to breathe, we find ourselves more aware of God’s presence. As the psalmist says, “In Your light we see light” (Psalm 36:9).

And then, of course, Advent leads us towards the wonder of Christmas — the astonishing moment when God chooses to come close, not in power but in vulnerability, not in splendour but in the quietness of a birth. It’s a story we know so well, yet it always has a way of surprising us, drawing us in, and reminding us that God’s love is far greater than we could ever imagine.

My prayer for all of us across the Epworth & Belton group this December is that Advent will be more than a countdown. I hope it will be a season where we notice grace in unexpected places, where we rediscover the joy of God’s promises, and where the light of Christ brings warmth to our homes, our communities, and our hearts.

A Prayer for December

God of hope and promise,

As we journey through this Advent season,

shine Your light upon our paths

and kindle joy within us.

Help us to welcome Christ with open hearts

and to share His love generously with others.

May the light of His coming bring peace to our homes,

strength to our communities,

and hope to our world.

Amen.

With every blessing for Advent and Christmas,

Paul

Revd Canon Paul Wilson

Rector of the Epworth Group of Churches

Priest-in-Charge of the Belton Group of Churches

Assistant Curate of the Crowle Group of Churches and the Haxey and Owston Ferry Plurality

Rural Dean of the Isle of Axholme Deanery