Advent 2025 – reflecting on waiting

First Sunday of Advent, 30 November – Waiting

For Christians across the world, Advent is a season of waiting. Yet it is important to remember that waiting can also be unjust. As we mark Advent 2025, may we stand in solidarity with those who are waiting for justice, inclusion, and equality.

Second Sunday of Advent, 7 December – Waiting for healthcare

We know that there are millions of people with disabilities around the world who are waiting for basic healthcare. This could be due to a lack of services, especially in rural areas. Or that  healthcare is too expensive for those caught in the cycle of poverty and disability. Inaccessible hospitals and very limited transport options, especially in rural areas, also make it difficult to get there in the first place.

On this Second Sunday of Advent 2025, we think of all the work CBM UK and its partners are doing to make healthcare accessible for people with disabilities. From running eye screenings in local communities, to making hospital facilities more inclusive by adding ramps and handrails – we’re seeing what is possible and building a world where no one has to wait for basic healthcare.

Third Sunday of Advent, 14 December – Waiting for education

On this Third Sunday of Advent, we remember children with disabilities who are waiting for education.

If schools don’t have ramps, lifts, and other accessible facilities it can be impossible for children using assistive devices like wheelchairs or crutches to get around. It stops them from taking part in school activities and learning alongside their peers. Some communities also have stigma and prejudice around children with disabilities. This denies them their right to education and opportunity to fulfil their potential.

We believe that no child should have to wait for an education. That’s why we’re breaking down barriers by training teachers, adapting buildings, and tackling stigma. As we journey through Advent this year, we hope for a better tomorrow for all those across the world who are denied access to education.

Fourth Sunday of Advent, 21 December – Waiting for humanitarian aid

Today, on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we remember the people with disabilities who are waiting for vital humanitarian aid.

We know that people with disabilities are up to four times more likely to lose their lives as a result of a disaster. During a crisis, they often cannot escape quickly from danger, miss out on warnings, and are unable to access to emergency aid in the aftermath.

In this past year, we have responded to the devastating cyclones in the Philippines. We’ve also worked on disaster preparedness in Kenya and Bangladesh, supporting those who are too often left behind. As the climate crisis makes extreme weather and disasters more likely, there has never been a more important time to push for a more inclusive response to emergencies that leaves no one having to wait.

“But as for you, return to your God, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.” (Hosea 12:6)

This Advent, your church can play a vital role in transforming lives in the world’s poorest communities. Find out more about how you can involve your church.

You can also order or download the CBM UK free prayer diary, which includes prayers for you and your congregation as we pray together for a more inclusive world.