Arotahi is the Missionary Society of the Baptist Union of New Zealand. They have created a prayer resource for the season of Advent. We will publish a week of readings at a time a few days before the week starts.
Prayer or devotional notifications
To receive notifications of this prayer resource, turn on the 'Prayer or devotional content' notification in the Baptist NZ app (top-left menu --> Settings) and ensure your device operating system has notifications for Baptist NZ enabled.
Sunday | 7 December
by Lizzie Carter
This was to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
He will not quarrel or cry out;
no one will hear his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he has brought justice through to victory.
In his name the nations will put their hope.
Matthew 12:18-21
On the second Sunday of Advent,
we cry for justice
and we long for peace.
The two inextricably linked.
Stir our hearts with
holy repentance, rage, and resistance.
Embolden us with all compassion and courage.
Guide us out of
our complacency or complicity,
and into the way of steadfast, enduring peace.
Realign us
with wholehearted, restorative action
that ends the violence.
Lord, end all violence.
Lord, end all violence now.
Oh Lord, hear our prayers.
Amen.
Light a candle of peace to proclaim God’s light in the midst of darkness. As you do, take a moment of reflection. In this season of Advent consider these questions:
Where do you see God dwelling amongst our world?
How are we invited to build upon the foundations that Christ has laid?
Monday | 8 December
By Leonora De Vries
Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
John 12:24-25
This Christmas time how would a simple “kernel of wheat,” have a message for us? Sometimes the simple things are the most profound!
We know that Jesus came into our world with a small seemingly unspectacular beginning. How is it possible that the King of Glory came as a humble babe? It makes me think that he modelled something very powerful and meaningful for us. He laid down his life, and did not seek his own will, but rather that of his Father. So he left the glories of his Heavenly home, laid down his divinity, and became one with us.
He was like that seed that was planted deep into the ground. A seed is hidden for a period of time. Jesus's childhood was also largely hidden. Here he was learning what it meant to become the redeemer for all of mankind. He tells us that, “Greater love has no one than this, to lay down his life for his friends.” What a Saviour who died and rose again for all of mankind! What a perfect love that we can only just begin to fathom.
If a seed dies it also produces many seeds. With the disciples, his Good News has spread to a worldwide harvest of believers! This Christmas let us remember his example of profound love and the glorious hope that lights our path. Now it is our turn to respond! To give our lives for him. As followers of Jesus, we are called to leave our comfort zones, to share his Good News, and to be his hands and feet.
Let's follow in his footsteps by taking courageous steps of faith, and trusting him for the outcome. He will be with us all the way!
Tuesday | 9 December
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Luke 4:18-19
According to the UN’s Global Trends Report, by the end of April 2025, there were 122.1 million forcibly displaced people, up from 2024. This number has grown over the course of the year.
In the midst of this reality, we hold to Christ’s hope that all things will be made transformed.
In violence and travail
We give you thanks for the babe born in violence.
We give you thanks for the miracle of Bethlehem, born into the Jerusalem heritage.
We do not understand why the innocents must be slaughtered; we know that your kingdom comes in violence and travail. Our time would be a good time for your kingdom to come, because we have had enough of violence and travail.
So we wait with eager longing, and with enormous fear, because your promises do not coincide with our favorite injustices.
We pray for the coming of your kingdom on earth as it is around your heavenly throne.
We are a people grown weary of waiting.
We dwell in the midst of cynical people, and we have settled for what we can control.
We do know that you hold the initiative for our lives, that your love planned our salvation before we saw the light of day.
And so we wait for your coming, in your vulnerable baby in whom all things are made new.
Amen.
Walter Brueggemann
Wednesday | 10 December
By Debbie Cunningham, Mission Council
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Luke 1:39-45
Having been raised in the church and hearing the Christmas story retold every year, I often get stuck in my thinking of Christmas primarily in terms of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. But I am reminded that there were people in the margins who were impacted by what God was doing and that these people are an integral part of this story as well.
Take Elizabeth for example, Luke 1:6-7 describes her as righteous before God, but unable to have a child. Then in verse 25 Elizabeth thanks God for the conception of her baby, saying that this event has taken away the reproach of others which she has lived with for so long. How many others do we cross paths with every day, people we look at and see someone who is good, happy, well off, blessed, or a myriad of other descriptions we could use, yet unbeknown to us they may see themselves as disgraced, shamed, invisible, forgotten?
The miraculous conception of two different babies, one which took away reproach for a woman despised because she was barren, and another which brought the reproach of others on an unmarried woman whose husband-to-be initially wanted to quietly divorce her because of her pregnancy.
This is a reminder to us all, whether the Christmas season brings you joy or pain, shame or freedom, that the God of the miraculous is right there in the midst of it all, speaking redemption and hope to everyone who takes the time to listen.
Thursday | 11 December
By Luka Kaa-Morgan, Te Pouarataki Mō Te Hīkoi
This is such a special season heading into Christmas and celebrating the birth of Christ. When I was a kid, it was all about the presents. I’ve since realised that one of my love languages is receiving gifts, so it makes perfect sense that I was always full of excitement and joy at this time of year. But as I’ve grown older, the central figure—Jesus—has come to mean far more than the season’s traditions.
The ‘Jesus’ story, who he is and his way of being is a constant source of hope. Every time I consider Jesus, hope is revealed. This has given courage to rebuild when there has been failure. Opportunity for renewal and reconciliation in broken relationships. Hope has been a catalyst for action and a birthplace for initiatives of justice and freedom. It has fuelled imagination and prophetic vision. To me, hope is anchoring and Jesus gives this hope.
One of my whanaunga (relations), Tuaiwa Hautai Kereopa-Rickard (Eva), was an influential leader from Whaingaaroa, Raglan and one whose work built hope for the people of Tainui Aawhiro.
In 1972 Tuaiwa began petitioning the government for the return of Te Koopua, which was supposed to have occurred when it was no longer required as an airstrip. The war had ended nearly 30 years earlier, but instead of returning the land the government had vested it in the Raglan County Council – which in turn had leased it to the Raglan Golf Club as a nine-hole course.
On 30 November 1983, after numerous court cases and negotiations, Te Koopua (excluding the airfield itself) was returned with conditions. Tuaiwa refused to compromise her principles and settle, but in 1991, when the Crown withdrew its demand for payment for the land, the property was finally vested in the Te Koopua Trust.
One of my mokopuna (grandchildren) spends each day at Te Koopua in the kohanga reo (language nest), one of the initiatives of our people on this returned whenua (land). This is hope revealed for the people of Tainui Aawhiro seeing the people flourish again as Tuaiwa’s sacrificial leadership, hopes and dreams continue to be realised.
Isaiah’s prophetic word foretells the birth of a child who will carry divine authority and bring peace and justice. The Messiah and King. This brought hope to a people in a context of political instability and spiritual darkness. Here was a promise of new beginnings and of life. God had not abandoned his people and something new and transformative was coming. It also came with the promise that God was totally committed to this vision becoming a reality. The people were gifted the capacity to live with hope.
I encourage you to reflect on this hope, to be a people of hope who beautifully carry this treasure into a dark world.
Friday | 12 December
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10b
Arotahi Build is a bold next step towards mission sustainability. This project reflects the values of who we are. We are partnering with Oxford Terrace Baptist to complete stage three of their housing project. This will create social and affordable housing for families here in Aotearoa. The income from these homes will fund hostel projects across South Asia.
This project invests in the social fabric of families and communities both here and globally. There is a beautiful mutuality within this project - lives flourishing in tandem through the provision of safe and secure housing - in our backyard and for children across South Asia.
Arotahi is still working on this project. We would appreciate your prayers for it. In the season of Advent, we remember the humble Christ who came to give life in its fullest. Christ came to bring restoration and transformation to all of our relationships. The sad reality is that when people do not have secure and safe housing, it erodes their relationships. It limits their health, access to education, their ability to sink roots into a community, their dignity and belonging. This matters for them, and for future generations.
God,
The one who we call home.
Grant us your wisdom and insights for this project.
May it build communities and usher in your transformation.
Amen
Saturday | 13 December
By Susan Osborne, Mission Council
I always looked forward to Christmas & the reminder of God’s loving gift of His son to us. The reminder that God brings peace and blessing into our lives. Not always the way we understand it, but blessing all the same.
I love Christmas and the way it’s celebrated in Bangladesh. In 2014 our son and his family joined us for Christmas in Chandpur, Bangladesh. This was our final Christmas in Bangladesh and it was so good to have them join us. We went carol singing. The church has carol singing (kirton is a Bengali way of singing) every night for two days over Christmas till New Year. On Christmas Eve the young people visit all the Christian homes singing a carol in each place, and enjoying hot chai and snacks along the way.
On Christmas Day the church service begins at 9am and goes for 2-3 hours, depending on how many folk have an item to share. Then we visit homes around the church enjoying Christmas treats. This tides us over till lunchtime when the church gathers for the “Prem Bhoj” or Love Feast, where we all eat together. Then in the afternoon “Christmas Father” (or Father Christmas as we know him) arrives at the church and every child and young person gets a gift! Maybe a bar of soap, a cup, a plate, but definitely something useful.
This is how I’ve celebrated Christmas for 40 years with my Christian brothers and sisters, in community.
I don’t love Christmas the way it’s celebrated in New Zealand. It’s been a bit of a shock to experience Christmas in New Zealand. It seems that Christmas is a time to eat, drink and be merry. Christmas music blares out of loud speakers in malls and supermarkets, food budgets blow out, alcohol consumption is out of control, and it’s almost an embarrassment to mention Jesus being born. Father Christmas or Santa is everywhere. This focus on personal fun and festivities is a challenge to me. I really struggle with Christmas no longer being a time of celebration for the Christian community. Some churches don’t even have a service on Christmas Day. This is all so different to what I’m used to.
These distractions make it difficult to focus on Jesus and on His coming. I find I need to make a real effort to make my Christmas Christian. I love that churches are putting more emphasis on Advent, the beginning of the Church Year. I’m learning the richness of that tradition. I look forward to opportunities to share with those in need, the highlight being helping out at the community breakfast at a nearby church. I love seeing the church serving the community, especially at Christmas time.
Recently I’ve been reminded of that verse in Romans 12:2 about not being squeezed into the world’s mould. As I reflected on that verse I realised that it’s hard to separate ourselves from our culture, and to avoid being “conformed to the image of this world. Especially at times like Christmas.
Pause a moment and ask yourself how much of what you love about Christmas, how much of what you do at Christmas is informed by our NZ culture?
“Immanuel” is the Christian greeting in Bangladesh. God with us. What might this mean for you this Christmas? Personally? As a family? As a Christian community?
Image: From the cover of Arotahi’s Daily Advent Readings 2025 PDF
