Advent Reflections from Revd Dr Augustine Tanner-Ihm

Second Sunday of Advent (7th December 2025)

Preparing the Way: What Needs to be Made Straight?

“A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.'”

– Isaiah 40:3-4

Dear Friends,
The second week of Advent brings us John the Baptist—that wild, uncomfortable figure crying out in the wilderness, calling people to prepare the way for the Lord. This week’s readings aren’t gentle. They don’t let us settle into sentimental nostalgia about baby Jesus in a manger. Instead, they confront us with the question: What needs to be made straight?

Isaiah’s vision is radical. Valleys lifted up, mountains brought low, rough places made plain. This isn’t just about fixing potholes in ancient roads. It’s about the transformation of the entire landscape—about power structures being upended, about hierarchies being flattened, about places and people long overlooked being elevated while those accustomed to prominence must descend.

When we read this through the lens of John the Baptist’s preaching, the message becomes even sharper. He didn’t simply call people to feel bad about their sins or make small adjustments to their behavior. He called for repentance—metanoia—a complete reorientation of one’s life toward God’s justice and mercy. He challenged religious leaders who presumed their status guaranteed God’s favor. He confronted political powers that oppressed the vulnerable. He insisted that true preparation for the Messiah meant fundamentally reordering how we live together.

This Advent, what valleys in our common life need lifting up? Which voices have been relegated to the margins, dismissed or unheard? What mountains need bringing low? Where have we allowed hierarchies, pride, or institutional self-protection to obstruct the way of the Lord? What rough places need smoothing? Where have our communities become harsh, unwelcoming, or unsafe for those already bearing heavy burdens?

The uncomfortable truth is that preparing the way for Christ isn’t just about personal piety or individual spiritual practices—though those matter. It’s about examining our collective life, our structures, our patterns of inclusion and exclusion. It’s about asking whether our church, our neighbourhood, our society reflects the radical welcome and justice that characterise God’s kingdom.

John the Baptist didn’t make himself popular with these questions. Speaking truth about what needs to change rarely does. But Advent calls us to this prophetic work—not because we’re better than anyone else, but because we’ve caught a glimpse of what could be. We’ve heard the promise that God is coming to make all things new, and we cannot unsee what that newness requires.

As we light two candles this week—hope and peace—let us pray for courage. Courage to name honestly what needs changing. Courage to begin the work of transformation in ourselves and our communities. Courage to trust that the One who comes is powerful enough to level mountains and fill valleys, to make crooked paths straight and rough places plain.

The highway for our God runs through the wilderness of our world as it actually is. Let us prepare the way.
With prophetic expectation,

Revd Dr Augustine Tanner-Ihm

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Wednesday midweek Holy Communion 10.30 am
We will hold our usual Wednesday Holy Communion every Wednesday at 10.30am.
#Everyonewelcome #Refreshments

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Sunday 7th December
On the first Sunday of Advent we will welcome Rev Augustine to preside and  to preach, at our Christingle Service starting at 10.30am. Music by Hilary Hughes, readings and prayers from St.Nicholas team. Everyone is welcome to join us. #refreshments

LIVE BROADCASTS:
Our 10.30am service is broadcast live every Sunday. View the service via our website www.st-nicholas-church.org.uk or via our You Tube channel #Everyone is welcome, #inclusivechurch

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A prayer for Sunday 7th December

Almighty God,
purify our hearts and minds,
that when your Son Jesus Christ comes again as judge and saviour
we may be ready to receive him,
who is our Lord and our God. Amen

A prayer for Sunday 14th December
God for whom we watch and wait,
you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of your Son:
give us courage to speak the truth,
to hunger for justice,
and to suffer for the cause of right,
with Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen