Title: Embracing New Beginnings: Finding Hope and Faith in 2025
Welcome to 2025! As we stand on the threshold of a new year, Hope Chapel opened its doors with a message of renewal and spiritual anchoring delivered by Pastor Andrew Cole. This first service of the year was not just a ceremonial start but a profound invitation to engage with the core of our faith and the promises of God.
The Call to New Beginnings
Pastor Andrew began by reflecting on the allure of new beginnings. The start of a new year brings no real difference from the day before, yet it is laden with potential and hope—hope for what God might do, how we might pursue Him more fervently, and share our faith more boldly than ever before. This moment serves as a point of origin, an anchoring in God’s truth from which we can venture forth into the year.
Anchoring in God’s Truth
Our “point of origin” as described by Pastor Andrew is about returning to the fundamental truths that shape and define our lives. He outlined three pivotal points of origin from the scriptures to guide us through the year, no matter the circumstances we might find ourselves in.
- God’s Creative Power: In Genesis, we are reminded that God created order out of chaos. This truth encourages us to believe in God’s ability to bring light into the darkest parts of our lives, urging us to invite His creative power into our personal chaos and look for the transformation that only He can bring.
- The Call of Abraham: The story of Abraham is a powerful testament to the journey of faith—stepping into the unknown and trusting in God’s promises. It challenges us to step out in faith, trusting that God’s plans have both personal and communal impacts that can extend far beyond our current understanding.
- The Birth of Jesus: The incarnation of Christ signifies God’s intimate involvement in our lives, His desire for a relationship with us, and His commitment to our redemption. This monumental event reminds us that God is always with us, inviting us to live fully in His grace and truth.
A Year of Living Faithfully
As we navigate the various seasons of 2025, these foundational truths serve as anchors. They are points we can return to time and again for encouragement, direction, and reassurance. Pastor Andrew’s message was clear: embrace the new beginnings, trust in God’s promises, and actively seek His presence in our lives.
Communion and Commitment
This service on Sunday 5th January 2025 concluded with communion, a time for personal reflection and communal commitment. It was an invitation to remember the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and to carry forward the hope and faith that come from Him into every aspect of our lives.
As we step into the rest of the year, let us hold tightly to these truths, allowing them to shape our actions and reactions. Let us be bold in our faith, generous in our love, and unwavering in our hope. Here’s to a transformative 2025 at Hope Chapel, as we seek to live out the Gospel in every moment of our lives.
Thank you for joining us in this journey of faith. May this be a year where we see God’s hand at work in remarkable ways, transforming us and the world around us.
🎧 Listen to the audio sermon that Pastor Andrew shared with us on 5 January 2025 HERE