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Words for Waiting is a daily devotional for the seasons of Advent and Christmas. It began in 2017 as a local-ish effort by campus ministers in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. A year after that, the UKirk Collegiate Ministries Association and the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Office of Christian Formation joined in and we started welcoming contributors from across the country.

Each day’s reflections are created by ministers and college students connected to Presbyterian-supported campus ministries (with some other Church neighbors sprinkled in). They offer paragraphs, images, poetry, and prayer, to illuminate God’s presence with us and the ways we might respond to it.

Check out previous years’ devotions in the menu above, and we’ll see you for Advent 2026!

January 6

January 6, 2026December 13, 2025 by ukirkadvent, posted in Advent 2025

Matthew 2:1-12 These privileged magi could travel long distances, finance their trips, and bring rare gifts. They traveled a long way, and made quite a commotion when they asked about the king of the Jews being born. Through their humility and through their desire to answer a calling, they brought King Herod fear. The earthly … Continue reading January 6

January 5

January 5, 2026December 13, 2025 by ukirkadvent, posted in Advent 2025

Joshua 1:1-9 Part of the weaving that happens on a college campus is when the mantle of leadership is passed from student to student, year after year. Some newly installed student organization presidents inherit binders of instructions with timelines, budgets, and contact lists. Other student leaders are asked to make something out of nothing. Moses … Continue reading January 5

January 4

January 4, 2026December 13, 2025 by ukirkadvent, posted in Advent 2025

Ephesians 1:3-14 Before you did anything, God chose you. This opening passage of Ephesians piles up blessings like a cascade: chosen, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, sealed. It’s almost overwhelming. And it all happens “in Christ,” that repeated phrase anchoring everything in God’s action, not ours. This is the deep thread that holds us together: we don’t … Continue reading January 4

January 3

January 3, 2026December 13, 2025 by ukirkadvent, posted in Advent 2025

Genesis 28:10-22 In general, we tend to think of heaven and earth as two separate places. Heaven is where God lives; earth is where humans live. Heaven is perfect; earth is fallen. In today’s passage from Genesis, Jacob probably thought the same thing – that is, until he sees a dream of the Lord and … Continue reading January 3

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