As we begin Advent once again, you may be feeling the relentlessness of it all: the pressure to make the season feel special; the crunch of finishing up end-of-year projects; the busyness of extra shopping, gatherings, and parties. Just as we are ramping up activity heading into Christmas and winter break, the season of Advent slows us down. Wait, the calendar says. Don’t rush in. Prepare. And as amazing as the Christ child coming is, we’re not preparing for dynamite or quicksand. Our preparations to greet Jesus happen in the oh-so-ordinary things of life.

This week we explore passion. When we speak of passion in worship, we are not talking about emotions run amok with no direction or purpose. We’re talking about directing our hearts to God, whose love and grace inspires, directs, and shapes our passion.

Part of presence is about being in the moment together and honoring who we are past, present, and future. On this third Sunday of Advent, we are still waiting for the fulfillment of our joy. It is on this day we rehearse joy in the midst of waiting. It is not only the choirs or liturgists or preacher who get to practice joyful presence—we all do!

There’s a particular feeling evoked by the word almost. We’re almost on vacation. Dinner is almost done. Christmas is almost here. Depending on what I’m waiting for, almost can make us feel anxiety or hope or a mix of both. On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, we receive promise with the hope of fruition—not hope as a wish, but hope actively moving toward fulfillment.

Through the preparations and the passion, our presence with another as we receive God’s promise—we have arrived at Christmas and celebrate the arrival of the Light of the world who brings joy to the people living in great darkness.