Promise

There’s a particular feeling evoked by the word almost. We’re almost on vacation. Dinner is almost done. Christmas is almost here. For me, almost brings this sense of leaning in, straining forward, holding out just a little longer. Depending on what I’m waiting for, almost can make me lean in with anxiety or hope or a mix of both. What is it about almost that makes us lean in? What’s on the other side that makes us hold out a little longer? More often than not, it’s the promise that what we’ve been waiting on will come to fruition.

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. Mary is pregnant with the Messiah, and Elizabeth witnesses the promise coming into being right in front of her. Micah shares whispers, not abstract promises but a promise springing forth in the quiet town of Bethlehem, a promise of provision, security, and peace. These are not pie-in-the-sky, theoretical ideas. Mary, Elizabeth, Bethlehem, us…we are all recipients of a real, tangible promise—the promise that is already here and not yet. The promise that is almost.

Contained within the almost of Advent is the promise that our work is vital. By grace, we participate with God in making the almost a reality in our homes, neighborhoods, and communities. So, as we plan for this last Sunday of Advent, how might the visual and aural space declare our work of preparation, watching, waiting, and cooperating with God? You might represent the almost of the promise symbolically, perhaps by placing an empty manger in the center of the altar surrounded by more candles, purple cloth, and flowers. You could also take a more literal approach by including in the altar or chancel space a visual representation of service your church does in the neighborhood, either throughout the year or specifically at Christmastime. What are the signs of God’s kin-dom work happening in and through your church and neighborhood? How might you include those on the altar as an offering and as a promise to keep responding to God who includes us in the work of bringing the kin-dom on earth as it is in heaven? What might you sing to call to mind the promise of God’s kin-dom among us? The Fourth Sunday of Advent is always a wonderful time to sing hymns based on the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) like “My Soul Gives Glory to My God” (United Methodist Hymnal, 198) or “Tell Out My Soul” (United Methodist Hymnal, 200) that remind us of the nature and work of God’s kin-dom. Or you might sing songs of remembering and noticing God’s coming and promises to us, like “People, Look East” (United Methodist Hymnal, 202), “Toda la Tierra (The Earth Is Waiting)” (United Methodist Hymnal, 210), or “Like a Child” (The Faith We Sing, 2092).