Christmas Day-Joy to the World

December 25

 Nativity of Our Lord

Read John 1: 1 – 14

It’s here! It is Christmas! We celebrate the gift of God’s own self to us by giving and receiving gifts of love with each other. We open our eyes and see our Savior in human form reaching out for us from the arms of the cross. O praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

Sing ‘Joy to the World’ with all the gusto you can muster. Don’t worry if you are off key, God is exactly on target.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; 

Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room

And heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n and nature sing, 

And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ, 

While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains

Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, 

Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow Nor thorns infest the ground;

 He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, 

Far as, far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove 

The glories of His righteousness

And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, 

And wonders, wonders of His love.

For the Family:

Now pick up and distribute those packages you placed under the Tree of Promise . There should be a package for each one. Slit the tapes or seals and open it to see your gift. There you see the nativity placed on a cross. It tells the whole story. God came, in human form, to die for you! Hang each of these crosses of love on the Tree of Promise and give thanks to God that you too have seen His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten Son. (if you did not make a cross gift package, share the story of the importance of gift -giving that reminds us of the Gift-Giver!)

Bible Journaling:

Joy to the World
Christmas Day
add a favorite card
Bible Journaling
Connie Denninger

If you are not a Bible Journaler- 
this is a wonderful way to mark 
the Visual Journey of Advent.
Design by Pat Maier.
Using the images for the Tree of Promise Devotions
 by Natalie Grace Hartwig 
and with a simple image- 
telling the Visual Faith story of Advent 2016.
Files for Advent calendar and
 Tree of Promise devotions found here
From the Kitchen:

Slice the breads you thawed last night. The Pulla will be better slightly toasted. Have your morning beverage of choice and finish making the salad. If some one at your home must be gluten free, make some blueberry muffins for them. That’s what I plan to do for Berith. I’ll eat a few myself, they are really good fresh out of the oven.

GLUTEN FREE BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

2 Cups almond flour

¼ cup sugar

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

½ tsp ground cinnamon

2 large eggs

2 TBS canola oil

2 TBS plain Greek yogurt

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup fresh blueberries

• Pre-heat oven to 425. Line muffin tin with cupcake liners
• Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl and whisk together with dry whisk or fork
• Beat liquids together in small bowl and stir into dry ingredients. Do not over mix.
• Fold in blueberries
• Spoon into muffin tin by heaping tablespoons. Works best for 24 mini muffins.
• Bake at 425 for 5 minutes then reduce temp to 350 and bake for additional 15 – 20 minutes until muffins are lightly golden and dry on top. 

Muffins keep well for up to 2 days. Freezes well. Best served warm.

Tree of Promise Devotions
Natalie Grace Hartwig

Christmas Eve--A Bethlehem Night

December 24

 Eve of the Nativity of Christ

Read Luke 2:1 – 7

On the day before Christmas we welcome the dark because it tells us that Christmas Day is here. According to the Old Testament way of marking the day, it began at sunset, and so our celebration begins in the evening. Now is the promise fulfilled.

‘Silent Night! Holy Night!’ combines both the hushed awe and the incandescent joy that the gift of the Christ Child generates. Sing it now as you kneel before your Lord.

Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin mother and child. Holy Infant, so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight, 

Glories stream from heaven afar, Heav’nly hosts sing, Alleluia!

Christ, the Savior, is born! Christ, the Savior, is born!

Silent night, holy night! Son of God, love’s pure light

Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord at Thy birth, Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.

For the Family:

A silhouette of Bethlehem reminds us of the humble village, the ‘city of bread’, where the very Bread of Life was born. Hang the symbol on your Tree of Promise and give thanks for the promise of the Savior both made and kept.

Bible Journaling:

Christmas Eve

Luke 2

A Bethlehem Night

Bible Journaling 
Connie Denninger

From the Kitchen:

You will be busy today, so skip the baking. Take a loaf of Kolach and a loaf of Pulla out of the freezer so they will be thawed for tomorrow. Then start the raw cranberry salad for tomorrow. It is easy and quick, but needs to be started today so it can sit for 24 hours before the final assembly.

Raw Cranberry Salad

1 bag raw cranberries, washed and picked over

1 cup sugar

1 cup red grapes, cut in half, seeded

1 cup pecan pieces

1 cup whipping cream

• Pulse cranberries and sugar together in food processor until cranberries are chopped, but not pureed.
• Refrigerate 12 to 24 hours
• Drain cranberries (can save juice for drinking, warning, high in sugar)
• Add grapes, nuts, and cream

Now fix a plate of cookies and a cup of hot tea and just sit down for a bit. Some might want a cup of hot chocolate or a glass of egg nog, that’s fine. Cookies go with anything. Here’s one hot drink that Karen fixed for us the year we spent New Year’s in California. 

Hot Chocolate Plus

Put equal portions of chocolate milk and egg nog 
in the crock pot and let heat during the day. 

You can sip at it when you get home from church.

Tree of Promise Devotions

Natalie Hartwig

Advent 27- Watchman- Awake!

December 23

Read Matthew 25:1 – 13

Advent, like the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, carries an invitation, a promise, and a warning. The invitation is to celebrate the coming of Christ, the promise is that Christ will come, and the warning is that the exact moment of His coming is unknown to us. The celebration lamps or torches used to greet the bride groom required large amounts of oil, so much oil that they needed to be replenished about 4 times every hour. Constant vigilance is needed. Our lamps of faith also need constant attention. By God’s grace, the supply of fuel-God’s loving Word and the power of the Spirit, is boundless.

‘Wake, Awake’ is used by the church militant as an Advent hymn, a funeral hymn, and an end times hymn reflecting the invitation, promise, and warning.

“Wake, awake, for night is flying.” The watchmen on the heights are crying;

 “Awake, Jerusalem, arise!”

Midnight hears the welcome voices And at the thrilling cry rejoices: 

“Oh, where are ye, ye virgins wise?

The Bride-groom comes, awake! Your lamps with gladness take! Alleluia!

With bridal care Yourselves prepare To meet the Bride-groom, who is near.”

Zion hears the watchmen singing, And all her heart with joy is springing;

 She wakes, she rises from her gloom.

For her Lord comes down all glorious. The strong in grace, in truth victorious; 

Her star is ris’n Her light is come.

Now come, Thou Blessed One, Lord Jesus, God’s own Son, Hail! Hosanna!

We enter all The wedding hall To eat the Supper at Thy call.

Now let all the heav’ns adore Thee, Let saints and angels sing before Thee 

With harp and cymbals’ clearest tone.

Of one pearl each shining portal, Where joining with the choir immortal, 

We gather round Thy radiant throne.

No eye has seen the light, No ear has heard the might Of Thy glory;

Therefore will we Eternally Sing hymns of praise and joy to Thee!

For the Family:

Today’s symbol is a brightly burnished lamp with a golden flame. Hang this symbol on your Tree of Promise and pray God to increase your faith and keep you watching in joy.

Bible Journaling:

Advent 27
Watchman- Awake
Matthew 25:1-13
Bible Journaling
Connie Denninger

From the Kitchen:

The only time I ever was successful at making a ginger bread house I made it with Betty Ann Barrett for the bake sale at church. In fact, we made 3 and they all sold for $25 each. Not bad for 1977. Baking like that was fun, try it some time, pick a new or difficult recipe and bake with a friend. It makes waiting easier. This recipe is not for ginger bread cake cookies, but it is for Ginger Snaps.

Ginger Snaps

On line search

8 oz butter  
1 ¼ C + 2 TBS sugar

½ tsp vanilla  
2 small eggs

1/3 C molasses  
3 C flour

2 ½ tsp baking soda  
½ tsp salt

2 ½ tsp cinnamon  
2 ½ tsp ground ginger

1/8 tsp finely ground black pepper

• Beat butter until soft, add sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
• Add vanilla and eggs and beat until fluffy. Add molasses and beat until well mixed.
• Sift dry ingredients together
• Add dry ingredients to liquid ingredients 1/3 at a time. Beat only until all dry ingredients are well incorporated.
• Line loaf pan with plastic wrap and pack dough into pan pressing tightly to eliminate any air bubbles. Cover well with the plastic wrap to avoid freezer burn.
• Freeze dough until solid, at least 12 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350
• Slice brick as thinly as possible (no thicker than 1/8”) and place on silicone baking mat at least 1” apart. Return unsliced brick to freezer.
• Bake 7 – 12 minutes until edges turn dark brown. Be sure to check at 7 minutes.
• Repeat until all dough is used

I admit it. I hunted on line for this because I wanted a really crisp cookie. Have not tried it yet. My knives are all too dull to cut much more than warm butter, but I happen to know that a new set of knives is wrapped and waiting in the cradle for me. Oh yes, our family puts Christmas presents in the same cradle that rocked my babies and their great-great grandfather Speck. 

Tree of Promise Devotions

Natalie Grace Hartwig

Advent 26- God Loves Me Dearly

December 22

Read Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:1 – 9, and Mark 11:1 – 11

Zechariah’s prophesy, the promise of the entrance of the King, is fulfilled in the Palm Sunday account of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and is, at the same time, a reflection of the joy we feel when Christ is welcomed into our hearts and lives. At the heart of the hymn, ‘O Lord, How Shall I Meet Thee’ is the 4^th verse. Pay close attention to those words as you sing this hymn. 

O Lord, how shall I meet You, How welcome You a right?

Your people long to greet You, My hope, my heart’s delight.

O kindle, Lord most holy, Your lamp within my breast

To do in spirit lowly All that may please You best.

Your Zion strews before You Green boughs and fairest palms;

And I too will adore You With joyous songs and psalms.

My heart shall bloom forever For you with praises new

And from your name shall never With-hold the honor due.

I lay in fetters groaning: You came to set me free

I stood, my shame bemoaning; You came to honor me.

A glorious crown You give me, A treasure safe on high

That will not fail or leave me As earthly riches fly.

Love caused Your incarnation, Love brought You down to me.

Your thirst for my salvation Procured my liberty.

Oh, love beyond all telling, That led You to embrace

In love, all love excelling, Our lost and fallen race.

Sin’s debt, that fearful burden, Cannot His love erase,

Your guilt the Lord will pardon And cover by His grace.

He comes, for you procuring The peace of sin forgiv’n,

His children thus securing Eternal life in heav’n.

He comes to judge the nations, A terror to His foes,

A light of consolations And blessed hope to those

Who love the Lord’s appearing O glorious Sun, now come,

Send forth Your beams so cheering, And guide us safely home.

For the Family:

The symbol is a heart, representing God’s love nestled in a manger. Hang this symbol on your Tree of Promise and give thanks to God who loves you so dearly that He took on human form to save you.
                                                     Bible Journaling:

Advent 26
God Love Me Dearly
Zechariah 9:9
Bible Journaling
Connie Denninger

From the Kitchen:

Another bar cookie, this one a bit more complicated, makes very few cookies. Mom rarely took them out of the baking pan to pack in another container. I’m not sure if that was because she was running out of canisters or because she realized that they hardly lasted long enough to justify the effort.

Coconut Bars

 Dora Pfitzer Meyermann-  Mother of Natalie Hartwig

Cookie Base:

½ C softened butter

½ C packed brown sugar

1 C sifted four

• Cut together and press firmly into greased 8 X 12 pan. 
• Bake at 325 for 20 minutes. Do Not Brown.

Top layer:

2 eggs

1/8 tsp salt

1 C packed brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 TBS flour

½ tsp baking powder

1 C chopped nuts

1 C shredded coconut

• Beat together eggs and brown sugar.
• Sift dry ingredients together, add to egg mixture and stir until well incorporated.
• Fold in nuts and coconut
• Spread over cookie base
• Bake at 325 for 25 minutes
• Cut while still warm, but do not need to remove from pan immediately. 
• Makes 24 large bars or 32 small ones. 

I love these! So very rich tasting. My recipe card is very use spattered.

Tree of Promise Devotions
Natalie Grace Hartwig