Visual Faith- Worship Settings

Easter Blessings- 

By Brother Melvin Meyer

Once In awhile I walk into a sanctuary

 or worship setting, 

or in this case - a Fellowship Hall, 

and sometime is strikingly different.

 I recognized the work of Brother Meyer

immediately

 having found his work a few years back.

In this case the bold colors and graphic images

 stand out on the neutral walls of a Fellowship Hall.

Some of the story of the art 
that fills Grace Lutheran Church
 in Chester, Virginia.

I am including the written description

 of the art 

even though it is hard to see in places

 with the light reflections.

The artist's statements help us

 to see all that a piece of Visual Faith 

art encompasses.

The Christian Life

 by Brother Melvin Meyer

The Sacrament of the Altar-

By Brother Melvin Meyer

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism-

By Brother Melvin Meyer

 The Four Gospels-

By Brother Melvin Meyer

A bit about Brother Melvin Meyer:

A bit more :

Brother Mel's work is well known

 in St. Louis area hospitals, 

office buildings, and chapels,

 as well as St. Louis University.

You can also find the work of this prolific artist - 

who numbers his works near 10,000,

 in hundreds of homes and backyards.

Brother Mel died Oct. 12, 2013

 at the age of 85.

He said that everything 

he created was religious.

"My faith and art are inseparable," he said.

(St Louis Post-Dispatch- Oct 15, 2013)

Growing Gracefully-

by Carolyn Henne

This is the other significant artwork

 that blesses the walls of Grace Lutheran Church.

Some of us connect in significant ways

 with the music of a worship service.

The visual learners find these kinds of artwork 

as integral in connecting the divine and the ordinary.

That is what worship is really about-

that moment when we realize

 that He is God, and I am not,

and just for THAT 

we give Him honor and glory.

Thank you to the members of 

Grace Lutheran Church

 for bringing these beautiful art pieces

 into your ministry setting.

This blesses all of us.

Christmas 9-- Gift of Faith

January 2

Luke 2:21 – 35; Hebrews 11:1

Simeon was the recipient of a personal promise, the promise that he would not die until he had seen the promised Messiah. I wonder how many people tried to stay close to him so that they too would get to see the Messiah. His trust in the personal promise was not unlike the trust that mature Christians have in the salvation promised to all believers.

Sing the Nunc Dimittis according to the setting that is your preference. The liturgy quotes verses 29 – 32 of Luke chapter 2 directly. Or, if you have a copy of one of the hymn books listed below, you may select Luther’s versification of the Nunc. 

Lord, now You let Your servant go in peace;

Your word has been fulfilled

My own eyes have seen the salvation which

 You have prepared in the sight of ev’ry people:

A light to reveal You to the nations and the glory of Your people Israel.

For the Family:

The dove, a symbol of peace-(can be placed on a cross) shows the confident vision of faith. Hang this symbol on your Tree of Promise and give thanks for the gift of faith.

Bible Journaling:

Gift of Faith
 Hebrews 11:1
Bible Journaling
Connie Denninger

From the Kitchen:

The first time I made these cookies I was in Home Ec class at Lutheran High School Central, St. Louis, MO. That school no longer exists, the Crusaders now call Lutheran North home. Snickerdoodles, however, have flourished and can now be found in most grocery stores. Mom liked them so much that she added them to her ‘must have’ list. We used colored sugar for dipping the cookies and the glass jar of those cookies looked like a jar of jewels.

Snickerdoodles

LHSC Home Ec Class

1 C shortening

1 ½ C sugar

2 eggs

2 ¾ C flour

2 tsp cream of tartar

1 tsp soda

½ tsp salt

• Mix in usual order. Chill dough
• Roll into walnut sized balls
• Dip in sugar/cinnamon mixture

• Bake at 400 for 8 – 10 minutes on ungreased cookie sheet

Tree of Promise Devotions

Natalie Grace Hartwig

Christmas 8- -Holy Name of Jesus

January 1

 Holy Name of Jesus

Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:31; Philippians 2:10, Acts 2:21

Immanuel! God is with us, and we call His name Jesus!

There are many praise songs built around the holy name of Jesus, but I don’t know any that echo the scriptures as repeatedly and intensely as the hymn listed below. I gave you some of the passages related to it, see if you can find the rest. 

Jesus! Name of wondrous love, 

Name all other names above,

Unto which must ev’ry knee 

Bow in deep humility.

Jesus! Name decreed of old, 

To the maiden mother told,

Kneeling in her lowly cell, 

By the angel Gabriel.

Jesus! Name of priceless worth 

To the fallen of the earth

For the promise that it gave, 

“Jesus shall His people save.”

Jesus! Name of mercy mild,

 Given to the holy Child

When the cup of human woe 

First He tasted here below.

Jesus! Only name that’s giv’n 

Under all the mighty heav’n

Whereby those to sin enslaved

 Burst their fetters and are saved.

Jesus! Name of wondrous love, 

Human name of God above;

Pleading only this, we flee Helpless,

 O our God, to Thee.

                                                                                                         Goggle image

For the Family:

There are many lovely ornaments featuring the holy name, JESUS. If you already have a favorite, use it. If not, make one that makes a cross out of the name itself. Hang this symbol on your Tree of Promise and pray, in the name of Jesus, for God to guide and keep you in this new year.

Bible Journaling:

Jan 1

 Holy Name of Jesus

Bible Journaling
Connie Denninger

From the Kitchen:

For the new year, here is an older recipe that is new to me. For cousins Jean, Joan, Jack, and Jil -  some memories for you.

Orange Cardamom Cookies

Fern Seitz Pfitzer

1 1/4 C granulated sugar

1 C butter

1 egg

1/4 C light corn syrup 

1 TB freshly grated orange peel

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp orange extract

3 C flour

1 1/4 tsp ground cardamom

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

• Combine sugar and butter in large bowl.  Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Add egg, syrup, orange peel, vanilla, and orange extract.  Beat until well blended and fluffy. 
• Combine flour, cardamom, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.  Add gradually to creamed mixture at low speed.  Mix until well blended.  
• Divide dough in half.  Roll each half into a 12 inch long log  Wrap and chill 4 hours or until firm.  
• Heat oven to 375. Grease baking sheets with butter. (Parchment paper?)  
• Cut rolls in 1/4 inch slices.  Place 1 inch apart on prepared sheets.  
• Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned.  Do not over bake. 
• Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheet.  Remove to rack and cool completely.   Makes 5-6 dozen cookies.

Joan Pfitzer Loesch sent this recipe to me when I was looking for orange flavored cookies.

Tree of Promise Devotions
Natalie Grace Hartwig

Christmas 7--Journey Home- Year's End

December 31

Genesis 1:14, Hebrew 8:12

Time, days, seasons, and the patterns of years are all gifts of God. In the Old Testament we also find specific instructions for festivals to mark the passing of seasons and commemoration God’s mighty acts. Marking the years, recalling not only our sins but also God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness, and abundant blessings is a good discipline. 

Take time for reflection before the year turns and we can again sing how “Every morning mercies new, fall as fresh as morning dew.”

Across the sky the shades of night This New Year’s Eve are fleeting.

We deck Your altar Lord, with light, In solemn worship meeting;

And as the year’s last hours go by, We raise to You our earnest cry, 

Once more Your love entreating.

Before the cross subdues we bow, To You our prayer addressing.

Recounting all Your mercies now, And all our sins confessing;

Beseeching You this coming year To keep us in Your faith and fear 

And crown us with your blessing.

We gather up in this brief hour The mem’ry of Your mercies:

Your wondrous goodness, love, and pow’r Our grateful song rehearses;

For You have been our strength and stay In many a dark and dreary day 

Of sorrow and reverses.

Then, gracious God, in years to come, We pray Your hand may guide us,

And, onward through our journey home, Your mercy walk beside us 

Until at last our ransomed life Is safe from peril, toil and strife 

When heav’n itself shall hide us.

For the Family:

Take the last page of a desk calendar and mark across the year “Hebrews 8:12.” Hang this symbol on your Tree of Promise and give thanks that God remembers your sins no more.

Bible Journaling:

Dec 31
Bible Journaling 
Journey Home- Year's End
Hebrew 8:12
Connie Denninger

From the Kitchen:

Every baker has a recipe for banana bread for those times that we purchased more bananas than we had use for before they got too soft. I remember well Dad’s comment on his 90^th birthday. He said, “seems like buying green bananas is not a good investment anymore.”

If you have a good banana bread recipe and use it, that statement might not be true for you. Here’s Mom’s recipe:

Banana Nut Bread

Dora Pfitzer Meyermann- Mother of  Natalie Hartwig

1/3 C butter

1 C sugar

2 eggs

1 ½ C flour

pinch salt

1 tsp baking soda

3 ripe bananas, crushed

½ C chopped nuts

• Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs and beat well.
• Sift dry ingredients together twice. 
• Add to liquid mixture.
• Add banana and nuts.
• Bake in loaf pan at 350 for 50 -60 minutes.

Works well in mini loaf pans. Keeps well for up to 2 days. Freezes well.

I read a hint the other day: frozen chunks of banana help to chill a smoothie and keep you from diluting your smoothie with ice cubes. 

Tree of Promise Devotions
Natalie Hartwig

Christmas 6--Joy Days

December 30

Read Galatians 3:26 – 29, and John 14:1-3

We are adopted by God! The Son of God, born in a cattle shed, is now our brother who goes before us to prepare a place for us in the presence of God. His promise to us is to return and take us to heaven to be there with all God’s children in His presence for all eternity. What joy is ours.

‘Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light’ is a morning prayer for the child of God waiting for the promised Joy to come. The dancing harmony is attributed to Bach – let your heart and soul dance in God’s presence. “O Come, All Ye Faithful” is likely among the top 10 processional hymns for Christmas Eve programs and services. It specifically bids us come joyfully to the celebration of Christ’s birth.  

O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant! O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold Him Born the king of angels:

O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,

 O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

Highest, most holy, Light of Light eternal, Born of a virgin, a mortal He comes;

Son of the Father Now in flesh appearing!

O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,

 O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!

Glory to God In the highest:

O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, 

O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning;; Jesus to Thee be glory giv’n!

Word of the Father Now in flesh appearing!

O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,

 O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

                                                                                 Google images

For the Family:

The symbol for today is a dark disc with the word ‘JOY’ in gold surrounded by golden rays. Hang this symbol on your Tree of Promise and welcome a new day of grace. All of God’s days are good. (some images to play around with)

Bible Journaling:

Dec 30
Joy Days
(loved the Christmas card JOY- 
keeping it simple these days after Christmas)
Bible Journaling
Connie Denninger

From the kitchen:

You are probably enjoying some cookies that were gifts to you from friends. Each year my father looked forward to the black walnut wafers that his sister, Agnes Westmeyer, gave him. The recipe says it was Uncle Carl’s recipe and I know that Uncle Carl did the hard work of shelling the black walnuts, but I am equally certain that Aunt Agnes made the wafers. I do not care for black walnuts and Dad’s stash was safe from me. 

It took me a while to realize that the last line of instruction on mom’s copy of the recipe contained a typo. I think they intended to type ‘wire’ rack. The typo was just too much fun to keep it secret. 

Black Walnut Wafers

Uncle Carl Westmeyer (Mom didn’t make these, 
but Aunt Agnes Westmeyer brought them)

2/3 C sifted flour

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp baking powder

2 eggs

1 C packed brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 C chopped walnuts
     
Sift dry ingredients together

• Beat eggs until thick, gradually add brown sugar.
• Fold in dry ingredients.
• Add nuts and vanilla.
• Drop by rounded tsp 2” apart on greased cookie sheet.
• Bake 15 minutes or until browned.
• Remove from pan at once with spatula and cool on wine (sic) rack.

Tree of Promise Devotions

Natalie Grae Hartwig

Christmas 5- Fulfillment of the Promise

December 29

Read Luke 2:8 – 20

The account of the annunciation to the shepherds, their trusting reaction, and witness following action are a treasured part of the Christmas story. Today focus on verse 20 and the attitude of the shepherds as they left the manger. The same spirit of praise and rejoicing is right for us as we leave the manger and return to our lives. We too have seen and heard the fulfillment of the promises.

‘Come Rejoicing, Praises Voicing’ is a translation of a beloved Slovak Christmas hymn that urges us to sing joyfully in response to promises kept. “Where Shepherds Lately Knelt” by Jaroslav Vajda has gentle tenderness and sound theology. If you look hard enough you can hear it on you tube. Martin Luther’s hymn, ‘To Shepherds as They Watched by Night’ tells the story of the shepherds.

To shepherds as they watched by night Appeared a host of angels bright;

“Behold the tender babe” they said,

 “In yonder lowly manger laid,

“At Bethlehem, in David’s town, As Micah did of old make known.

It is the Christ, your Lord and King,

 Who will to all salvation bring.”

Oh, then rejoice that through his Son God is with sinners now at one;

Made like your-selves of flesh and blood,

 Your brother is th’ eternal God.

What harm can sin and death then do? The true God now abides with you.

Let hell and Satan storm and rave, 

Christ is your brother you are safe.

Not one he will or can forsake; His cov’nant he will never break.

Let ev’ry scheme the tempter try, 

You may his utmost pow’rs defy.

You shall and must at last prevail. God’s own you are; you cannot fail.

To God forever sing your praise 

With joy and patience all your days.

For the Family:

A cross emblazoned with a treble clef symbolizes the rejoicing child of God. Hang this symbol on your Tree of Promise and pray God to give you a heart and voice of joy.

Bible Journaling:

Fulfillment of the Promise
Dec. 29
Bible Journaling
Connie Denninger

From the Kitchen:

If you are a compulsive baker you probably have some muffins in your freezer. If you are also a gardener, and knew my mother those muffins are probably Chocolate Chip Zucchini.

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins

Dora Pfitzer Meyermann -Mother of Natalie Hartwig

1 tsp baking powder 1 ½ C flour ¾ C sugar ½ tsp salt

1 t cinnamon 1 egg, lightly beaten ½ C oil

¼ C milk 1 T lemon juice 1 t vanilla

1 C shredded zucchini ¼ C semi sweet chocolate chips

¼ C chopped walnuts

• Sift dry ingredients together
• Combine egg, oil, milk, lemon juice, and vanilla. Mix well.
• Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
• Fold in zucchini, chocolate chips, and nuts.
• Fill paper lined muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 350 for 20 – 25 minutes or until the test done. Yield 12 muffins

Muffins freeze well as standard size muffins. Mini muffins tend to dry out when frozen.

Tree of Promise Devotions

Natalie Grace Hartwig