Advent 8- Waters of Baptism

December 4 

Feast of John of Damascus,

 theologian and hymn writer, c. 749

Read Exodus 3:1 – 17 and 15:1 – 21 

God heard the cries of his enslaved people and promised to rescue them. John of Damascus likened the release of the people of Israel from slavery and the destruction of Pharaoh’s troops in the Red Sea to our rescue from sin and the destruction of Satan’s power in the water of baptism and the blood of the risen Savior. 

This hymn, ‘Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain’ is one of the church’s most ancient Easter hymns and reflects the joy of the most ancient of the church’s written songs, that of Moses and Miriam recorded in the book of Exodus and referenced in the post communion canticle, ‘Thank the Lord.’

Come, you faithful, raise the strain Of triumphant gladness! 

God has brought His Israel Into joy from sadness,

Loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke Jacob’s sons and daughters, 

Led them with unmoistened foot Through the Red Sea waters.

‘Tis the spring of souls today: Christ has burst His prison

And from three days’ sleep in death As a sun has risen;

All the winter of our sins, Long and dark, is flying

From His light, to whom is giv’n Laud and praise undying.

Now the queen of seasons, bright With the day of splendor,

With the royal feast of feasts Comes its joy to render,

Comes to gladden faithful hearts Which with true affection

Welcome in unwearied strain Jesus’ resurrection!

For today among His own Christ appeared, bestowing

His deep peace, which evermore Passes human knowing.

Neither could the gates of death Nor the tomb’s dark portal

Nor the watchers nor the seal Hold Him as a mortal.

Alleluia! Now we cry To our King immortal,

Who, triumphant, burst the bars Of the tomb’s dark portal.

Come, you faithful, raise the strain Of triumphant gladness! 

God has brought His Israel Into joy from sadness.

For the Family:

The symbol for this day, the cross rising from a baptismal shell shows that we have passed through the waters of baptism and now see the defeat of Satan in the power of the risen Christ. Hang this symbol on your Tree of Promise and give thanks that God has both rescued you and still preserves you, free from sin, death, and the power of the devil.

Advent 8 Bible Journaling-
Waters of Baptism
Connie Denninger

From the Kitchen:

Gluten Free Meringues

 Dora Pfitzer Meyermann- Mother of Natalie Hartwig

2 egg whites 

1 Cup sugar

½ Cup chopped dates

3/4 Cup chopped nuts

• Beat egg whites until stiff
• Beat in sugar
• Fold in dates and nuts
• Drop on greased baking sheet by teaspoon full
• Bake at 275 – 300 for 30 minutes. Cool before removing from sheet

I’ve always thought of meringues as Easter cookies because they have those big empty spots inside. Since these contain dates, a fruit of the Mediterranean, they seem to fit the hymn well. Mom regularly made 2 other meringue cookies at Christmas time. The Brown Sugar Puffs were Karen’s favorites. I much preferred the Beacon Hill Cookies.

Brown Sugar Puffs

2 egg whites pinch of cream of tarter

half a pound of light brown sugar ½ cup pecans

• Beat egg whites and cream of tarter until dry.
• Add brown sugar a teaspoon at a time.
• Beat for 10 more minutes
• Fold in nuts
• Drop by teaspoon on floured and greased cookie sheet. Shape like bonbons.
• Bake at 200 for 60 minutes.

Beacon Hill Cookies

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 2 eggs dash of salt

½ cup sugar ½ tsp. Vanilla ½ tsp. Vinegar

3/4 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)

• Heat oven to 350. Melt chocolate chips over hot water. 
• Beat egg whites with salt till foamy. 
• Gradually add sugar, beating well. Beat until stiff peaks form. 
• Beat in vanilla and vinegar. 
• Fold in chocolate and nuts very gently. 
• Drop by tsp on greased cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes

Mom got this recipe from one of her students at Concord Lutheran School, Pagedale, MO. I’m pretty sure that child got promoted at the end of the school year. The cookies quickly became a family favorite.

Tree of Promise Advent Devotions
Natalie Grace Hartwig

Advent 7- Speckled Lambs

December 3
Speckled Lambs

Read Genesis 31:10 –13

The story of Jacob’s dispute with Laban over wages is told beginning in Genesis 30:29. In this story of two men each trying to outwit the other we can see a promise of God’s accepting the spotted (read sinful) children of earth as his own and rescuing them. The following poem tells the same story. Sing it to the tune of the spiritual, ‘When Israel Was in Egypt’s Land’.

© Natalie Grace

For the Family:

The symbol is a speckled lamb, placed beneath the cross. Write your own name on the back of the speckled lamb. Make an ornament for each member of the family. Hang the symbol on your Tree of Promise and give thanks that you have been chosen by God

 while you were still in your sin.

Remember the cotton ball lambs you made in Sunday School? If you have young children you can let them make one only they should leave some spots without cotton and color those spots brown. They can hang them on the tree and say that God chose them even though they were not perfect. 

Bible Journaling: 

                             Advent 7-Speckled Lambs
                                                 Genesis 31:10-13
                                                Connie Denninger

                               From the Kitchen:

Decorated roll out cookies work well here.

If you want another cookie, 

I think chocolate chip cookies are speckled cookies.

Chocolate Chip – Oatmeal Cookies

 Dora Pfitzer Meyermann- Mother of Natalie Hartwig

Sift together:

• 1 ½ cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt

Cream:

• 1 cup shortening
• ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
• ¾ cup granulated sugar

Add dry ingredients to creamed ingredients and then add:

• 2 unbeaten eggs
• 1 tsp hot water
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups oatmeal
• 1 box chocolate chips or 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup nuts

Makes about 100 cookies. Bake at 350.

That’s the extent of my mom’s recipe. I interpret a “box” of chocolate chips to mean 16 oz. In my oven each pan of cookies takes about 12 – 15 minutes. When she made the cookies with raisins instead of chocolate chips she called them Depression Cookies. In her retirement years she kept these cookies in the freezer and all the grandchildren would collect a hug from her and then head straight for the basement freezer. As adults, with children of their own, they still think that chocolate chip cookies belong in the freezer. 

The cooks at Trinity Lutheran School, Red Bud, IL, made a similar cookie with M & Ms instead of chocolate chips. They got tired of hearing the students quarrel over who had the most candies in their cookies so they began making the dough without candies, scooping out the cookies, and then putting 3 candies on each cookie. The kids renamed the cookies 3 Chip Cookies.

Natalie Grace Hartwig

Tree of Promise advent Devotions

Advent 6- Constant Presence

December 2
Constant Presence

Read Genesis 28:10–22

When Jacob fled in mortal fear of Esau’s wrath God was with him. God’s promise to Abraham, given to Jacob in the blessing of Isaac, was renewed in Jacob’s dream of the ladder to heaven. God’s promises are constant even when we sin, even when we sleep. The folk hymn, ‘We Are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder’ (All God’s People Sing, 251, CPH 1992) asks the question, ‘If you love Him, Why not serve Him?’ A valid question that does not accurately reflect the message of the dream. Jacob did not climb the ladder, rather the Angels of God descended the ladder to care for Jacob.

A less well known hymn, ‘My Maker, be Thou Nigh’, is designated as a confirmation hymn and seeks God’s protective presence throughout life. Luther’s evening prayer, with its petition, ‘Let your holy angels be with me’ acknowledges the might of God and our own weakness. 

“Abide, O Dearest Jesus”, often used at the close of service, also makes a lovely lullaby and bedtime prayer. A slightly different translation, “Abide with us, our Savior” May sound more familiar to your ear. See the CSB, SBH, LBW, or LW for that translation.

Abide, O Dearest Jesus, Among us with Your grace

That Satan may not harm us Nor we to sin give place.

Abide, O dear Redeemer, Among us with Your Word,

And thus now and her after True peace and joy afford.

Abide with heav’nly brightness Among us, precious Light;

Your truth direct and keep us From error’s gloomy night.

Abide with richest blessings Among us, bounteous Lord;

Let us in grace and wisdom Grow daily through Your Word.

Abide with Your protection Among us, Lord, our strength,

Lest world and Satan fell us And overcome at length.

Abide, O faithful Savior, Among us with Your love;

Grant steadfastness and help us To reach our home above.

For the Family:

The symbol, a rising ladder or stair case, reminds us of God’s constant presence in our lives. Hang this symbol on your Tree of Promise and give thanks for God’s promise of continuing care.  

Advent 6- Bible Journaling
Genesis 28:10-22
Connie Denninger

From the Kitchen:
Seven Layer Cookies

These cookies are not a ladder, but they do have layers and that counts for something, doesn’t it? They were a favorite with my husband, John Hartwig, and while he lived I made them. 

• Melt one stick of butter in a 9 X 13 pan.
• Add the following ingredients in layers in the order given:
• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 1 cup chocolate chip
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 1 cup butterscotch chips
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. 
• Cool before cutting.

Tree of Promise Devotions

Natalie Grace Hartwig

Advent 5- Household of Faith

December 1

Read Genesis 22:15 – 18 and Galatians 3:6 – 9

Abraham heard the promise of God to make him the ‘father of nations’ and Paul, writing to the Galatians, tells us that this promise applies to all who believe. In this way, Abraham’s descendants include peoples from all nations. Through faith in Christ, each believer is a star, a child of Abraham, an heir to the promise. 

The hymn ‘The God of Abraham Praise’ sings the fulfillment of this ancient promise to a tune based on an ancient Hebrew chant.

The God of Abr’ham praise, Who reigns enthroned above, 

Ancient of everlasting days and God of love.

Jehovah, great I AM! By earth and heav’n confessed;

 I bow and bless the sacred name Forever blest.

The God of Abr’ham praise, At whose supreme command

 From earth I rise and seek the joys At His right hand.

I all on earth forsake, Its wisdom, fame, and pow’r,

 And Him my only portion make, My shield and tow’r.

The God of Abr’ham praise, Whose all sufficient grace 

Shall guide me all my pilgrim days In all my ways.

He deigns to call me friend; He calls Himself my God,

 And He shall save me to the end Through Jesus’ blood.

He by Himself has sworn; I on His oath depend. I shall, 

on eagle wings up borne, To Heav’n ascend.

I shall behold His face; I shall His pow’r adore 

And sing the wonders of His grace forevermore.

Though nature’s strength decay, And earth and hell withstand,

 To Canaan’s bounds I urge my way At His command.

The wat’ry deep I pass, With Jesus in my view,

 And through the howling wilderness My way pursue.

The goodly land I see, With peace and plenty blest: 

A land of sacred liberty And endless rest.

There milk and honey flow, And oil and wine abound,

 And trees of life forever grow With mercy crowned.

There dwells the Lord our king, The Lord our righteousness,

 Triumphant o’er the world and sin, The Prince of Peace.

On Zion’s sacred height His kingdom He maintains 

And glorious with His saints in light Forever reigns.

The God who reigns on high The great archangels sing,

 And “Holy, holy, holy!” cry, “Almighty King!

Who was and is the same And evermore shall be: Jehovah,

 Father, great I AM! We worship Thee!”

The whole triumphant host Give thanks to God on high.

 “Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!” They ever cry.

Hail, Abr’ham’s God and mine! I join the heav’nly lays: 

All might and majesty are Thine And endless praise!

For the Family:

The symbol for this promise combines the star of David with the cross of Christ. Put your own name on this star. Create a star for each member of the household of faith within your home. Hang these symbols on your Tree of Promise and know that you are a star, promised by God and redeemed by Christ the crucified. Give thanks to God for this great promise both made and kept.

Advent 5 - Bible Journaling
Genesis 22:15-18

Connie Denninger

From the Kitchen:

These cookies are not edible, but they will make your house smell wonderful and you can use them as ornaments for many years. I don’t remember where I got the recipe, but know I first made them when my daughters were toddlers and we were living in Northern Wisconsin. (Faith Lutheran Church, Maple, WI) 

Cinnamon Applesauce Stars

¾ cup applesauce

1 cup plus 2 TBS ground cinnamon (that’s 2 boxes (2.37 oz each) of cinnamon)

Mix applesauce and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Use your hands for best results.

Working with about a quarter of the dough at a time roll it out to about ¼” thickness between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Remove the top sheet and use a small cookie cutter star to cut out multiple ornaments. Transfer the cookies to a baking sheet and use a skewer to make a small hole at the top of the ornament. Repeat until all dough is used. 

Bake for 2 ½ hours at 200 degrees.

Cool on cookie rack

Thread narrow ribbon through the hole

If stored in an air tight container these ornaments will last for years. 

They can be painted with craft paint and even varnished if you so desire.

Tree of Promise Devotion
Natalie Grace Hartwig