Family Traditions

The Advent devotional began with the genealogy of Christ. It seemed like a never-ending list of ancestors.  During the first week of Advent we learn that “There’s room for every story.”  This includes our story.  Our story has a place, whether it is just beginning or near the end.  We are reminded that “God meets us in our fear.”  The angels who greet Mary and Joseph tell them, “Do not fear.”  This seems to be an unrealistic request.  Of course, they were afraid.  And we are reminded to choose a better way as Joseph did, with the help of Divine intervention, when he did not dismiss Mary and kept his commitment to her.  The choices Jesus’ ancestors made, impacted his life.  Especially, Mary and Joseph saying yes to God. 

As I have read through the Advent Devotional, I got to thinking about my family history.  It also got me thinking about traditions that I share, or have shared, with my children.   

My family comes from Sweden and Germany, and perhaps a few other places I am not aware of at this time.  I am proud of my Swedish and German heritage.  When we decorate the tree, we place a pickle ornament on the tree.  This is a German tradition.  The one who finds the pickle first gets a little something extra from St. Nick.  I loved sharing the Saint Lucia tradition with my boys when they were little.  This is a Swedish tradition; Lucia is the bearer of light in the dark Sweden winters.  This tradition was one I cherished growing up.  The fellowship hall at Zion would be decorated beautifully with traditional Swedish decoration.  We listened to many folks’ sing and play music.  I tried singing in Swedish a few times, it is not easy to sing in Swedish.  My boys even dressed like a Tomte and handed out candy during the festival.  I included (with permission) a picture of my boys each dressed like a Tomte, this was probably eleven or twelve years ago.  

Many families have traditions, some last for many years and others may change or stop.  Some new traditions may come to life.  It can be hard to say goodbye to traditions.  As my family grows older and things begin to change, I look forward to starting new traditions with them.  I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year. 

Peace, 

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber  

All Creation Waits

On cold days like this, with winter storms approaching, most people I know tend to seek out a cozy spot indoors, away from the bitter realities of the season. Of course, some of you may love the weather and the feel of cold air as it enters your lungs on a sunny afternoon run. The rest of us may not even want to sit by a window. With no snow on the ground, the garden beds cleared, and almost all the leaves raked, it can be easy to assume there isn’t much to see besides a drab, lifeless landscape. But there is so much more going on beneath the surface. 

If you have been around St. Mark at all, you have certainly seen all the advent resources that are available this year. For adults and teens, we have a devotional and a color-in calendar full of activity ideas, based on the theme “…From Generation to Generation.” For kids, there is a devotional with a matching paper-chain project titled “The Adverbs of Advent.” There is enough to go on here, but in light of the coming winter chill, I feel the need to direct you to one more resource.  

This year, our own synod of the ELCA has produced a daily video series based on the book, All Creation Waits, by Gayle Boss. Each day, pastors and musicians from the Northern Illinois Synod provide songs, prayers, and a reading from the book. You can find the whole series, including the first 8 days, at this link: https://www.youtube.com/c/NISynodorg 

The book itself is an intriguing read. On first glance, each of the 25 essays appears to be a simple reflection on the wildlife of North America. From bears and foxes to wild turkeys and fireflies, the book slowly dives deep into the surface of the earth to explore how our animal neighbors endure the harsh and difficult season of winter. The whole devotional series is a reminder that though the world outside our windows may seem barren, God’s creation continues to teem with life. 

Winter can make us feel hopeless. The lack of sunlight, the absence of plants and fair-weather creatures, and the harsh weather can easily bring us down. It is even worse when our minds are clouded with worry and our hearts are filled with grief. Whether we hunger for peace or hunger for food, we wait with all creation for something to bring us relief. Sometimes it arrives in the form of sustenance and shelter. And sometimes it arrives as a child, wrapped in swaddling cloths and spending his first night among the animals. 

Explore the video devotional series here: https://www.youtube.com/c/NISynodorg

Peace,

Pastor Chad McKenna