Advent Unity and Peace

My theme for this week of Advent is "Striving to find unity and peace with all the people of the world".

One way I do that is by learning about the advent or winter traditions and beliefs of people throughout the world.

This year I decided to learn more about the advent customs in Switzerland, the ancestry of my mother's grandfather, Noah Hunsberger Jones. His earliest ancestors in this country were English Quakers (hence the name Jones) and Swiss-German Mennonites, both of whom left Pennsylvania for Canada after the Revolutionary war.

Agenda:

1. Research a Mennonite Christmas

2. Make Swiss caramels
3. Make pocket prayer quilts 

1. Research a Mennonite Christmas:

Mennonites are plain people. They emphasize values such as simplicity and modesty. Gifts at Christmas are simple and useful. The focus at Christmas is on candles, singing, scripture, and prayer. But they do like to cook, and Christmas candy and cookies are popular (especially Pfeffernüsse!)

The Swiss and German side of my family were all Mennonites, and they probably celebrated a very simple Christmas, without decorated trees or Santa Claus.

I've been reading a Mennonite Church USA Christmas Home Worship Guide that was prepared in 2019, at the start of the Pandemic, and it's useful now.

A Mennonite advent prayer: God, even when the world around us seems to be full of chaos and violence, you are at work. Make us bold enough to imagine and see your hopeful goodness springing up! Amen.

2. Swiss Christmas Caramels à la Crème:

I got this recipe from Cuisine Helvetica, who got it from Swissmilk. I tried it yesterday and my attempt failed - it crystalized and has a grainy taste. But I'm going to try it again, because these caramels are the dry, soft kind I like - more like caramel fudge.

Ingredients

• 2 c. heavy cream
• 2-1/2 c. granulated sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla paste or vanilla extract
• 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
• chopped nuts (optional)

1. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Chop the nuts and set aside.

2. In a large 10" pan (this might be what I did wrong, because I used a regular saucepan) bring the cream, sugar and vanilla to a boil, stirring constantly with a whisk. When the volume of the mixture increases to about double its size, remove the pan from the heat, if necessary, and then turn the temperature down to medium-low to maintain a constant simmer.

3. Continue to stir the mixture almost constantly for the next 30-45 minutes. When the mixture turns into a thick brown mass and starts to pull away from the sides of the pan, quickly remove from the heat and stir in the butter. (It's easy to overcook the mixture if you leave it on the heat too long during this phase.)

4. Once the butter has melted and is completely incorporated into the caramel mixture, pour it into the cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle the nuts evenly on top of the caramel. Place another sheet of parchment paper on top, and then lay another cookie sheet or pan on top of the parchment paper. Let the caramel cool like this for about 30 minutes.

5. Using a thin and sharp knife, slice the cooled caramel into squares. Allow to cool overnight under the parchment paper.
Store in a sealed container, in a dry place for up to 1-2 months.

3. Make pocket prayer quilts:

I learned about prayer quilts while researching the Mennonites, but many different churches have a "prayer quilt ministry". Usually the women of the church make these lap-sized quilts, laced with heavy thread rather than quilted. Often the laces are left untied and then the whole congregation is invited to tie them with a square knot. 

As each knot is tied, a silent prayer is offered for someone in special need, who then receives the finished quilt. The quilts are a gift of love and prayer. Or sometimes the prayer quilt is passed from one person to another who needs it most.

Pocket prayer quilts are smaller squares, that can be carried in your pocket. They are also tied with knots, and often have a small wooden cross inside. You can use any quilt block pattern you want - squares, triangles, or strips. I decided to make crazy blocks because they are my favorite, and they match my current mood.

Supplies: Fabric scraps, pins, thread, needle, string, beans

1. Iron and cut your bits of fabric. 

2. Piece them together and trim to about 4-inches square.

3. Cut a backing piece and pin together front to front. Sew, leaving a hole for turning. Turn.

4. Iron flat and close up the hole with a whip stitch.

5. Add as many strings to bind it as you'd like, and knot with a square knot, saying a prayer as you do.