Sunday, December 21, 2008

Sunday Faith Blog....Fourth Advent.....and a reminder .....



The REAL reason for the Season.

Have a blessed Fourth Advent Sunday....Enjoy the pre-Christmas busy-ness; it's easier when remembering why we do it!

Mr and Mrs Z

17 comments:

Law and Order Teacher said...

Thank you. Joseph says "Are you well?" Mary says, "I have been given strength by God. And by you." I am soaring as a father. I am in love all over again with Mary. The mother of God. My parish is "Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception." Thanks again.

Rita Loca said...

Wonderful reminder which we all need to heed.
I am kind of enjoying the low keyed Paraguayan Christmas . Not so much hustle and bustle!

elmers brother said...

we having a low key Christmas but it's one that I've looked forward to more than most

Z said...

Law and Order, if this video helped you feel like this, I am deeelighted.

JM...I love the hustle and bustle...but you have a point!

Elbro; it's about getting together with loved ones, isn't it.

Anonymous said...

To all you good Christians at Z's fine blog, I hope you have a wonderful and joyous 4th Advent. I just learned something new since I'd never heard of it!
We Jews will celebrate the start of Hannukah tonight. "A great Miracle Happened Here!" Prayers, songs, readings of the Maccabees, and potato latkes. Mazel Tov!

Morgan

Anonymous said...

Bonjour Madame! Thank you for your e-mail Z. Thats great news about your mother. No conincedences. I was thinking this morning that I hadn't said hello to you in a while,well, ''hello''!. Have a great Sunday. Best to all you folks out there too. Johnnymac.

Z said...

Johnny Mac...that's JM's Mom, if it's the email I'm thinking you must mean!!? GREAT news, indeed!!

MORGAN! HAPPY HANNUKAH, dear friend.
I WANT SOME LATKES!!!!!! (actually, I'm MAKING them to go with our goose on Christmas Eve!)
Tell us the "Great Miracle"....i'd love to learn.
I put YOU through the Christian stories here every Sunday...please tell us more about your holiday! And have a WONDERFUL time!

Z said...

Latkes!


Serves:
4 Servings

1-1/2 pounds russet potatoes peeled
1/4 cup finely chopped shallots
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons flour (or more) or matzo meal (during Passover)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt and freshly ground black pepper
Vegetable oil for frying

In a food processor grate the potatoes. Line a sieve with cheesecloth and transfer potatoes to the sieve. Set sieve over a bowl, twist cheesecloth into a pouch, squeezing out some moisture. Let mixture drain for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, pour off liquid from the bowl but leave the white potato starch that settles in the bottom of the bowl.

To that starch add shallots, eggs, flour, 1-1/2 teaspoons of salt and freshly ground pepper. Return drained potatoes to this mixture and toss to combine.

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Line a baking pan with paper towels. When you are ready to eat, in a large skillet heat 1/4 inch of oil over medium high heat until hot. Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of potato mixture and cook for 3 to 4 minutes a side; latkes should be golden and crisp on both sides. Eat right away or keep warm in oven. Serve with applesauce or sour cream or cottage cheese mixed with sour cream.

Papa Frank said...

Thank you, my friend!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh sorry Z, I didn't understand. J'Mac.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this, Z.
Where would be be without Him??

Z said...

Johnny Mac, don't be sillY! NO PROBLEM, sweet man! NO problem.

Pops..you're so welcome. Isn't that an amazing video for a few days before your trip to Disneyworld? ..I mean before CHRISTMAS (Heh heh!) HAVE A GREAT TIME!

Pinky..ditto!! xxx

A friend surprised me today with a Bible I'd seen and admired 2 weeks ago at a Christian book store sale at our church..TURQUOISE blue leather...NIV Zondervan, with incredible notes.....Imagine a gift like that from a friend who lost her job? I insisted I would not take it when she bought it that day and hinted it was for me...then she emailed that afternoon that she DID want me to have it, and I emailed I wouldn't take it under any circumstances...then today, all wrapped in such pretty tissue and with an amazing card to me, there is the TURQUOISE LEATHER BIBLE...with chocolate brown strips for edging.

A minor Christmas miracle in the scheme of the world (!), but a huge and happy miracle to ME, nevertheless...and shows what an amazing heart my dear friend has.

Isn't that fantastic? I'll cherish this! Just had to share the story!!

Anonymous said...

Z this is a short explanation from Encarta. What it fails to mention are the pitched battles fought between the Jewish guerillas led by the Maccabees and the Greco-Syrian, pagan armies. This victory by the handful of fighters over the war elephants and legions of the Greco-Syrians is truly the GREATEST of the Hannukah miracles! The IDF were a bunch of bad-asses even back then. :-)

From Encarta:
Hanukkah or Chanukah (Hebrew for “dedication”), annual festival of the Jewish people celebrated on eight successive days. It begins on the 25th day of Kislev, the third month of the Jewish calendar, corresponding, approximately, to December in the Gregorian calendar. Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights, Feast of Dedication, and Feast of the Maccabees.

II History

Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem by Judas Maccabee in 165 bc. Rededication was necessary because Antiochus IV Epiphanes, king of Syria and overlord of Palestine, had profaned (defiled) the temple. In 168 bc, on a date corresponding approximately to December 25 in the Gregorian calendar, the temple was dedicated to the worship of the pagan god Zeus Olympius by order of Antiochus, who forbade the practice of Judaism. An altar to Zeus was set up on the high altar. When Judas Maccabee recaptured Jerusalem three years later, he had the temple purged and a new altar put up in place of the desecrated one. The temple was then rededicated to God with festivities that lasted eight days (see 1 Maccabees chapters 3 and 4). According to tradition, only a one-day supply of nondesecrated olive oil could be found for the rededication, but that small quantity burned miraculously for eight days. Jews commemorate this event by lighting candles for the eight nights of Hanukkah. The principal source for the story of Hanukkah is the Talmud.

III Modern Celebration of Hanukkah

Print this section
The principal feature of present-day Hanukkah celebrations is the lighting of candles, one the first night, two the second, and so on until eight candles have been lit in a special candelabrum called a menorah. A Hanukkah menorah has eight branches and a holder for an extra candle that is used to light the others. (A seven-branched menorah that also has its origins in biblical times is now a symbol for the state of Israel.) A blessing is said each night as the Hanukkah candles are lit.

Hanukkah is a festive family occasion, with special foods and songs. Children generally receive small gifts or money, known as Hanukkah gelt (money), each evening after the candles are lit. Foods fried in oil, such as latkes (potato pancakes) and doughnuts, commemorate the miracle of the oil. Sweet foods also are popular, and children may receive chocolate coins in place of Hanukkah gelt. Songs also play a part in the festivities and remind the family of the events commemorated.

Morgan

Pasadena Closet Conservative said...

I haven't had latkes in years! Neighbors used to make them but they moved away long ago. They used to say, "A dozen is your limit!" Your recipe took me back.

Unknown said...

Hi Z!!!

When I am out of the library I want to listen to your video. Until then "Hello and Merry Christmas."

Anonymous said...

Z, a joyous Fourth Advent Sunday.
What s lovely video and of course it is the reason for the season.

Morgan, Happy Hannukah to you and yours. Have a lovely time.

Pris

I.H.S. said...

Very good stuff. thanks.

Blessings.