Seasons of Togetherness
“Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart…” [Acts 2:46]
I wanted to open with this verse from the Acts of the Apostles because it illustrates how the first apostles, as a family of faith, broke bread together daily with gratitude and joy. This is togetherness. It was not only a hallmark of their communal life but also, as the next verse tells us, led to the Lord “adding to their number those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). In other words, more people came to know Jesus because of their faithfulness to one another.
Occasions for Gathering
The last months of the year mark occasions meant for gathering, with Thanksgiving in November and Christmas in December. But the first apostles, our ancestors in faith, didn’t wait for special occasions or high holy days to draw together. In fact, Scripture tells us that they devoted themselves to it. The word “devoted” particularly stands out to me as implying the dedication and tradition that we still look to find in our families and within our parishes today.
What traditions are you devoted to? What traditions would you like to start? These are important questions because the traditions, or rituals, shared within a family are “powerful organizers of family life that offer stability during times of stress and transition,” according to the American Psychological Association. They also have the capacity to connect us to past generations and to be carried through to future generations. Studies have even associated strong family traditions with “marital satisfaction, adolescents’ sense of personal identity, children’s health, academic achievement, and stronger family relationships.” Let togetherness be a tradition.
The Antidote
When I think of what plagues our society today – loneliness, depression, and loss of identity – I find hope in this verse from Acts. That the antidotes of belonging, joy, and self-confidence can be discovered through the simple act of coming together for a meal. Togetherness is a characteristic of a truly Christian community.
So, let us reflect… where can we create the opportunity and space to gather with family and friends? To break bread together more regularly? Some ideas to start with are a weekly Sunday dinner gathering (make it a potluck for easier hosting), a Saturday meal prep club (each person prepares a recipe to share), or a weekday morning coffee break with Lectio Divina of the upcoming Sunday gospel. Our yearning for community and desire to be known can be met around the kitchen table. In the breaking of the bread. In the devotion of meeting together and of enjoying togetherness.
APPLE COCONUT CRISP
Here’s a T+T twist on a seasonal favorite. We promise that it’s every bit as satisfying as the high sugar version but with some nutrient-boosting ingredients. The oats, coconut, and flax meal contain soluble fiber which helps to balance glucose, or blood sugar, levels. Add leftovers to plain Greek yogurt for a delicious breakfast!
INGREDIENTS
T. = tablespoon | t. = teaspoon
Apple Filling
• 6 medium size apples (Fuji, Gala or Lady Alice)
• 4 plums (can substitute 3 nectarines or Anjou pears)
• Juice and zest of 1 lemon
• 2 T. cinnamon
• 2 t. nutmeg
• 1/2 t. ground ginger (optional)
• 1-2 T. Grade A maple syrup or honey
Topping
• 1/2 c. flax meal
• 1/2 c. oats
• 1/2 c. chopped pecans
• 1/3 c. coconut sugar
• 1/3 c. coconut flakes
• 1/2 t. cinnamon
• 1/2 t. cardamom (optional)
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 c. (1 stick) unsalted butter, diced
• 1-2 T. Grade A maple syrup or honey
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly grease 9 x 13 baking pan with coconut oil.
Cut fruit into medium-size cubes. No need to peel – the skin boosts fiber content!
Combine apples and plums with remaining filling ingredients in baking dish.
In a separate bowl, whisk together all topping ingredients, except butter and syrup.
Distribute topping onto the apple filling until fruit is covered.
Dice cold butter into small cubes and scatter evenly over apples. Drizzle additional maple syrup lightly over the top.
Bake 40-45 minutes until top is browned. Serves: 12-15
Written by Amanda Rohwedder, M.S.
Amanda Rohwedder is a degreed nutritionist based in Denver, Colorado. She holds a B.S. Nutritional Science and an M.S. Medical Science with a concentration in Women’s Health. She founded Temple and Table in 2017 as a way to nourish our culture by drawing a connection between physical and spiritual health. For more information on T+T’s mission, visit templeandtable.com. Now available! Order a copy of Amanda’s recipe book published by CCL, Food for Fertility: Recipes to improve health and manage PCOS at www.ccli.org/store