Sing, Choirs of Angels
The Angel’s Candle
A Grain of Psalt
There are certain stories and traditions that weave themselves into the fabric of your family before you even notice it happening. For us, one of those threads was Pippi Longstocking. When my daughter was small, we entered a full Pippi phase that lasted far longer than I expected. Later came Heidi, and then Anne of Green Gables, but eventually we circled right back to Pippi and all her glorious nonsense.
In the very first book, Pippi rolls out an enormous batch of pepparkakor right on the kitchen floor, cutting out hearts as fast as she can. That scene stuck with us. So one year I decided, “you know what, we’re going to try those.” My mom always makes English toffee and pumpkin bread at Christmas. My in-laws practically run a small bakery every December with cookies and fudge for miles. But these Swedish ginger cookies? They were simple, fragrant, and immediately beloved. They even became my mother-in-law’s favorite Christmas cookie.
So on this Fourth Sunday of Advent, as we light the candle of Love, I wanted to share a batch of pepparkakor with you. They are wonderful to bake and give to someone you love, and they make the house smell swoon-worthy.
But even more than that, we can reflect together on the kind of love Advent is really about.
The Angel’s Candle: What Love Really Means
Love is a word that often gets stretched into whatever shape people want it to be. You hear the phrase “love is love” tossed around as if a word can be defined by repeating itself. But Scripture gives us something far richer and deeper than sentiment.
C.S. Lewis wrote a small but excellent work called The Four Loves, describing affection, friendship, romantic love, and the highest form: divine love. God’s love.
And God’s love is not passive or vague. It is action.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” He loved, so He gave. He acted. He moved toward us.
That is what the angels sang on the night Christ was born. They did not appear in the fields above Bethlehem to announce a warm feeling or a winter holiday. They proclaimed the greatest news ever spoken on earth:
“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
A Savior.
Jesus was not merely a teacher, or a life coach, or an example. He is a Savior who bridges the impossible gap between sinful humanity and a holy God. Romans 5 tells us that “God demonstrates His love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Not after we cleaned ourselves up, but while we were still sinners, He loved us with action.
This is why the angels filled the sky with praise.
This is why the fourth candle of Advent is the candle of Love.
Yes, making food for someone is often considered an act of love. Bringing treats to a family gathering. Tucking a few heart-shaped cookies into a tin for someone who could use a little brightness. Pepparkakor are crisp, spicy, and wonderfully aromatic. They roll out almost paper thin and bake in just minutes. Stars, hearts, reindeer if you’re feeling whimsical. And the whole kitchen smells like warmth and hospitality. They go perfectly with tea, coffee, or my mom’s wassail. (And if you’ve been following along this season, you know I’ll happily drink wassail with anything.)
And Loving others in tangible ways is important. It’s a part of being conformed to Christ, who loved us not only in word, but in deed. But more than cookies, the greatest love you can share this Christmas is the good news of the gospel: God’s love.
Closing Thoughts
If you try these pepparkakor, I hope they add a little brightness to your kitchen and maybe even become a tradition in your own family. More than anything, I hope the Love of Christ fills your heart this week as we prepare for His coming, both at Christmas and at His return.
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Swedish Pepparkakor
Crisp, thin Swedish ginger cookies that are perfect for Christmastide
Prep Time: 30 minutes + 1 hour chilling
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Makes: Several dozen cookies, depending on size
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cardamom (or mace)
Wet Ingredients
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar, packed
1 large egg, beaten
2 Tbsp dark molasses (not blackstrap)
Directions
Sift together the flour, baking soda, and all the spices in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, beat together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until fluffy.
Add the egg and molasses to the butter mixture and beat until smooth.
Gradually stir in the flour mixture until the dough is fully combined.
Divide the dough into four equal portions, wrap each tightly in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease baking sheets.
Working with one dough ball at a time (leave the others in the fridge), roll the dough on a floured surface until very thin — about ⅛ inch or less for crisp cookies.
Cut with floured cookie cutters and place cookies ½ inch apart on prepared sheets.
Bake 5 minutes, or until set and lightly browned at the edges.
Repeat with remaining dough balls.