Baking Bread
On the 2nd Sunday of every month, children and youth of all ages work together from 9:30-10:30 AM to bake communion bread and make fresh play dough for the church. Try these recipes at home, and take time to explore the spiritual significance of bread and baking in the bible and in the world.
Communion Bread Recipe
3-4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 Tablespoons dry yeast
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon salt
2 cups hot water (120-130 degrees)
2-4 Tablespoons of melted butter
Mix 3 cups of the white flour and 1 cup whole wheat flour with the yeast, salt and sugar.
Pour in the hot water. and stir together until thoroughly mixed.
Stir in the remainder of the flour until the dough is no longer sticky.
Knead until the bread is smooth and elastic. (I use a big bowl that I can knead in so as not to make a big mess.)
Place the dough in a buttered/greased bowl for 15 minutes in a warm spot, and cover with a damp linen, (not shaggy) tea towel.
Punch down.
Divide into two pieces and shape into two round loaves. (I sprinkle a small amount of cornmeal on the pan before setting them down.)
Score an "X" shape on the tops of both loaves.
Brush butter over the loaves and sprinkle with cornmeal.
Place bread in a cold oven at 400 degrees, with an oven-safe dish below partially filled with hot water.
Bake 40-45 minutes until the bread is a golden brown color.
Serve warm.
3-4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 Tablespoons dry yeast
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon salt
2 cups hot water (120-130 degrees)
2-4 Tablespoons of melted butter
Mix 3 cups of the white flour and 1 cup whole wheat flour with the yeast, salt and sugar.
Pour in the hot water. and stir together until thoroughly mixed.
Stir in the remainder of the flour until the dough is no longer sticky.
Knead until the bread is smooth and elastic. (I use a big bowl that I can knead in so as not to make a big mess.)
Place the dough in a buttered/greased bowl for 15 minutes in a warm spot, and cover with a damp linen, (not shaggy) tea towel.
Punch down.
Divide into two pieces and shape into two round loaves. (I sprinkle a small amount of cornmeal on the pan before setting them down.)
Score an "X" shape on the tops of both loaves.
Brush butter over the loaves and sprinkle with cornmeal.
Place bread in a cold oven at 400 degrees, with an oven-safe dish below partially filled with hot water.
Bake 40-45 minutes until the bread is a golden brown color.
Serve warm.
Playdough Recipe
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 tsp. cream of tartar
2 Tbsp. oil
2 cups water
A few dashes of an essential oil of your choice for scent (optional)
1. In a non-stick saucepan, mix together all ingredients and blend well to remove lumps,
2. Cook dough in saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until dough achieves a consistent texture.
3. Add a few dashes of essential oil for scent (optional)
4. Remove from pan, knead for a few minutes and let cool.
DIVIDE DOUGH AND ROLL INTO BALLS.
ONCE PLAYDOUGH HAS COOLED, STORE IN SEALED ZIPLOC BAGGIES.
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 tsp. cream of tartar
2 Tbsp. oil
2 cups water
A few dashes of an essential oil of your choice for scent (optional)
1. In a non-stick saucepan, mix together all ingredients and blend well to remove lumps,
2. Cook dough in saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until dough achieves a consistent texture.
3. Add a few dashes of essential oil for scent (optional)
4. Remove from pan, knead for a few minutes and let cool.
DIVIDE DOUGH AND ROLL INTO BALLS.
ONCE PLAYDOUGH HAS COOLED, STORE IN SEALED ZIPLOC BAGGIES.
Bread Stories in the Bible
Below are just a few bible passages that feature bread. Read one then ask: What part of this story do you like the best? What part is the most important? Where are you in the story, or what part of the story is about you? Is there a part of the story we could leave out and still have everything we need?
Abraham & Sarah entertain strangers/angels: Genesis 18:1-15
The Passover: Exodus 12
Bread from Heaven/Manna in the wilderness: Exodus 16:1-31; Cartoon Clip;
Elijah, the Ravens, and the Widow: 1 Kings 17:1-24; Lego Video Clip
Parable of the Yeast: Matthew 13:33 ; Godly Play Lesson; Godly Play Parent Page
Jesus Feeds 5,000: Matthew 14:11-21/Mark 6:30-44/Luke 9:10-17/John 6:1-14; Cartoon Clip; Movie Clip
Jesus Feeds 4,000: Matthew 15:32-39/Mark 8:1-10
The Last Supper: Matthew 26:17-30/Mark 14:12-26/Luke 22:7-23/John 13:21-30; Movie Clip; Cartoon Clip
Risen Christ meets disciples on the Road to Emmaus: Luke 24:13-35; Cartoon Clip;
I AM the Living Bread: John 6:51-58
Breakfast on the beach with the Risen Christ: John 21:1-14; Movie Clip;
Below are just a few bible passages that feature bread. Read one then ask: What part of this story do you like the best? What part is the most important? Where are you in the story, or what part of the story is about you? Is there a part of the story we could leave out and still have everything we need?
Abraham & Sarah entertain strangers/angels: Genesis 18:1-15
The Passover: Exodus 12
Bread from Heaven/Manna in the wilderness: Exodus 16:1-31; Cartoon Clip;
Elijah, the Ravens, and the Widow: 1 Kings 17:1-24; Lego Video Clip
Parable of the Yeast: Matthew 13:33 ; Godly Play Lesson; Godly Play Parent Page
Jesus Feeds 5,000: Matthew 14:11-21/Mark 6:30-44/Luke 9:10-17/John 6:1-14; Cartoon Clip; Movie Clip
Jesus Feeds 4,000: Matthew 15:32-39/Mark 8:1-10
The Last Supper: Matthew 26:17-30/Mark 14:12-26/Luke 22:7-23/John 13:21-30; Movie Clip; Cartoon Clip
Risen Christ meets disciples on the Road to Emmaus: Luke 24:13-35; Cartoon Clip;
I AM the Living Bread: John 6:51-58
Breakfast on the beach with the Risen Christ: John 21:1-14; Movie Clip;
Bread Verses in the Bible
Below are a few bible verses about bread. Choose the verse that you like best. Memorize that verse, and use it as a mantra or a breath prayer. Use that verse as inspiration for a prayer or a poem. Use that verse as the starting place for creating a song or a piece of art. Send your prayer, poem, song or artwork to the church, so we can share it here!
Proverbs 22.9: Those who are generous are blessed, for they share their bread with the poor.
Matthew 6.11: Give us this day our daily bread.
John 6:31: For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
1 Corinthians 10.17: Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
Proverbs 22.9: Those who are generous are blessed, for they share their bread with the poor.
Matthew 6.11: Give us this day our daily bread.
John 6:31: For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
1 Corinthians 10.17: Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
Sharing Bread with Hungry People
Every Sunday before communion we say, "Jesus welcomes everyone to his table, and so we offer the bread and wine, which are Christ's body and blood, to everyone without exception." Jesus wants us to share bread with everyone at church, but that's not all. Jesus wants us to share bread with everyone who is hungry in the whole world. There are lots of ways to help. You can make a meal and bring it to someone who is sick or stressed out. You can donate money to an organization, like Episcopal Relief and Development, that helps hungry people. You can volunteer your time at the Food Pantry, the Food Bank, a Community Garden, or Soup Kitchen. Gather your family or friends together and decide how you would like to help.
More...
Sara Miles, St. Gregory's Directory of Ministry, talks about how God changed her life with a piece of bread.
Sara Miles, St. Gregory's Directory of Ministry, talks about Communion