Do you like to make bread or you have ever longed to make bread ? This is the day for you, plus as an added benefit you will see a great film! Were you here on Sunday, July 28 when Catherine made bread for the congregations ? Here is what it looked like:
More specifically you will learn to make braided bread which is both beautiful and delicious. It’s the perfect addition to any dinner. Even if you don’t plan to bake, it might be entertaining watching those who will.
If you plan to bake, you’ll need to bring the following things with you:
- An apron if you want to protect your clothes from flour
- Eight to nine cups of unbleached flour (bread flour is also fine) (A five pound bag of flour will be more than enough flour)
- 2 packages of dry yeast (Not quick rising) I find that the Hodgson Mill brand works well
- ½ cup of sugar
- 4 teaspoons of salt
- 2 eggs –at room temperature
- A stick of butter—at room temperature
- A measuring cup
- A large bowl
- A sturdy spatula
- A baking sheet
- A cutting board
- A dish towel for covering the dough while it is rising
While the bread is rising you will be able to view the inspirational film, The Way.
This is the story of a father played by Martin Sheen who learns his son has died along the El Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage route in northern Spain. Sheen travels to where his son (played his natural son Emilio Estevez) died and is determined to walk the path himself with the remains of his son. Together they will make it to the Cathedral at Santiago, where the remains of St. James are supposed to rest. The movie is all about relationships and how the trek changes the father. You can read about it here and see a trailer here. Sheen and his son actually traveled the path. Here they talk about it, about an hour. (Here is a shorter excerpt, about 7 minutes. )
More information about the actual path is here. It is also called the Way of St. James and stretches 800m (about 500 miles) in Northern Spain. You can travel a lesser route or parts of it.
Bread is an essential part of of our life together. There is a historical basis to the need for bread. "Give us each day our daily bread" may be a reference to the manna, the bread from heaven, that was provided enough for each day during the 40 years in the wilderness between the time of fleeing slavery in Egypt and entering the promised land. ( Exodus 16.). The Israelites came to know their total dependence on God because of gathering and eating this manna in the wilderness day by day. It keeps us alive! And it is what is needed for service. "
And it may be a reference to the feast yet to come in the future life to come. But it most certainly addresses the very real and present concern of Jesus’ followers – to have enough to eat that day."