Our Toast Washing Line with "I am the Bread of Life" in alphabet-cut toast:

Bread is a fundamental staple in the west. Other cultures have rice or potatoes; we have bread. There is a story from the aftermath of World War II, when thousands of children were orphaned in bombing raids and left to starve. The fortunate ones were rescued and placed in refugee camps where they received food and good care. But many of these children could not sleep at night. They feared waking up to find themselves once again homeless and without food. Nothing seemed to reassure them. Finally, someone hit on the idea of giving each child a piece of bread to hold at bedtime. Holding their bread, each child could finally sleep in peace. All through the night the bread reminded them; “Today I ate, and I will eat again tomorrow”.

Opening Prayer

The participants were invited to gather around tables in small groups.

We demonstrated how to create a yeast fermentation using warm water, sugar, and dried yeast. We had a new packet of yeast to demonstrate the yeast of the Kingdom of God, and a packet of out-of-date yeast to demonstrate the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (this we also sabotaged with vinegar).

Each group had a jug of warm water, sugar, and dried yeast to start a fermentation with(the first stage in making bread). Whilst the yeast came out of dormancy and started making froth, the people in their small groups had two readings from Matthew to read and to discuss:

Readings and Questions

Then we compared the Yeast of the Kingdom of God (fluffy) with the Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees (flat and sour).

Before the service we had prepared some dough, kneaded it, and allowed it to have its first rising. A small lump of this dough was now distributed to every person; they were invited to knead it, to shape it into a flatbread / pizza-type shape, and to flavour it with olive oil, honey, sesame seeds, lemon salt, zatar (herbs), or fried onion. These flavourings can be taken to symbolise the diversity of the Christian community: honey for sweetness, the salt of the earth, oil for healing, herbs and onion for flavour, and seeds for new life.

The work was blessed:

Blessing the Kneading

And while they kneaded, people were encouraged to consider some of the following questions, taken from Examen:

Examen Questions

before we all prayed the Lord's Prayer together.

The finished bread was laid on baking trays and carried out to the kitchen to rise.
Three passages from John's Gospel were read:

Readings from John

Lynda gave a personal testimony on the power of Jesus to be our bread and to sustain us through difficult times.

Then we considered the symbolism of bread in the story of Exodus - how the Israelites had to be ready to move at a moment's notice, so carried unleaved bread with them. The participants were invited to move into stations that told this story through a series of displays and questions, whilst Bob Marley's 'Exodus' played in the background.

Whilst this was going on, the bread was baking. We all gathered together again for a prayer:

Blessing the Bread

before the distribution of the Antidoron, which we took from the Orthodox tradition.

About the Antidoron

“May the blessing and the mercy of the Lord be with you”

All shared the bread they had baked.

This marked the end of the formal part of the service.