Confirmation and the Stephen Ministry

It’s been a busy year for the Pollock family at our church.  My youngest daughter will be confirmed in November, and she’s currently taking a ten-month preparation course to learn about our church and her personal faith. Each confirmand is working with a mentor from the congregation, who discusses his or her faith journey and encourages their young partner in their own journey.  My daughter is blessed to be mentored by our lovely friend Catherine, who practices music therapy with the elderly.  She is a gentle, thoughtful woman who has many spiritual gifts to share.

She also has many culinary gifts to share!  The two of them teamed up in our kitchen yesterday to make brunch for our two families.  The gorgeous food pictured at the top of this post was part of the delicious meal they prepared.  I know that Rachel is in great hands as she and Catherine get to know each other on many levels this year.

It has also been a busy time for me, as I’ve been studying for the past six months to become a Stephen Minister. This program is a lay caring ministry, which provides Christian care to people who are in crisis or facing a life challenge.  I had been thinking about joining for years, but this year I knew the time was right. My friend Carrie and I have been in classes since November learning to care for those we’ll have the privilege of serving.  And last Sunday we were commissioned as new Stephen Ministers.  I was honoured to offer members of the congregation a blessing after communion, including Andrew and the girls.

The day before we were commissioned, Carrie and I met at the church with the rest of the Stephen Ministry team.  As a group, we baked a dozen loaves of bread which were served in the following day’s communion. Bread is featured in many Biblical passages, from the Feeding of the Five Thousand to the Last Supper.  And Gandhi has said, “There are people in the world so hungry that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.”  I’m happy to share this simple bread recipe with you.

Irish Soda Bread

(from The Spirituality of Bread by Donna Sinclair)

1 ¾ cup buttermilk

1 egg

1 tsp baking soda

3 tsp baking powder
1 ¼ tsp salt

2 cups unbleached white all-purpose flour

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup raisins (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl, including raisins if you want them.  Beat buttermilk and egg together and stir into the flour mixture.  Turn out onto lightly floured board or clean counter and knead briefly until smooth.  Divide the dough in two, shape into flattened rounds, and place on baking sheets.  With a very sharp knife, slash an X across the tops.  Bake 35 to 40 minutes.