together, we taste and . . . [communion baking sign-up]

"His Body Broken . . . His Blood Poured Out . . . His life in us," are the words you will often hear as we gather around the bread and cup of Christ at our gathering.  Our senses are engaged, and together, we taste and are reminded of Christ's sacrifice.  Together, we taste and our imagination goes to a future table where all are welcome.  Together, we taste and are centered in His embrace, longing to see His life in all.

When the Convergence Community gathers, we often gather around meals, especially around the Eucharist.  Our experiences of communion are multilayered--Sara Miles experience of communion gives me hope that communion can be central to the deep experience of shared life with God and one another.

EXPERIENCE: -excerpt from Take This Bread by Sara Miles on her first communion:

What happened a few minutes later is a mystery. I still can't explain my first Communion; it made no sense. I was in tears and physically unbalanced: I felt as if I had just stepped off a curb, or been knocked over, painlessly, from behind. The disconnect between what I thought was happening—I was eating a piece of bread; what I heard someone else say was happening—the piece of bread was the “body” of “Christ,” a patently untrue, or at best metaphorical statement; and what I knew was happening—God, named “Christ” or “Jesus,” was real, and in my mouth—utterly short-circuited my ability to do anything but cry. . . . Taste and see, the Bible said, and I did. I was tasting a connection between Communion and food—between my burgeoning religion and my real life. My first year at church ended with a question whose urgency would propel me into work I’d never imagined: Now that you’ve taken the bread, what are you going to do?

TASTE: Communion Bread by Heather Ariyeh

A few years ago Heather began baking weekly for our shared communion.  It's become one of the rhythms many of us look forward to - tasting and seeing.

2 cups organic flour (plus more for rolling, etc.)
1/8 cup organic olive oil
3/4 cup water
1 tsp - 1 tbsp kosher salt (it has coarser crystals)
organic olive oil spray (optional)

Preheat Oven to 450 degrees.

Mix 2 c, flour, 1/8 c. olive oil, water and salt together in a bowl until combined. I like to use a fork to mix. Knead dough with floured hands, adding flour as needed until dough is no longer sticky. When it becomes a non-sticky, self-contained ball that no longer clings to the bowl, you’re done.

Lightly coat rolling pin in flour, and roll out dough onto a floured surface until approximately 1/4 inch thick. Transfer to a baking sheet covered in wax paper.

If you want, cut into shapes or pattern using a knife or cookie cutters. May help to lightly coat knife with flour, or even sometimes to wet knife (I realize these seem to conflict - but I am still experimenting!) b/c it creates a smoother edge. Score dough with a knife (butter knife works) so it is easier to break later. Use a fork to poke holes in the dough. This prevents air bubbles. You can make a pattern with this as well.

Spray bread with olive oil spray or apply a thin coat of regular olive oil.

Bake at 450 degrees for approximately 11 minutes (may be more or less - my oven is weird). I bake until bread is dry and starts to turn golden brown in spots. Remove and let cool.

SHARED:

Please consider continuing this rhythm by signing up for the next several weeks.  Make it a household experience, invite friends over, plan to get the kiddos in the kitchen, get everyone involved in the baking, telling the unfolding story of Jesus breaking the bread and pouring the cup.

September 05 - Amy A.
September 12 - Christine & Jacob R.
September 19 - Community Meal (no communion meal)
September 26 - No Gathering (Retreat)
October 03 - *needed*
October 10 - Rethread Neighborhood Invites (walking the streets/flyers)
October 17 - Community Meal (no communion meal)
October 24 - *needed*