Our second article in this series comes to us from an Ecumenical connection, Sr Becca Gilbert an Associate Pioneer Minister in the Church of England based in Cumbria.

As you will see she shares with us the value she sees in breadmaking and how it might be used in ways of connection and faith. We hope you find this article inspiring and maybe intriguing. Is a bread-based church or ministry something your faith community could form. Is it something that could be done as a regular part of your toddler group or afterschool club? Is there a space for it maybe as part of your Bible Study or home group?

We thank Sr Becca for providing us with such a thoughtful article.

I love baking bread; I love the rhythm of it. I love the way something so simple, literally flour salt and water can create something comforting, nourishing and easily shared with others. Making it slows me down and teaches me the value of rest but also connection with others as I simply can't make bread without the desire to share it with someone.

Over the last few years, I've enjoyed incorporating my passion of making bread with my ministry. I've taught pioneers about the posture of pioneering through the art of making bread even, but what has been the most fun has been the opportunities to engage through retreats, workshops, with schools and during lockdown I connected with friends and families baking through Lent together. Baking has also introduced me to new friends, both abroad and more locally as I've attended workshops and connections have been made which have born lovely friendships. Our local kneed to natter group is very special and is a place where we talk about all sorts but revel in the joy of our common love of making and baking bread.

During Lent 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine (the breadbasket of Europe) I committed to making and breaking bread every day with someone as a commitment to prayer and peace. It was a small gesture, but it felt important to do, and I shared bread with our local messy church, primary school, friends, colleagues and family.

For me making bread is deeply spiritual, the practice grounds me when I have been anxious, reminds me to rest when I've become too distracted and busy, and connects me not only with people but the planet. It reminds me to live simply and with gratitude knowing that I am privileged to have access to food and water abundantly - this drives me to keep sharing my bread as well as make it.

I leave you with one of my favourite poems, All Bread by Margaret Atwood, which speaks to me deeply of this connection with both the land and people. Whatever our God given passions are, making bread for me fills me with joy, is wonderfully creative and a deeply spiritual practice which reminds me to rest and share and most importantly expresses something for me of God's love for all of creation.

All Bread by Margaret Atwood

All bread is made of wood,
cow dung, packed brown moss,
the bodies of dead animals, the teeth
and backbones, what is left
after the ravens. This dirt
flows through the stems into the grain,
into the arm, nine strokes
of the axe, skin from a tree,
good water which is the first
gift, four hours.
Live burial under a moist cloth,
a silver dish, the row
of white famine bellies
swollen and taut in the oven,
lungfuls of warm breath stopped
in the heat from an old sun.
Good bread has the salt taste
of your hands after nine
strokes of the axe, the salt
taste of your mouth, it smells
of its own small death, of the deaths
before and after.
Lift these ashes
into your mouth, your blood;
to know what you devour
is to consecrate it,
almost. All bread must be broken
so it can be shared. Together
we eat this earth.