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Rev. Carolyn Eklund, Rector
Summer 2010
We’ve been watching the explosion of oil at
the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico for over
two months now. I have called it a “mortal
break in the earth.” And when I’ve described
it as the “air going out of a balloon, and
what happens to the balloon?” my husband
John says I’m being too dramatic. Anyway,
that kind of talk doesn’t help our anxiety
and it certainly doesn’t help plug the hole.
Modern technology seems to have met her
match, the fierce force of hubris.
Who really thought they could contend with a
hostile environment drilling 5,000 feet
under the sea and just go on as “business as
usual?” And guess what we have discovered!
Human beings aren’t the center of the
universe after all! Neither is oil. Maybe
this tragedy will sober us up to realize
that we do live in a “fragile earth, our
island home.”
This phrase, “this fragile earth, our island
home,” is from the Episcopal Church “Book of
Common Prayer.” It’s Eucharistic Prayer C
and it is modern. It takes into account
modern, scientific discoveries that we can
now pray about, discoveries that centuries
ago were never revealed. The language in
this prayer reveals what is known to modern
society, “the vast expanse of interstellar
space, galaxies, suns, the planes in their
courses…” It acknowledges from whence
humankind has come, “From primal elements
you brought forth the human race…”
In this prayer, we are called back to
humility and the idea that being given
“dominion” over this earth doesn’t mean we
plunder or pillage or pollute it. Rather, we
are called to give care to it as a gift from
God. It is only ours because God gave it to
us.
Any oil executive who can’t or won’t take
responsibility for the consequences of
dangerous drilling and carelessness at the
bottom of the ocean or Gulf, or, for that
matter, on land, well, God have mercy on his
soul! To observe and ponder the blow out
coming from the depths is to break the heart
of people who desire to be good stewards of
all that God gives us.
How can anyone ponder nature, study the
universe, or just take a walk and not be
convicted to believe in the Grand Creator
and desire to give care to the creation?
“Purple mountain majesty” and “Amber waves
of grain” have been the “altars” of my
childhood when I didn’t have an otherwise
profound sense of God or worship. In the
summer, who doesn’t give a little dance of
joy when a tomato in the garden begins to
turn red and plump? Who doesn’t delight in
the frothy cherry blossoms that “rain” down
all over the sidewalk and driveway in
springtime? God has given us this amazing
garden of delight – for our reverencing, for
our nourishment and yes, for our proper and
right use of it.
Years ago, I befriended a wise Christian
woman who became my first spiritual
director. I give thanks to God for Joan
Fouts. She helped me discern what I thought
might be a call to the ordained ministry. At
the time, I was an aggressive corporate
marketer. My spare time was used up working
long hours and traveling. One day, my wise
mentor asked me what I loved to do in my
spare time. I went blank. My spare time did
not exist. I was going to church and felt
drawn to nurture my prayer life in my car on
the way to work. But I didn’t have a hobby
because I didn’t make time to “do” anything.
John and I had joined St. Luke’s Episcopal
Church where we lived in Durham, North
Carolina at the time. Sometimes, the Altar
Guild prepared whole wheat homemade bread
for Communion. It was delicious and made our
experience of participating in the Eucharist
even richer.
It’s funny, but bread-baking came to mind as
a possible “spare time” pleasure. So, I
asked my friend at St. Luke’s, Elaine
Druesedow, for a recipe. She gave me one
from her book of Communion bread recipes. It
was the bread of St. Gregory’s Abbey. It
took me years to decide that I wanted to
have some spare time. But eventually, I
found the recipe and enjoy baking Communion
bread in my spare time. I love baking it for
Grace Church Communion now and then. Even
our children have helped me bake it over the
years.
Some parents have asked me for the recipe,
so I have reprinted it here. As I write it
out for you, my heart fills with gratitude
for the “amber waves of grain” from which
the whole wheat is harvested, and for all
the resources from God’s creation that go
into this special, delicious bread that
nourishes our souls: Christ’s gift that
“comforts and strengthens, pardons and
renews”.
St. Gregory’s Abbey
Bread, From Three Rivers, Michigan
7/8 cup lukewarm water (or slightly
more)
3 tablespoons honey
1 ½ tablespoons olive oil or salad oil
¼ teaspoon salt
1 packet dry yeast (or 2 ¼ teaspoons dry
yeast from bulk jar)
2 2/3 cups of whole wheat flour
-
Measure the water into a mixing bowl and
add the yeast, stirring until the yeast
dissolves.
-
Stir into this the honey, oil, and salt.
-
Add the un-sifted flour and mix it
completely. If the flour does not
completely dampen, add a tablespoon or
more of water. (You may use and electric
mixer for this step.)
-
Turn the dough out onto a very lightly
floured board and knead dough thoroughly
for five minutes. (You may use the dough
hook on your mixer if you have one and
knead using the mixer.)
-
This kneading is very important. After
the kneading, when the dough is nice and
elastic and does not stick to the sides
of the mixer, put the dough in a large
bowl and cover it with a damp towel and
let it rise for an hour or an
hour-and-a-half in a warm place. It
should double in bulk. (You may grease
the bowl or not.)
-
Now turn the dough out onto a lightly
floured board and knead for a moment.
Roll dough out to a quarter inch
thickness and cut into rounds with a
biscuit cutter or tin can of appropriate
size. Press a line across the dough with
the blade of a knife, not cutting
through, so that the loaf may be divided
into quarters. Transfer to a very
lightly oiled baking sheet or un-oiled
stick-free pan, and bake in a preheated
350º F oven for 10-12 minutes. The
loaves may be sealed in plastic bags and
frozen for future use.
Perhaps, bread-baking can be your family
project this summer. As you gather the
ingredients, be mindful of our call to being
good stewards of all that God has given us
and let’s pray together:
“O God, in the course of this busy life,
give us times of refreshment and peace;
and grant that we may use our leisure to
rebuild our bodies and renew our minds,
that our spirits may be opened to the
goodness of your creation; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.” (BCP, p. 825)
Summer blessings to you all,
P.S. Is God calling our parish into
contemplative prayer? Are you interested in
forming a weekly prayer gathering to sit
with God together in silence? If so, please
email the parish office:
office@graceplainfield.org. |
