Lent 1 – Crosstalk Ministries Day Camps

Today, I’m trying to get an early start, having heard, last evening, that I may be looking after my 2 little Godsons this evening, as well as tomorrow afternoon. The Huyers will be in Montreal for the Weekend to hold a SYC Staff meeting and to celebrate a family birthday.

Opening up my Inbox this morning the first subject line I saw was “Complete Manual Rev1” Wow! We will soon be ready to hold the completed document in our hands and start the final proofreading process. Having originally thought that this year’s Program Manual would run smoothly, we have actually been faced with more than the usual number of hiccups so it is with a sense of joy and relief that we arrive at this point.

In other Day Camps news: – Jillian has made a lovely poster for the Spring Coffee House and we hope an image of it will soon appear in the latest issue of Networks, which is being assembled, this weekend, by our editor Randy. Some more work has been done on the Liturgical Dance choreography, the Church Supply list is now posted, we received 2 more host church Application Forms and, yesterday, I compiled yet another list of clergy and church communities to contact next week, in the hopes of filling in some of the glaring gaps on our Church Schedule.

Outside of “office” time the house has been turned upside-down as I changed the decorations to those for Lent/Spring/Easter. More work than usual was required this time since I needed to replace a very worn slipcover, make new throw cushion covers, kitchen valances and some garlands. Thus the old Singer sewing machine was hauled out and has been working overtime, each afternoon.But I am very pleased with the results and am also pleased that the outdoor temperature is also creeping up to a somewhat “spring-like” level. It will be a while before flowers appear, but at least melting snow offers some promise! I’m not quite sure when tomorrow’s Sunday Reflection will be written because I expect to be caring for 2 little guys all afternoon (and cooking supper for all of us, with my little helpers!) The All Ages Service has come together with all sorts of interesting twists and turns so I will certainly file a report but it may turn out to be a “Monday/ Sunday reflection”!!

Last week I promised to include my Hot Cross Bun recipe. I was sure I had written it up before but do not see it so here it is: –

Lenten Hot Cross Buns

2 Tbsps. yeast
¼ cup warm water
½ cup brown sugar
4 cups flour
½ cup raisins
2 eggs
1 ½ cups scalded milk
½ cup margarine or butter
1 ½ tsps. salt
2 tsps. Cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
½ tsp. nutmeg
½ cup dried cranberries

Icing

2 Tbsps. Lemon juice
Icing sugar

Dissolve the yeast in the warm water with 1Tbsp. of the brown sugar. Place the rest of the sugar, the margarine and salt in a large bowl and pour the scalded milk over all. Leave to cool for 10 minutes. Add the yeast mixture and beaten eggs to the bowl and stir well. Add the flour and spices, mixing to form a soft dough. Stir in the raisins and cranberries and enough additional flour to make a dough firm enough to knead.Turn out onto a floured board and knead until smooth and elastic. Return to a clean, greased bowl, cover and leave to rise in a warm place, for 1hour. Divide risen dough into 24 pieces and shape into buns. Place on parchment-lined trays, flatten each bun gently, and cover with a tea towel and leave to rise for approx. 45minutes.

Preheat oven to 400F. Place raised buns in the oven and bake for 20minutes, rotating the trays after 10mins. Remove from oven and brush tops with melted margarine. Cool on racks.

For icing- place lemon juice in a small bowl and sift icing sugar into the juice until a thick icing is formed, make a cross on the top of each bun.Makes 2 dozen. I usually double the recipe and freeze the extras (un-iced).