Welcome to a special Wednesday Words post. Below are a number of photos, sent in by the participants and a few images used by our Speaker. Many thanks to Guylaine for offering a reflection on this special time we shared, I hope it will give you a flavour of the Mini-Retreat
Alleluia!! Christ is risen!
Happy Easter to all! I type this reflection on the unceded territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin peoples, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
My name is Guylaine Chartier. I’m a former Day Camp Travelling Team Member and Leader. I’ve been the CTM Office worker in the past and have been a part of Day Camps in some shape or form, (I should say, Day Camps has been a part of me) for a long time 😉.
Today, I’m typing a reflection on the Day Camps Lenten Mini-Retreat, held for former Day Camp Travelling Team Members and Leaders. This was a virtual event on Saturday, April 1 (no joke, it was actually on that day)! We had the honour and privilege of the Venerable Robert Camera sharing his experience with Day Camps 20 years ago and a bit of the history of Hot Cross Buns.
The Mini-Retreat was broken up in sections with worship through Taizé songs in different languages, some gospel readings, some reflections on the gospel, stories of Hot Cross Buns, actually making Hot Cross Buns, and some quiet time.
Most of us who had access to ingredients and a kitchen were working on making Hot Cross Buns. Valerie shared the steps at lightning speed and we all kept up for the most part. During those quiet times after some steps of the Hot Cross Buns, I was cleaning the small number of dishes I used. Washing dishes for me is a chore that I don’t enjoy all the time and usually would need some music to get me to wash (or a good conversation 😊). This time, though, I used the quietness to wash up the dishes and be thankful for the blessings I had in my life. Sometimes, we just need the stillness and the act of washing dishes (or sitting still!) to remind us of Jesus’ sacrifice for us and all the events that happened in Jesus’ ministry.The first quiet time was me washing dishes.
Then we got back to some worship and another reading and reflection. During THAT time, our dough for the Hot Cross Buns was supposed to proof or rise. My dough didn’t rise quite so much, maybe because I didn’t have great yeast. That sort of problem also happened at the last retreat when we made Challah Bread! Though my dough didn’t rise as much, I was still able to make 16 little Hot Cross Buns. I’m hoping to make more Hot Cross Buns with fresh yeast soon!
The second quiet time, I spent praying that my Hot Cross Buns would turn out alright, even though they were tiny. And they did turn out alright!! It also meant that my husband and I could have more than one Hot Cross Bun at a time 😄.
I’m thankful for Valerie and the Day Camps Committee hosting this wonderful Lenten Mini-Retreat. I’m also grateful for Robert’s stories and wisdom that he shared with us.