Bread abounds in holy scripture! If you started thinking about all the scripture passages that mention bread, your list would likely be longer than this devotion booklet. However, we are hoping that the following scriptures, reflections, and prayers are a helpful start in the right direction.

The church feasts and the church fasts. We have known times of plenty and abundance and we experience celebrations. We have also known times of scarcity and hunger and we experience hardships.

The Jesus Way is a gentle trail that loops around Camp Kinard. Fourteen signposts have been installed around the moderate 1.5 mile loop around camp. Now is a perfect time to pray with our feet by worshipping outdoors, socially distanced, in God’s beautiful creation!

You can do this trail on your own here at Camp Kinard, or consider inviting friends from your congregation or your neighborhood walking buddies. Call your bread-making friends! Spread the word and enjoy a day at camp! We do ask that you communicate with the office to plan your visit. May this time of active prayer and contemplation feed your spirit!

Station 1: Acts 2: 42-47

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

REFLECTION: Bread is a sign of community. With whom do you eat? How does a meal bind you together with someone? How do we welcome others to the table?

PRAYER: O God, we give you thanks for meals that we have shared with loved ones. We thank you for the gift of Christian community. Help us, with glad and generous hearts, to share bread and form community with others. Amen.

Station 2: Matthew 4:1-4

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

REFLECTION: Bread can be a temptation. Hunger sometimes contributes to poor choices that we wouldn’t otherwise make. It can be difficult to think about but can you name your temptations? How do they draw you from God?

PRAYER: O God, bread alone does not satisfy. We are dependent upon you. Thank you for the life-sustaining gift of your Word. Amen.

Station 3: I Kings 19:3-8

Then Elijah was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.

REFLECTION: Bread is sustenance. Think about a time when someone literally fed you. What is it like to be fed by others? In what ways do you feed others?

PRAYER: O God, our human experience is one of need. We need others. We need you. Help us to acknowledge our dependence on you, our need of you. Grant us Sabbath rest and time where we may be fed so that we can feed others. Amen

Station 4: Matthew 26: 26-30

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

REFLECTION: Bread molds and rots sitting on a shelf, but when it is broken, shared, and consumed, it fulfills its purpose. Jesus blesses, breaks, and gives away bread, his body. Reflect on a time when Holy Communion was special to you.

PRAYER: O God, thank you for the gift of Holy Communion. We crave your life-giving presence. Make us hungry for you. Help us to remember to bless and care for your holy creation, the wheat in the fields, the grapes on their vines. Amen.

Station 5: Isaiah 30:18-21

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. Truly, O people in Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you. Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

REFLECTION: Bread is sometimes a reminder of hardship and struggle. During days of grief and adversity, it is often hard to see God with us. Think about a time when you yourself have known adversity and affliction.

PRAYER: O God, some days you feel hidden and far away. We have known the taste of the bread of affliction. Open our eyes to see our Teacher showing us the way. Give us faith in the midst of things we do not understand. Amen.

Station 6: I Corinthians 10:15-17

I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

REFLECTION: We are one bread, one body, with you as the Lord of all. Yet sin creates division where there is actually wholeness. Who is it in your life that feels separate from you but is actually your sibling in Christ?

PRAYER: O God, open our eyes to see all of our sisters and brothers as one family. Rid us of racism and prejudice and anything that diminishes our unity in you. We are one body with many parts. Bring us to repentance so that we might experience new life. Amen.

Station 7: I Kings 17:8-16

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink.” As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” But she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth.” She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. 16The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

REFLECTION: Giving bread can be quite a sacrifice. To give what we have to others takes faith. What is the best gift you have ever been given? What is the best gift you have ever given away?

PRAYER: O God, sharing is hard, especially when we don’t know if there is enough for us. Give us a mentality of abundance, not scarcity. Help us focus on what we have, instead of what we don’t. Encourage us to form society in a way that widows and orphans have all that they need. Amen.

Station 8: John 6:47-63

Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

REFLECTION: We crave true, abundant life and Jesus provides for us with his very own body. There is so much we don’t understand. God’s grace can feel offensive to us. How dare God act in this way?! So full of mercy, and slow to anger, and ready to relent from punishing! Have you ever felt like Jonah and want a pity party because God loves someone you can’t or won’t?

PRAYER: O God, you are a mystery to us. Your love is unfathomable, yet you patiently show us again and again how much you love us. Help us to abide in you and to show your love to all. Amen.

Station 9: Isaiah 55:2

Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.

REFLECTION: An abundance of bread is a vision of the kingdom of God. Imagine what it is like when there is enough real food for all. In this world, we often spend time and money on things that which do not satisfy. Ironically, when we try to feed, stuff, gorge ourselves on the things we think will make us satisfied, we do this at the expense of others. When we, instead, focus on feeding others, we can’t help but feel good and truly satisfied. What truly satisfies you?

PRAYER: O God, in our fallen world, everything costs a price. Yet you remind us of a world where we can eat without money and without price. Create in us a desire to build healthy, resilient societies where no one is hungry and all are fed. Bless those who, this day, are hungry and long to be called to the table. Amen.

Station 10: Matthew 6:9-15

Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

REFLECTION: Our daily bread, not weekly, not monthly, but what we need today, we pray for. We often obsess about the past and the future, neglecting to live in the present. What is it that you worry about? How can you share that with God?

PRAYER: O God, thank you for the gift of prayer. We can turn to you anytime and anyplace. You desire to hear from us, your children. Help us come to you with our needs and wants. Grant us the confidence of children and open our hearts to speak and listen to you freely. Amen.

Station 11: 2 Corinthians 9:6-12

The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God.

REFLECTION: Bread doesn’t just materialize out of thin air, but is assembled, gathered, made from ingredients of the earth and made with human hands. Seeds were sown before you got hungry! Farmers and bakers, truck drivers and grocery store clerks, marketing executives and food standard authority experts; so many people are involved in just one slice of bread. Next time you eat, think about the seeds that were sown in order that you may be fed.

PRAYER: O God, your math is amazing; you multiply the seeds we sow. Create in each of us cheerful givers, knowing that you multiply and bring to fruition seeds that we scatter. Amen.

Station 12: Genesis 18:6

The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

REFLECTION: Bread is for sharing. Hospitality is at the heart of our faith. We often entertain angels unaware. Who can you invite to eat a meal with you? Who would you like to cook for? Who is it that your congregation can welcome?

PRAYER: O God, make us quick to invite. Help us to be bold with our hospitality. Teach us by welcoming others, we are welcoming you. Amen.

Station 13: Deuteronomy 8:5-9

Know then in your heart that as a parent disciplines a child so the Lord your God disciplines you. Therefore keep the commandments of the Lord your God, by walking in his ways and by fearing him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with springs and underground waters welling up in valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land where you may eat bread without scarcity, where you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you may mine copper.

REFLECTION: God sets before us a vision of plenty. God knows our needs and wants. God cares for us. How is it that we begin to live this heavenly reality here and now? Think about all the different ways to be hungry, as well as actual hunger. How can the church help?

PRAYER: O God, you are faithful and you keep your promises. Keep our eyes focused on “thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.” Amen.

Station 14: John 6: 32-35

Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

REFLECTION: It isn’t Moses, it isn’t our favorite pastor, it isn’t WonderBread it isn’t King’s Hawaiian, it isn’t even Gramma’s secret recipe, it is our Father who gives us the true bread from heaven. Jesus is the bread of life. What does that mean to you?

PRAYER: O God, you give life to the world. We join other disciples around the world, across the ages, in pleading, “Give us this bread always.” Thank you for calling us to come to you, where we can be fed with what we truly need. Thank you for the precious gift of community and brothers and sisters who literally journey with us along the way of life. Thank you for feeding us. Inspire and equip us to feed others. In your name we pray, Amen.