Standing behind their belief to freely share the Gospel with everyone, the band has donated their time and talents to several organizations. The guys put their faith into action by helping rebuild homes for the victims of Hurricane Katrina with the ongoing recovery efforts of the Christ In Action organization Homes of Hope. Teaming up with Imanuel Ministries as well, Bread of Stone has ventured to Indonesia producing two full-length Christian albums and have currently distributed over 85,000 free copies throughout the Muslim-populated country.
When asked about the significance of the name “Bread of Stone," they state 'we are all merely stones that God turns into bread to feed the hungry' and that 'without Him, no one can accomplish good in this downfallen world.'
School supplies will be given to the students in all three affected areas (Plaquemines Parish, Grand Isle and Dulac). These supplies will be provided by UMCOR through the Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin. The goal is to have 1,900 school kits delivered for the start of the 2010-11 school term.
Six thousand “bags of hope” have been assembled and distributed to coastal community residents and to response workers - a New Testament, Upper Room Devotional, and a list of churches and pastors in Buras, Grand Isle, and Dulac. Pastors are being recruited to serve as Spiritual Directors at the site of the response workers’ encampment in Venice and to assist with spiritual and emotional care in the area. There is a need for pastoral assistants in the BP camps during meal times. Local pastors are offering their counseling skills to workers who are experiencing fatigue, concern about loss of jobs (especially those who are professional fish harvesters), personal and family concerns, their own personal grief as they see what is happening to the natural environment, etc.
[NOTE: Cathy McManus also sent to many FUMC members a more lengthy report on what's happening along the coast of Louisiana and, in particular, how the United Methodist churches are responding. If you've not received this and would like it forwarded to you, let me know/jki]
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- 1 c butter, room temperature
- 2 c granulated sugar
- 4 eggs
- 3 c self-rising flour, sifted
- 1 c milk
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- for filling
- 1/2 c butter
- 1 c packed light brown sugar
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- 1/4 c milk
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- frosting
- 1/2 c butter
- 1 c packed dark brown sugar
- 1/3 c heavy cream, or more if needed
- 1 oz (16 ounce) box confectioner sugar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 c chopped nuts, optional
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans. Using an electric mixter cream butter until fluffy. Add granulated sugar and continue to cream well for 6 to 8 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beat well after each addition. add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. add vanilla and continue to beat , until just mixted. divide batter equally among prepared pans. Level batter in each pan by holding pan 4 inches above counter dropping it flat onto counter. Do this several times to release air bubbles and assure you of a more level cake.
Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown, let cake cool before icing.
Filling: while cake is baking , in a saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar, and milk. Cook and stir over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. remove cake layers form oven and allow cake to remain in pan as you prepare to stack and fill. Remove first layer and invert onto cake plate. Pierce cake layer with toothpick over entire surface. Spread 1/3 of filling mixture on cake layer. Top with second layer, repeat process. top with last layer and repeat process again.
Cook notes: As you stack layers together, stick with toothpicks to prevent cake from shifting.
Frosting: Melt butter in a sucepan over medium heat and stir in brown sugar and cream, bring to a boil, and transfer to mixture bowl. add confectioner's sugau and vanilla. Beat with a handheld electric mixter until it reaches a spreading consistency. At this time it may be necessary to add a tablespoon of heavy cream, or more, if frosting gets too thick, frost cake and sprinkle top with pecan or chopped nuts, If desired. Good Luck and enjoy.