LAC LA BICHE - What’s it like to make hundreds of delicious cinnamon buns and serve them to the community at a popular annual event? Heavenly, say members of the New Life Victory Church in Lac La Biche.
The church group has been serving up sweet treats at the last five Family Day events in Lac La Biche County.
The buns will once again be up for grabs at this year’s event on Feb. 19 at the Bold Centre from 12-3 p.m.
New Life Victory Church’s Angie Werk said last year’s kitchen crew of church volunteers made about 400 cinnamon buns, mixing everything from scratch, by hand.
This time around, she said, whipping up that many - or even more - should be easier thanks to the commercial mixer the kitchen crew will be using. Werk is also planning to whip up some more sweet toppings for the buns this year.
“We are wanting to bring heavy amounts of cream cheese icing to this year’s event,” she told Lakeland This Week.
In past years, the buns have been a popular treat at the New Life church’s table, with little more than crumbs left at the end of the Family Day event. Helping to clear the trays, New Life volunteers have also been known to take the buns on a run. “We serve from 12-3 and they are all taken – if they are not moving fast enough while the buns are still warm our tent crew has been known to load a cart and go searching for people.”
In all, the behind-the-scenes crew for church’s Family Day offering is made up of about 25 volunteers, said Werk. In preparation for the Family Day Event, there will be a group of volunteers in the kitchen at the Bold Centre on Sunday afternoon making buns.
Careful ingredients
Church members purchase all the ingredients for the cinnamon buns, which are made from scratch. When asked if there is a secret ingredient sprinkled in, Werk said there are two: hope and love.
“We want every person that comes to our booth for a cinnamon bun or cup of hot chocolate to know that their family and role in their family is so very important,” she said, adding that this event provides an excellent opportunity for the church to provide outreach to others. “We want them to have hope that they are not alone or need to do life alone, that there is hope in Jesus – even if we don’t get to say those specific words to them.”
On the day of the event, a “drink crew” will be making hot chocolate to go along with the cinnamon buns. Others will be setting up a tent and a few tables ready to serve.
It’s a day the church members look forward to - as much as the community does, Werk said.
“These groups love this event… the fun of doing something together for a greater purpose is very gratifying,” Werk stated.
The church group is also assisted by Lac La Biche County’s Family and Community Support Services during the Family Day event.
“They really love this community and so do we,” Werk stated. “We are most thankful for our partnership with them in this event. It really is a blessing and honour for us to serve our community together like this.”
In addition to fresh cinnamon buns and hot chocolate, the 2024 free Family Day Festival will also feature music by the Plamondon-based group Girlz with Guitarz, Indigenous relay races, bannock kneading, moose calling, and braiding put on by the County Focus Indigenous Committee, sleigh rides, family photos, an ultimate challenge, and other events.
