Pat,
I made communion bread for formal and informal services many years
ago, and found that for passing-and-sharing, it was very helpful to
offer a braided loaf. Much like monkey bread, half the work is
already done for you. My recipe was very basic, milk-based white
bread ... the ENTIRE instructions in my hand-written cookbook are:
3 c. milk
3 yeasties
3 T sugar
4 1/2 T butter
1 T salt
enough flour
As you have been baking a lot, I'm sure you can estimate the flour
with confidence. As for the braiding, even a simple 3-part plait
will do, but the six-strand braid often used for fancy Challahs is
even better. I guess it may depend on how many lanyards you wove in
summer camps .... the six-part braiding process is beautifully
described & illustrated in Secrets of a Jewish Baker by George
Greenstein. You might consider trying his Challah as another alternative!