The
Lost Sheep - Matthew
18:10-14, Luke 15:1-7
Sheep
Biscuits
 |
| Jazzy Sheep biscuits |
 |
| Busy table of decorators |
Today was the last Toddler Praise of the academic year,
now for 7 weeks off before we start again in September. It's always a sad day,
as we have to say goodbye to children who have given so much to our group, we
will miss them. At this time of year I always worry, will we get new toddlers
and babies next term/year. We are not a big group, afternoons are such a
difficult time for tots, as they often sleep then but it's the time we can
give. We just have to trust that God will provide in the new term.
This may be the last blog for seven weeks about our
weekly crafts but I may well blog during the summer break.
 |
| The younger ones having a go |
Because it is the last week I wanted to do a great craft
to end on and nothing proves more popular than a food craft. We don't have any
means of cooking in our church hall, so I pre-baked the biscuits before the
day, for the children to decorate them. The recipe made over 40 biscuits,
meaning the children could decorate a few each. It's such an easy recipe to do.
This does require having a sheep biscuit cutter, I have two, if you don't have
one I do recommend getting one if you can because they are very useful, I've
baked so many sheep biscuits over the years. Other cutters useful to have when
you are doing bible related stories are a fish, an angels and a star, they also
appear a lot too.
The
story
 |
| Jack's sheep |
The parable of the lost sheep must be one of the most
well known of Jesus' parables. There is no shortage of children's story books
based on it. It is such a lovely story of hope, that no one who strays from God
is ever forgotten, God will seek them out and will rejoice when they return to
him.
Jesus was associating with sinners and the dreaded tax
collectors, this caused the Pharisees to mutter, they did not approve of Jesus
eating and drink with such unholy people. Jesus told them a parable. A shepherd
looked after 100 sheep but one went astray. Making sure the ninety nine sheep
were safe, he went out looking for his lost sheep; checking hills and dales,
rivers and rock faces, caves and forests, he went all over looking for his
sheep. When he found it, he flung it over his shoulders and returned home. He
called out to his neighbours, saying "Rejoice with me I have found my lost
sheep." Jesus told the Pharisee's that there is more rejoicing in heaven
over a sinner who returns to the father, than over those who do not go astray.
 |
| Eli's happy with his biscuits |
Jesus told many similar parables giving hope to sinners
and they flocked to him. At last they were welcome in kingdom of heaven, even
if they were not welcome in the synagogue. God loves everyone, no matter what
they have done or who they are, all are welcome.
Basic
biscuit recipe - makes approx 40
 |
| 40+ sheep ready to go |
100g/4oz/ half cup butter or margarine,
100g/4oz/ half cup caster (superfine) sugar
1 egg beaten
5 ml/1tsp vanilla extract
225g/8oz/2 cups plain (all purpose) flour
·
Wisk together the butter/margarine and the
sugar until light and fluffy.
·
Gradually beat in the egg and vanilla
extract.
 |
| Cut and place on baking tray |
·
Fold in the flour and knead into a dough.
·
Wrap in cling film (plastic food wrap) and
chill for a hour.
·
Roll out dough fairly thinly and cut with
cutter of choice.
·
Place on greased baking try and bake in a
pre-heated oven at 200oC/ 400oF/ or gas mark 6 for 10
mins.
 |
| Decorations ready |
We used chocolate sauce, jam and icing to decorate,
topped with sprinkles, smarties and rainbow buttons. Decorate them anyway you
wish.
For more photo's of our craft check out our Facebook
page, follow the link below.
No comments:
Post a Comment