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 200^oC/ 400^oF/ 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.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Toddler-Praise-St-Lukes-Church-Scarborough/791165617571028

 

Have fun

Joshua and the Defeat of Jericho

Joshua 1- 6

Edible walls of Jericho

George wouldn't let me take a photo before he ate it

At Toddler Praise we don't do food crafts all that often, which is a shame because they are so popular. The hall kitchen is not set up for cooking in, as there is no oven. When I do prepare a food craft, it has to be a non-cooking one. In fact this is only the second food craft this year because of the limitations of our hall and the time we have to do it in.

The walls of Jericho gave us the perfect opportunity to use food like a craft material. What better material is there for building walls than bread cut into cubes. The children have the fun of building up walls as tall as they can, until they fall or get knocked over. Oh, how small children love to knock bricks over. And what's more they get to eat it afterwards, what could be better! Our kids spent more time eating than playing today, tidy up time was so easy. But, I must give a sticky warning.

STICKY WARNING! STICKY WARNING! STICKY WARNING! STICKY WARNING!

However, very tasty fingers to lick afterwards!

 

Eli's impressive construction of Jericho

After Moses and the people of Israel left Egypt, they wandered around the desert for 40 years. Not because they were lost but because they didn't trust the Lord, as a result, all those who had left Egypt were not allowed to enter the promised land, all except Joshua. When Moses died, Joshua led the people into the promised land of Canaan. The Lord told Joshua that he was with him and he was giving them the land that he had promised to their forefathers. They would be successful in this land as long as they keep God's laws.

Israelites outside the walls of Jericho

Joshua sent two men to look over the promised land, especially Jericho. The people of Jericho had heard of the Israelites and that their God had parted the Red Sea and defeated their foes. The people of Jericho were scared. When the two men entered Jericho, they entered the house of a woman named Rahab. People in the city heard of two Israelite men, so they went to the house of Rahab. Rahab protected the men and hid them, she told the men of the city that the Israelite men had already left Jericho. The men of the city went searching for them along the road. Meanwhile Rahab helped the men escape, provided they protect her and her family when Israel attacked. She lowered them down the city walls from a window in her house. The men told her to tie a red cord to the window, then they would know which house not to attack.

Israelites march around the walls seven times

The Lord told Joshua that he would deliver the city into their hands. They had to march around the city once a day for 6 days, with all the armed men. Carry the Ark of the Covenant, ahead of it seven priest should blow rams horns. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times in silence. Then give a long horn blast and all the people should shout as loud as possible. This will cause the walls to collapse. Joshua and the people did just as the Lord said and the city of Jericho fell. The Israelites took over the city and dedicated it to the Lord. Rahab and her family were kept safe, as the two men had promised her.

 Materials required:

·         Brown Bread

·         Jam/chocolate sauce/honey

·         Large container

·         Paper plates

·         Knifes and spoons

·         Bowls

·         Bread knife

Preparations

·         Cut crusts off the bread and cut into brick shaped pieces.

Brandon adding a layer of chocolate sauce

·         Put jam and sauces into bowls

Instructions

1.    Build a wall on a paper plate by sticking the bread together using the jam and sauces as cement.

2.    Then knock it down with a loud shout and eat.

 

In the words of 4 year old Brandon, "The chocolate sauce tastes nicer but the jam sticks the bricks better."

We have more photo's of this activity on our facebook page, just follow the link.

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Toddler-Praise-St-Lukes-Church-Scarborough/791165617571028

Have fun