this link - wells cathedral
TRANSCRIPT
Crooks and CroziersCrooks and Croziers
Resource Pack for the Childrenrsquos Festival 18 January 2014
Compiled by Jane Tibbs
Early Years Children and Families adviser for the Diocese of Bath and Wells
Itrsquos not every year that we get a new Bishop so with this in mind the
theme for this yearrsquos Childrenrsquos Festival is Crooks and Croziers
A Bishop carries a crozier and a shepherd carries a crook Although a
shepherd may use his crook to catch a sheep it is doubtful that a modern
day bishop would ldquohookrdquo any of his ldquoflockrdquo with a crozier
Included in the booklet are some ideas for prayer songs games and crafts
There is also some help in identifying what a Bishops wears
What is a
Bishop
A Bishop is someone
who was ordained as a
priest and is in charge
of a diocese
Whatlsquos a
diocese
then
A diocese is a district
a bit like a County
which is supervised by
a Bishop There are
lots of parishes in a
diocese
So whatrsquos a
parish
A parish is a small
church district with
its own church
Many parishes
share a parish
priest now a-days
Why is a bishop
sometimes called
a shepherd
In St Johnrsquos Gospel
Jesus calls himself the
ldquoGood Shepherdrdquo
A bishop like a
good shepherd
leads his ldquofaithful
flockrdquo
What is a flock
then
Just as a good shepherd
has a flock of sheep to look
after a bishop has a
ldquoflockrdquo of people to care for
in a diocese
Bishops of Bath and Wells
On the next pages yoursquoll find the names of all the Bishops of Bath and
Wells since 909
Bishop Giso 1061mdash1088
Giso was bishop at the time of William the Conquerorrsquos
victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 His is the last
ldquoSaxonrdquo tomb in Wells Cathedral He was the last
bishop to be known as the Bishop of Wells
Bishop Jocelyn Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury
1206mdash1219
Bishop of Bath 1219mdash1242
Jocelyn was a local man He oversaw the completion of the
Nave and West Front of Wells Cathedral and campaigned to
restore cathedral status to Wells He was present when the
Magna Carta was sealed in 1215 There is a legend that he
slew the Dinder Dragon and the great Worm of Warminster The story is commemorat-
ed in a mosaic on the south walk beyond the moat of the Bishoprsquos Palace
Bishop Bytton II 1267mdash1274
Bishop Bytton II was supposed to have miraculous powers both before and after his
death and be able to cure tooth ache Byttonrsquos coffin cover of blue lias is said to be
one of the earliest carved slabs in the country The surface of the coffin is chipped
and this is because it is said that visitors took flakes from his tomb to cure toothache
Some information about a selection of Bishops of Bath and Wells
Bishop Harewell 1367mdash1386
Bishop Harewell provided two-thirds of the cost for
the south-west tower and two bells called Great
harewell and Little Harewell His alabaster tomb has
a rebus of his name at his feetmdashtwo hares and a
ribbon of water representing a well A rebus is a
puzzle in which words are represented by a combination of pictures
Bishop Bubwith 1407mdash1424
In his will Bishop Bubwith left money for the building of the library over the whole
length of the east cloister the raising of the north-west tower to match the south-west
tower and a fund for the improvement of the roads and bridges of Somerset That
money was used to build the Almshouses in Chamberlain Street in Wells Bubwithrsquos
Chantry Chapel is on the north-east side of the Nave in Wells Cathedral
Bishop Bekynton 1443mdash1465
Thomas Beckynton was an important statesman-bishop but he was
also kind to local people He arranged for water to be piped from
the wells at his palace to a fountain in the market place to fill
buckets and to flow down the High Street to keep it clean Every
year on the Sunday nearest to 14 January the Lord Mayor and City
Council of Wells give thanks at his tomb The effigy on his tomb was
made 15 years before he died It shows him both as a grand bishop
and an ordinary man A small carving of his jester is on the corner
nearest the high altar Bekynton is responsible for the medieval gatesmdashBrownrsquos Gate
the Chain Gate Penniless Porch and the Bishoprsquos Eye Money from his will was used to
build the elegant tall chimneys in Vicarsrsquo Close Wells
Bishop Creighton 1670mdash1672
Bishop Creighton helped to repair the damage done to
Wells Cathedral during the Commonwealth also providing
an impressive brass lectern and Bible and having a new
window installed at the west end
Bishop Ken 1685mdash1691
Bishop Ken was a man of principles and respected for
speaking his mind This unfortunately led to a short stay in
the Tower of London During the Monmouth rebellion Bishop
Ken tried to persuade Judge Jeffreys to treat prisoners fairly
He led a simple life and regularly invited poor citizens to share
a meal at the palace He played the lute and the organ and
wrote many hymns including Praise God from whom all
blessings flow
Bishop Law 1824mdash1845
George Law had worked to improve the life of the poor in the
industrial cities of the north of England while he was Bishop
of Chester and continued this work with the rural poor once
he moved to Somerset He started a scheme of allotments
supported the founding of Wells Theological College in 1840
and continued his interest in archaeology at Banwell
Bishop Peter Price 2002mdash2013
Having trained as a teacher at Redland College
Bristol Peter Price spent six years teaching before
studying to be ordained He has worked for the
church in Yorkshire Croydon Southwark and
Kingston as well as in Bath and Wells He is ac-
tively concerned with issues of reconciliation and
has made contributions to peace-making in North-
ern Ireland Iraq and Zimbabwe He was awarded the Coventry Cross of Nails for this
work in 1999 In 2008 Bishop Peter became one of the 24 Anglican Bishops who
serve in the House of Lords He retired on 30 June 2013
Bishop 2014mdash
Bishop
Special clothes Many of the people who take part in church services wear special clothes Some of these
garments are very colourful and they all have special names
On the following pages are some of the clothes and a model clergyman Copy the figure
on to thin card and cut it out Fold the stand at the dotted line to make it stand up
Laminating the figure might preserve it
Colour the garments before cutting them out Fold the tabs and attach the garments to
the figures
A booklet ldquoWhat they wear in Churchrdquo is available from the Diocesan Resource Centre
The recently retired Bishop of Bath
and Wells the Right Reverend Peter
Price
The Bishop of Taunton the
Right Reverend Peter Maurice
A Bishop wears a special Chasuble which is like a cape or cloak and
worn over all the other vestments It is often very brightly coloured The
long cloak is also called a Cope The clasp which holds it together in the
front is called a morse
A Bishop also wears a mitre which is a pointed hat which folds flat The
shape of the mitre is supposed to represent the flames that rested above
the Apostles heads at Pentecost The two parts of the mitre are said to
represent the Old and the New Testaments
A Bishop carries a Crozier which is
just like a shepherdrsquos crook He
carries it as sign that he is the lead-
er of the ldquoflockrdquo of Godrsquos people in
his Diocese
A Bishop also wears a special
ring which is a symbol of the
Bishoprsquos
faithfulness to God and the
Church It usually has a purple
stone
A Bishop usually wears a purple
cassock and a purple shirt
The Archbishop of Canterbury
The Right Reverend Justin Welby
A special Chasuble
Mitre
Crozier
CASSOCK
This is the long black gown that the priest puts on over his ordinary
clothes Choirs also wear cassocks of different colours
No one is very sure where the word cassock comes from but it has
always meant a long coat It was everyday wear for priests from
earliest times and the Church authorities were very strict about ldquolongrdquo
When fashion changed in the Middle Ages and men started wearing
short tunics the Church insisted that priests should continue to wear
their ankle-length ldquocoatsrdquo Even in Shakespearersquos day priests were
ordered to wear a cassock over their doublet and hose whenever they
went out in public
Cassock
SURPLICE
Have you ever wondered where this name came from (Donrsquot muddle it up
with surplus)
Surplice came from the fact that churches in Europe were very cold plac-
es in winter because most of them didnrsquot have any heating So the priests
who had to spend a long time shivering in church used to wear a thick
wool or sheepskin cloak In France this was called a pelisse
The pelisse made it very difficult for them to put on the alb (the long white
tunic with fitted sleeves)
They solved the problem by making the alb bigger and looser
SCARF
This wide plain black scarf is worn when the priest takes a service that is
not a Holy Communion or other sacrament It may be made of silk if the
wearer is a university graduate
STOLE
A coloured stole is worn over the alb and under the chasuble
This is a long narrow strip of silk in various colours and usually with a cross
at the neck that the priest wears for a service of Holy Communion or
Baptism
Surplice
Scarf
Stole
How to make a mitre
You will need
A piece of paper about 50cm by 60cm
Sticky tape
Fold it in half with the crease at the top
Fold the top right and left corners in to meet in the middle and form a
triangle There will be a strip left at the bottom
Fold the top piece of the strip up Flip the hat over and do the same with
the other strip
Add some strips to the back inside of the hat
Fold the bottom right and left points in to form a hat You can adjust the
size at this point
Here is how it will look when you flip it back over
The Shepherd and his Sheep
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Itrsquos not every year that we get a new Bishop so with this in mind the
theme for this yearrsquos Childrenrsquos Festival is Crooks and Croziers
A Bishop carries a crozier and a shepherd carries a crook Although a
shepherd may use his crook to catch a sheep it is doubtful that a modern
day bishop would ldquohookrdquo any of his ldquoflockrdquo with a crozier
Included in the booklet are some ideas for prayer songs games and crafts
There is also some help in identifying what a Bishops wears
What is a
Bishop
A Bishop is someone
who was ordained as a
priest and is in charge
of a diocese
Whatlsquos a
diocese
then
A diocese is a district
a bit like a County
which is supervised by
a Bishop There are
lots of parishes in a
diocese
So whatrsquos a
parish
A parish is a small
church district with
its own church
Many parishes
share a parish
priest now a-days
Why is a bishop
sometimes called
a shepherd
In St Johnrsquos Gospel
Jesus calls himself the
ldquoGood Shepherdrdquo
A bishop like a
good shepherd
leads his ldquofaithful
flockrdquo
What is a flock
then
Just as a good shepherd
has a flock of sheep to look
after a bishop has a
ldquoflockrdquo of people to care for
in a diocese
Bishops of Bath and Wells
On the next pages yoursquoll find the names of all the Bishops of Bath and
Wells since 909
Bishop Giso 1061mdash1088
Giso was bishop at the time of William the Conquerorrsquos
victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 His is the last
ldquoSaxonrdquo tomb in Wells Cathedral He was the last
bishop to be known as the Bishop of Wells
Bishop Jocelyn Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury
1206mdash1219
Bishop of Bath 1219mdash1242
Jocelyn was a local man He oversaw the completion of the
Nave and West Front of Wells Cathedral and campaigned to
restore cathedral status to Wells He was present when the
Magna Carta was sealed in 1215 There is a legend that he
slew the Dinder Dragon and the great Worm of Warminster The story is commemorat-
ed in a mosaic on the south walk beyond the moat of the Bishoprsquos Palace
Bishop Bytton II 1267mdash1274
Bishop Bytton II was supposed to have miraculous powers both before and after his
death and be able to cure tooth ache Byttonrsquos coffin cover of blue lias is said to be
one of the earliest carved slabs in the country The surface of the coffin is chipped
and this is because it is said that visitors took flakes from his tomb to cure toothache
Some information about a selection of Bishops of Bath and Wells
Bishop Harewell 1367mdash1386
Bishop Harewell provided two-thirds of the cost for
the south-west tower and two bells called Great
harewell and Little Harewell His alabaster tomb has
a rebus of his name at his feetmdashtwo hares and a
ribbon of water representing a well A rebus is a
puzzle in which words are represented by a combination of pictures
Bishop Bubwith 1407mdash1424
In his will Bishop Bubwith left money for the building of the library over the whole
length of the east cloister the raising of the north-west tower to match the south-west
tower and a fund for the improvement of the roads and bridges of Somerset That
money was used to build the Almshouses in Chamberlain Street in Wells Bubwithrsquos
Chantry Chapel is on the north-east side of the Nave in Wells Cathedral
Bishop Bekynton 1443mdash1465
Thomas Beckynton was an important statesman-bishop but he was
also kind to local people He arranged for water to be piped from
the wells at his palace to a fountain in the market place to fill
buckets and to flow down the High Street to keep it clean Every
year on the Sunday nearest to 14 January the Lord Mayor and City
Council of Wells give thanks at his tomb The effigy on his tomb was
made 15 years before he died It shows him both as a grand bishop
and an ordinary man A small carving of his jester is on the corner
nearest the high altar Bekynton is responsible for the medieval gatesmdashBrownrsquos Gate
the Chain Gate Penniless Porch and the Bishoprsquos Eye Money from his will was used to
build the elegant tall chimneys in Vicarsrsquo Close Wells
Bishop Creighton 1670mdash1672
Bishop Creighton helped to repair the damage done to
Wells Cathedral during the Commonwealth also providing
an impressive brass lectern and Bible and having a new
window installed at the west end
Bishop Ken 1685mdash1691
Bishop Ken was a man of principles and respected for
speaking his mind This unfortunately led to a short stay in
the Tower of London During the Monmouth rebellion Bishop
Ken tried to persuade Judge Jeffreys to treat prisoners fairly
He led a simple life and regularly invited poor citizens to share
a meal at the palace He played the lute and the organ and
wrote many hymns including Praise God from whom all
blessings flow
Bishop Law 1824mdash1845
George Law had worked to improve the life of the poor in the
industrial cities of the north of England while he was Bishop
of Chester and continued this work with the rural poor once
he moved to Somerset He started a scheme of allotments
supported the founding of Wells Theological College in 1840
and continued his interest in archaeology at Banwell
Bishop Peter Price 2002mdash2013
Having trained as a teacher at Redland College
Bristol Peter Price spent six years teaching before
studying to be ordained He has worked for the
church in Yorkshire Croydon Southwark and
Kingston as well as in Bath and Wells He is ac-
tively concerned with issues of reconciliation and
has made contributions to peace-making in North-
ern Ireland Iraq and Zimbabwe He was awarded the Coventry Cross of Nails for this
work in 1999 In 2008 Bishop Peter became one of the 24 Anglican Bishops who
serve in the House of Lords He retired on 30 June 2013
Bishop 2014mdash
Bishop
Special clothes Many of the people who take part in church services wear special clothes Some of these
garments are very colourful and they all have special names
On the following pages are some of the clothes and a model clergyman Copy the figure
on to thin card and cut it out Fold the stand at the dotted line to make it stand up
Laminating the figure might preserve it
Colour the garments before cutting them out Fold the tabs and attach the garments to
the figures
A booklet ldquoWhat they wear in Churchrdquo is available from the Diocesan Resource Centre
The recently retired Bishop of Bath
and Wells the Right Reverend Peter
Price
The Bishop of Taunton the
Right Reverend Peter Maurice
A Bishop wears a special Chasuble which is like a cape or cloak and
worn over all the other vestments It is often very brightly coloured The
long cloak is also called a Cope The clasp which holds it together in the
front is called a morse
A Bishop also wears a mitre which is a pointed hat which folds flat The
shape of the mitre is supposed to represent the flames that rested above
the Apostles heads at Pentecost The two parts of the mitre are said to
represent the Old and the New Testaments
A Bishop carries a Crozier which is
just like a shepherdrsquos crook He
carries it as sign that he is the lead-
er of the ldquoflockrdquo of Godrsquos people in
his Diocese
A Bishop also wears a special
ring which is a symbol of the
Bishoprsquos
faithfulness to God and the
Church It usually has a purple
stone
A Bishop usually wears a purple
cassock and a purple shirt
The Archbishop of Canterbury
The Right Reverend Justin Welby
A special Chasuble
Mitre
Crozier
CASSOCK
This is the long black gown that the priest puts on over his ordinary
clothes Choirs also wear cassocks of different colours
No one is very sure where the word cassock comes from but it has
always meant a long coat It was everyday wear for priests from
earliest times and the Church authorities were very strict about ldquolongrdquo
When fashion changed in the Middle Ages and men started wearing
short tunics the Church insisted that priests should continue to wear
their ankle-length ldquocoatsrdquo Even in Shakespearersquos day priests were
ordered to wear a cassock over their doublet and hose whenever they
went out in public
Cassock
SURPLICE
Have you ever wondered where this name came from (Donrsquot muddle it up
with surplus)
Surplice came from the fact that churches in Europe were very cold plac-
es in winter because most of them didnrsquot have any heating So the priests
who had to spend a long time shivering in church used to wear a thick
wool or sheepskin cloak In France this was called a pelisse
The pelisse made it very difficult for them to put on the alb (the long white
tunic with fitted sleeves)
They solved the problem by making the alb bigger and looser
SCARF
This wide plain black scarf is worn when the priest takes a service that is
not a Holy Communion or other sacrament It may be made of silk if the
wearer is a university graduate
STOLE
A coloured stole is worn over the alb and under the chasuble
This is a long narrow strip of silk in various colours and usually with a cross
at the neck that the priest wears for a service of Holy Communion or
Baptism
Surplice
Scarf
Stole
How to make a mitre
You will need
A piece of paper about 50cm by 60cm
Sticky tape
Fold it in half with the crease at the top
Fold the top right and left corners in to meet in the middle and form a
triangle There will be a strip left at the bottom
Fold the top piece of the strip up Flip the hat over and do the same with
the other strip
Add some strips to the back inside of the hat
Fold the bottom right and left points in to form a hat You can adjust the
size at this point
Here is how it will look when you flip it back over
The Shepherd and his Sheep
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Whatlsquos a
diocese
then
A diocese is a district
a bit like a County
which is supervised by
a Bishop There are
lots of parishes in a
diocese
So whatrsquos a
parish
A parish is a small
church district with
its own church
Many parishes
share a parish
priest now a-days
Why is a bishop
sometimes called
a shepherd
In St Johnrsquos Gospel
Jesus calls himself the
ldquoGood Shepherdrdquo
A bishop like a
good shepherd
leads his ldquofaithful
flockrdquo
What is a flock
then
Just as a good shepherd
has a flock of sheep to look
after a bishop has a
ldquoflockrdquo of people to care for
in a diocese
Bishops of Bath and Wells
On the next pages yoursquoll find the names of all the Bishops of Bath and
Wells since 909
Bishop Giso 1061mdash1088
Giso was bishop at the time of William the Conquerorrsquos
victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 His is the last
ldquoSaxonrdquo tomb in Wells Cathedral He was the last
bishop to be known as the Bishop of Wells
Bishop Jocelyn Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury
1206mdash1219
Bishop of Bath 1219mdash1242
Jocelyn was a local man He oversaw the completion of the
Nave and West Front of Wells Cathedral and campaigned to
restore cathedral status to Wells He was present when the
Magna Carta was sealed in 1215 There is a legend that he
slew the Dinder Dragon and the great Worm of Warminster The story is commemorat-
ed in a mosaic on the south walk beyond the moat of the Bishoprsquos Palace
Bishop Bytton II 1267mdash1274
Bishop Bytton II was supposed to have miraculous powers both before and after his
death and be able to cure tooth ache Byttonrsquos coffin cover of blue lias is said to be
one of the earliest carved slabs in the country The surface of the coffin is chipped
and this is because it is said that visitors took flakes from his tomb to cure toothache
Some information about a selection of Bishops of Bath and Wells
Bishop Harewell 1367mdash1386
Bishop Harewell provided two-thirds of the cost for
the south-west tower and two bells called Great
harewell and Little Harewell His alabaster tomb has
a rebus of his name at his feetmdashtwo hares and a
ribbon of water representing a well A rebus is a
puzzle in which words are represented by a combination of pictures
Bishop Bubwith 1407mdash1424
In his will Bishop Bubwith left money for the building of the library over the whole
length of the east cloister the raising of the north-west tower to match the south-west
tower and a fund for the improvement of the roads and bridges of Somerset That
money was used to build the Almshouses in Chamberlain Street in Wells Bubwithrsquos
Chantry Chapel is on the north-east side of the Nave in Wells Cathedral
Bishop Bekynton 1443mdash1465
Thomas Beckynton was an important statesman-bishop but he was
also kind to local people He arranged for water to be piped from
the wells at his palace to a fountain in the market place to fill
buckets and to flow down the High Street to keep it clean Every
year on the Sunday nearest to 14 January the Lord Mayor and City
Council of Wells give thanks at his tomb The effigy on his tomb was
made 15 years before he died It shows him both as a grand bishop
and an ordinary man A small carving of his jester is on the corner
nearest the high altar Bekynton is responsible for the medieval gatesmdashBrownrsquos Gate
the Chain Gate Penniless Porch and the Bishoprsquos Eye Money from his will was used to
build the elegant tall chimneys in Vicarsrsquo Close Wells
Bishop Creighton 1670mdash1672
Bishop Creighton helped to repair the damage done to
Wells Cathedral during the Commonwealth also providing
an impressive brass lectern and Bible and having a new
window installed at the west end
Bishop Ken 1685mdash1691
Bishop Ken was a man of principles and respected for
speaking his mind This unfortunately led to a short stay in
the Tower of London During the Monmouth rebellion Bishop
Ken tried to persuade Judge Jeffreys to treat prisoners fairly
He led a simple life and regularly invited poor citizens to share
a meal at the palace He played the lute and the organ and
wrote many hymns including Praise God from whom all
blessings flow
Bishop Law 1824mdash1845
George Law had worked to improve the life of the poor in the
industrial cities of the north of England while he was Bishop
of Chester and continued this work with the rural poor once
he moved to Somerset He started a scheme of allotments
supported the founding of Wells Theological College in 1840
and continued his interest in archaeology at Banwell
Bishop Peter Price 2002mdash2013
Having trained as a teacher at Redland College
Bristol Peter Price spent six years teaching before
studying to be ordained He has worked for the
church in Yorkshire Croydon Southwark and
Kingston as well as in Bath and Wells He is ac-
tively concerned with issues of reconciliation and
has made contributions to peace-making in North-
ern Ireland Iraq and Zimbabwe He was awarded the Coventry Cross of Nails for this
work in 1999 In 2008 Bishop Peter became one of the 24 Anglican Bishops who
serve in the House of Lords He retired on 30 June 2013
Bishop 2014mdash
Bishop
Special clothes Many of the people who take part in church services wear special clothes Some of these
garments are very colourful and they all have special names
On the following pages are some of the clothes and a model clergyman Copy the figure
on to thin card and cut it out Fold the stand at the dotted line to make it stand up
Laminating the figure might preserve it
Colour the garments before cutting them out Fold the tabs and attach the garments to
the figures
A booklet ldquoWhat they wear in Churchrdquo is available from the Diocesan Resource Centre
The recently retired Bishop of Bath
and Wells the Right Reverend Peter
Price
The Bishop of Taunton the
Right Reverend Peter Maurice
A Bishop wears a special Chasuble which is like a cape or cloak and
worn over all the other vestments It is often very brightly coloured The
long cloak is also called a Cope The clasp which holds it together in the
front is called a morse
A Bishop also wears a mitre which is a pointed hat which folds flat The
shape of the mitre is supposed to represent the flames that rested above
the Apostles heads at Pentecost The two parts of the mitre are said to
represent the Old and the New Testaments
A Bishop carries a Crozier which is
just like a shepherdrsquos crook He
carries it as sign that he is the lead-
er of the ldquoflockrdquo of Godrsquos people in
his Diocese
A Bishop also wears a special
ring which is a symbol of the
Bishoprsquos
faithfulness to God and the
Church It usually has a purple
stone
A Bishop usually wears a purple
cassock and a purple shirt
The Archbishop of Canterbury
The Right Reverend Justin Welby
A special Chasuble
Mitre
Crozier
CASSOCK
This is the long black gown that the priest puts on over his ordinary
clothes Choirs also wear cassocks of different colours
No one is very sure where the word cassock comes from but it has
always meant a long coat It was everyday wear for priests from
earliest times and the Church authorities were very strict about ldquolongrdquo
When fashion changed in the Middle Ages and men started wearing
short tunics the Church insisted that priests should continue to wear
their ankle-length ldquocoatsrdquo Even in Shakespearersquos day priests were
ordered to wear a cassock over their doublet and hose whenever they
went out in public
Cassock
SURPLICE
Have you ever wondered where this name came from (Donrsquot muddle it up
with surplus)
Surplice came from the fact that churches in Europe were very cold plac-
es in winter because most of them didnrsquot have any heating So the priests
who had to spend a long time shivering in church used to wear a thick
wool or sheepskin cloak In France this was called a pelisse
The pelisse made it very difficult for them to put on the alb (the long white
tunic with fitted sleeves)
They solved the problem by making the alb bigger and looser
SCARF
This wide plain black scarf is worn when the priest takes a service that is
not a Holy Communion or other sacrament It may be made of silk if the
wearer is a university graduate
STOLE
A coloured stole is worn over the alb and under the chasuble
This is a long narrow strip of silk in various colours and usually with a cross
at the neck that the priest wears for a service of Holy Communion or
Baptism
Surplice
Scarf
Stole
How to make a mitre
You will need
A piece of paper about 50cm by 60cm
Sticky tape
Fold it in half with the crease at the top
Fold the top right and left corners in to meet in the middle and form a
triangle There will be a strip left at the bottom
Fold the top piece of the strip up Flip the hat over and do the same with
the other strip
Add some strips to the back inside of the hat
Fold the bottom right and left points in to form a hat You can adjust the
size at this point
Here is how it will look when you flip it back over
The Shepherd and his Sheep
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Why is a bishop
sometimes called
a shepherd
In St Johnrsquos Gospel
Jesus calls himself the
ldquoGood Shepherdrdquo
A bishop like a
good shepherd
leads his ldquofaithful
flockrdquo
What is a flock
then
Just as a good shepherd
has a flock of sheep to look
after a bishop has a
ldquoflockrdquo of people to care for
in a diocese
Bishops of Bath and Wells
On the next pages yoursquoll find the names of all the Bishops of Bath and
Wells since 909
Bishop Giso 1061mdash1088
Giso was bishop at the time of William the Conquerorrsquos
victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 His is the last
ldquoSaxonrdquo tomb in Wells Cathedral He was the last
bishop to be known as the Bishop of Wells
Bishop Jocelyn Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury
1206mdash1219
Bishop of Bath 1219mdash1242
Jocelyn was a local man He oversaw the completion of the
Nave and West Front of Wells Cathedral and campaigned to
restore cathedral status to Wells He was present when the
Magna Carta was sealed in 1215 There is a legend that he
slew the Dinder Dragon and the great Worm of Warminster The story is commemorat-
ed in a mosaic on the south walk beyond the moat of the Bishoprsquos Palace
Bishop Bytton II 1267mdash1274
Bishop Bytton II was supposed to have miraculous powers both before and after his
death and be able to cure tooth ache Byttonrsquos coffin cover of blue lias is said to be
one of the earliest carved slabs in the country The surface of the coffin is chipped
and this is because it is said that visitors took flakes from his tomb to cure toothache
Some information about a selection of Bishops of Bath and Wells
Bishop Harewell 1367mdash1386
Bishop Harewell provided two-thirds of the cost for
the south-west tower and two bells called Great
harewell and Little Harewell His alabaster tomb has
a rebus of his name at his feetmdashtwo hares and a
ribbon of water representing a well A rebus is a
puzzle in which words are represented by a combination of pictures
Bishop Bubwith 1407mdash1424
In his will Bishop Bubwith left money for the building of the library over the whole
length of the east cloister the raising of the north-west tower to match the south-west
tower and a fund for the improvement of the roads and bridges of Somerset That
money was used to build the Almshouses in Chamberlain Street in Wells Bubwithrsquos
Chantry Chapel is on the north-east side of the Nave in Wells Cathedral
Bishop Bekynton 1443mdash1465
Thomas Beckynton was an important statesman-bishop but he was
also kind to local people He arranged for water to be piped from
the wells at his palace to a fountain in the market place to fill
buckets and to flow down the High Street to keep it clean Every
year on the Sunday nearest to 14 January the Lord Mayor and City
Council of Wells give thanks at his tomb The effigy on his tomb was
made 15 years before he died It shows him both as a grand bishop
and an ordinary man A small carving of his jester is on the corner
nearest the high altar Bekynton is responsible for the medieval gatesmdashBrownrsquos Gate
the Chain Gate Penniless Porch and the Bishoprsquos Eye Money from his will was used to
build the elegant tall chimneys in Vicarsrsquo Close Wells
Bishop Creighton 1670mdash1672
Bishop Creighton helped to repair the damage done to
Wells Cathedral during the Commonwealth also providing
an impressive brass lectern and Bible and having a new
window installed at the west end
Bishop Ken 1685mdash1691
Bishop Ken was a man of principles and respected for
speaking his mind This unfortunately led to a short stay in
the Tower of London During the Monmouth rebellion Bishop
Ken tried to persuade Judge Jeffreys to treat prisoners fairly
He led a simple life and regularly invited poor citizens to share
a meal at the palace He played the lute and the organ and
wrote many hymns including Praise God from whom all
blessings flow
Bishop Law 1824mdash1845
George Law had worked to improve the life of the poor in the
industrial cities of the north of England while he was Bishop
of Chester and continued this work with the rural poor once
he moved to Somerset He started a scheme of allotments
supported the founding of Wells Theological College in 1840
and continued his interest in archaeology at Banwell
Bishop Peter Price 2002mdash2013
Having trained as a teacher at Redland College
Bristol Peter Price spent six years teaching before
studying to be ordained He has worked for the
church in Yorkshire Croydon Southwark and
Kingston as well as in Bath and Wells He is ac-
tively concerned with issues of reconciliation and
has made contributions to peace-making in North-
ern Ireland Iraq and Zimbabwe He was awarded the Coventry Cross of Nails for this
work in 1999 In 2008 Bishop Peter became one of the 24 Anglican Bishops who
serve in the House of Lords He retired on 30 June 2013
Bishop 2014mdash
Bishop
Special clothes Many of the people who take part in church services wear special clothes Some of these
garments are very colourful and they all have special names
On the following pages are some of the clothes and a model clergyman Copy the figure
on to thin card and cut it out Fold the stand at the dotted line to make it stand up
Laminating the figure might preserve it
Colour the garments before cutting them out Fold the tabs and attach the garments to
the figures
A booklet ldquoWhat they wear in Churchrdquo is available from the Diocesan Resource Centre
The recently retired Bishop of Bath
and Wells the Right Reverend Peter
Price
The Bishop of Taunton the
Right Reverend Peter Maurice
A Bishop wears a special Chasuble which is like a cape or cloak and
worn over all the other vestments It is often very brightly coloured The
long cloak is also called a Cope The clasp which holds it together in the
front is called a morse
A Bishop also wears a mitre which is a pointed hat which folds flat The
shape of the mitre is supposed to represent the flames that rested above
the Apostles heads at Pentecost The two parts of the mitre are said to
represent the Old and the New Testaments
A Bishop carries a Crozier which is
just like a shepherdrsquos crook He
carries it as sign that he is the lead-
er of the ldquoflockrdquo of Godrsquos people in
his Diocese
A Bishop also wears a special
ring which is a symbol of the
Bishoprsquos
faithfulness to God and the
Church It usually has a purple
stone
A Bishop usually wears a purple
cassock and a purple shirt
The Archbishop of Canterbury
The Right Reverend Justin Welby
A special Chasuble
Mitre
Crozier
CASSOCK
This is the long black gown that the priest puts on over his ordinary
clothes Choirs also wear cassocks of different colours
No one is very sure where the word cassock comes from but it has
always meant a long coat It was everyday wear for priests from
earliest times and the Church authorities were very strict about ldquolongrdquo
When fashion changed in the Middle Ages and men started wearing
short tunics the Church insisted that priests should continue to wear
their ankle-length ldquocoatsrdquo Even in Shakespearersquos day priests were
ordered to wear a cassock over their doublet and hose whenever they
went out in public
Cassock
SURPLICE
Have you ever wondered where this name came from (Donrsquot muddle it up
with surplus)
Surplice came from the fact that churches in Europe were very cold plac-
es in winter because most of them didnrsquot have any heating So the priests
who had to spend a long time shivering in church used to wear a thick
wool or sheepskin cloak In France this was called a pelisse
The pelisse made it very difficult for them to put on the alb (the long white
tunic with fitted sleeves)
They solved the problem by making the alb bigger and looser
SCARF
This wide plain black scarf is worn when the priest takes a service that is
not a Holy Communion or other sacrament It may be made of silk if the
wearer is a university graduate
STOLE
A coloured stole is worn over the alb and under the chasuble
This is a long narrow strip of silk in various colours and usually with a cross
at the neck that the priest wears for a service of Holy Communion or
Baptism
Surplice
Scarf
Stole
How to make a mitre
You will need
A piece of paper about 50cm by 60cm
Sticky tape
Fold it in half with the crease at the top
Fold the top right and left corners in to meet in the middle and form a
triangle There will be a strip left at the bottom
Fold the top piece of the strip up Flip the hat over and do the same with
the other strip
Add some strips to the back inside of the hat
Fold the bottom right and left points in to form a hat You can adjust the
size at this point
Here is how it will look when you flip it back over
The Shepherd and his Sheep
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Bishops of Bath and Wells
On the next pages yoursquoll find the names of all the Bishops of Bath and
Wells since 909
Bishop Giso 1061mdash1088
Giso was bishop at the time of William the Conquerorrsquos
victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 His is the last
ldquoSaxonrdquo tomb in Wells Cathedral He was the last
bishop to be known as the Bishop of Wells
Bishop Jocelyn Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury
1206mdash1219
Bishop of Bath 1219mdash1242
Jocelyn was a local man He oversaw the completion of the
Nave and West Front of Wells Cathedral and campaigned to
restore cathedral status to Wells He was present when the
Magna Carta was sealed in 1215 There is a legend that he
slew the Dinder Dragon and the great Worm of Warminster The story is commemorat-
ed in a mosaic on the south walk beyond the moat of the Bishoprsquos Palace
Bishop Bytton II 1267mdash1274
Bishop Bytton II was supposed to have miraculous powers both before and after his
death and be able to cure tooth ache Byttonrsquos coffin cover of blue lias is said to be
one of the earliest carved slabs in the country The surface of the coffin is chipped
and this is because it is said that visitors took flakes from his tomb to cure toothache
Some information about a selection of Bishops of Bath and Wells
Bishop Harewell 1367mdash1386
Bishop Harewell provided two-thirds of the cost for
the south-west tower and two bells called Great
harewell and Little Harewell His alabaster tomb has
a rebus of his name at his feetmdashtwo hares and a
ribbon of water representing a well A rebus is a
puzzle in which words are represented by a combination of pictures
Bishop Bubwith 1407mdash1424
In his will Bishop Bubwith left money for the building of the library over the whole
length of the east cloister the raising of the north-west tower to match the south-west
tower and a fund for the improvement of the roads and bridges of Somerset That
money was used to build the Almshouses in Chamberlain Street in Wells Bubwithrsquos
Chantry Chapel is on the north-east side of the Nave in Wells Cathedral
Bishop Bekynton 1443mdash1465
Thomas Beckynton was an important statesman-bishop but he was
also kind to local people He arranged for water to be piped from
the wells at his palace to a fountain in the market place to fill
buckets and to flow down the High Street to keep it clean Every
year on the Sunday nearest to 14 January the Lord Mayor and City
Council of Wells give thanks at his tomb The effigy on his tomb was
made 15 years before he died It shows him both as a grand bishop
and an ordinary man A small carving of his jester is on the corner
nearest the high altar Bekynton is responsible for the medieval gatesmdashBrownrsquos Gate
the Chain Gate Penniless Porch and the Bishoprsquos Eye Money from his will was used to
build the elegant tall chimneys in Vicarsrsquo Close Wells
Bishop Creighton 1670mdash1672
Bishop Creighton helped to repair the damage done to
Wells Cathedral during the Commonwealth also providing
an impressive brass lectern and Bible and having a new
window installed at the west end
Bishop Ken 1685mdash1691
Bishop Ken was a man of principles and respected for
speaking his mind This unfortunately led to a short stay in
the Tower of London During the Monmouth rebellion Bishop
Ken tried to persuade Judge Jeffreys to treat prisoners fairly
He led a simple life and regularly invited poor citizens to share
a meal at the palace He played the lute and the organ and
wrote many hymns including Praise God from whom all
blessings flow
Bishop Law 1824mdash1845
George Law had worked to improve the life of the poor in the
industrial cities of the north of England while he was Bishop
of Chester and continued this work with the rural poor once
he moved to Somerset He started a scheme of allotments
supported the founding of Wells Theological College in 1840
and continued his interest in archaeology at Banwell
Bishop Peter Price 2002mdash2013
Having trained as a teacher at Redland College
Bristol Peter Price spent six years teaching before
studying to be ordained He has worked for the
church in Yorkshire Croydon Southwark and
Kingston as well as in Bath and Wells He is ac-
tively concerned with issues of reconciliation and
has made contributions to peace-making in North-
ern Ireland Iraq and Zimbabwe He was awarded the Coventry Cross of Nails for this
work in 1999 In 2008 Bishop Peter became one of the 24 Anglican Bishops who
serve in the House of Lords He retired on 30 June 2013
Bishop 2014mdash
Bishop
Special clothes Many of the people who take part in church services wear special clothes Some of these
garments are very colourful and they all have special names
On the following pages are some of the clothes and a model clergyman Copy the figure
on to thin card and cut it out Fold the stand at the dotted line to make it stand up
Laminating the figure might preserve it
Colour the garments before cutting them out Fold the tabs and attach the garments to
the figures
A booklet ldquoWhat they wear in Churchrdquo is available from the Diocesan Resource Centre
The recently retired Bishop of Bath
and Wells the Right Reverend Peter
Price
The Bishop of Taunton the
Right Reverend Peter Maurice
A Bishop wears a special Chasuble which is like a cape or cloak and
worn over all the other vestments It is often very brightly coloured The
long cloak is also called a Cope The clasp which holds it together in the
front is called a morse
A Bishop also wears a mitre which is a pointed hat which folds flat The
shape of the mitre is supposed to represent the flames that rested above
the Apostles heads at Pentecost The two parts of the mitre are said to
represent the Old and the New Testaments
A Bishop carries a Crozier which is
just like a shepherdrsquos crook He
carries it as sign that he is the lead-
er of the ldquoflockrdquo of Godrsquos people in
his Diocese
A Bishop also wears a special
ring which is a symbol of the
Bishoprsquos
faithfulness to God and the
Church It usually has a purple
stone
A Bishop usually wears a purple
cassock and a purple shirt
The Archbishop of Canterbury
The Right Reverend Justin Welby
A special Chasuble
Mitre
Crozier
CASSOCK
This is the long black gown that the priest puts on over his ordinary
clothes Choirs also wear cassocks of different colours
No one is very sure where the word cassock comes from but it has
always meant a long coat It was everyday wear for priests from
earliest times and the Church authorities were very strict about ldquolongrdquo
When fashion changed in the Middle Ages and men started wearing
short tunics the Church insisted that priests should continue to wear
their ankle-length ldquocoatsrdquo Even in Shakespearersquos day priests were
ordered to wear a cassock over their doublet and hose whenever they
went out in public
Cassock
SURPLICE
Have you ever wondered where this name came from (Donrsquot muddle it up
with surplus)
Surplice came from the fact that churches in Europe were very cold plac-
es in winter because most of them didnrsquot have any heating So the priests
who had to spend a long time shivering in church used to wear a thick
wool or sheepskin cloak In France this was called a pelisse
The pelisse made it very difficult for them to put on the alb (the long white
tunic with fitted sleeves)
They solved the problem by making the alb bigger and looser
SCARF
This wide plain black scarf is worn when the priest takes a service that is
not a Holy Communion or other sacrament It may be made of silk if the
wearer is a university graduate
STOLE
A coloured stole is worn over the alb and under the chasuble
This is a long narrow strip of silk in various colours and usually with a cross
at the neck that the priest wears for a service of Holy Communion or
Baptism
Surplice
Scarf
Stole
How to make a mitre
You will need
A piece of paper about 50cm by 60cm
Sticky tape
Fold it in half with the crease at the top
Fold the top right and left corners in to meet in the middle and form a
triangle There will be a strip left at the bottom
Fold the top piece of the strip up Flip the hat over and do the same with
the other strip
Add some strips to the back inside of the hat
Fold the bottom right and left points in to form a hat You can adjust the
size at this point
Here is how it will look when you flip it back over
The Shepherd and his Sheep
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Bishop Giso 1061mdash1088
Giso was bishop at the time of William the Conquerorrsquos
victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 His is the last
ldquoSaxonrdquo tomb in Wells Cathedral He was the last
bishop to be known as the Bishop of Wells
Bishop Jocelyn Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury
1206mdash1219
Bishop of Bath 1219mdash1242
Jocelyn was a local man He oversaw the completion of the
Nave and West Front of Wells Cathedral and campaigned to
restore cathedral status to Wells He was present when the
Magna Carta was sealed in 1215 There is a legend that he
slew the Dinder Dragon and the great Worm of Warminster The story is commemorat-
ed in a mosaic on the south walk beyond the moat of the Bishoprsquos Palace
Bishop Bytton II 1267mdash1274
Bishop Bytton II was supposed to have miraculous powers both before and after his
death and be able to cure tooth ache Byttonrsquos coffin cover of blue lias is said to be
one of the earliest carved slabs in the country The surface of the coffin is chipped
and this is because it is said that visitors took flakes from his tomb to cure toothache
Some information about a selection of Bishops of Bath and Wells
Bishop Harewell 1367mdash1386
Bishop Harewell provided two-thirds of the cost for
the south-west tower and two bells called Great
harewell and Little Harewell His alabaster tomb has
a rebus of his name at his feetmdashtwo hares and a
ribbon of water representing a well A rebus is a
puzzle in which words are represented by a combination of pictures
Bishop Bubwith 1407mdash1424
In his will Bishop Bubwith left money for the building of the library over the whole
length of the east cloister the raising of the north-west tower to match the south-west
tower and a fund for the improvement of the roads and bridges of Somerset That
money was used to build the Almshouses in Chamberlain Street in Wells Bubwithrsquos
Chantry Chapel is on the north-east side of the Nave in Wells Cathedral
Bishop Bekynton 1443mdash1465
Thomas Beckynton was an important statesman-bishop but he was
also kind to local people He arranged for water to be piped from
the wells at his palace to a fountain in the market place to fill
buckets and to flow down the High Street to keep it clean Every
year on the Sunday nearest to 14 January the Lord Mayor and City
Council of Wells give thanks at his tomb The effigy on his tomb was
made 15 years before he died It shows him both as a grand bishop
and an ordinary man A small carving of his jester is on the corner
nearest the high altar Bekynton is responsible for the medieval gatesmdashBrownrsquos Gate
the Chain Gate Penniless Porch and the Bishoprsquos Eye Money from his will was used to
build the elegant tall chimneys in Vicarsrsquo Close Wells
Bishop Creighton 1670mdash1672
Bishop Creighton helped to repair the damage done to
Wells Cathedral during the Commonwealth also providing
an impressive brass lectern and Bible and having a new
window installed at the west end
Bishop Ken 1685mdash1691
Bishop Ken was a man of principles and respected for
speaking his mind This unfortunately led to a short stay in
the Tower of London During the Monmouth rebellion Bishop
Ken tried to persuade Judge Jeffreys to treat prisoners fairly
He led a simple life and regularly invited poor citizens to share
a meal at the palace He played the lute and the organ and
wrote many hymns including Praise God from whom all
blessings flow
Bishop Law 1824mdash1845
George Law had worked to improve the life of the poor in the
industrial cities of the north of England while he was Bishop
of Chester and continued this work with the rural poor once
he moved to Somerset He started a scheme of allotments
supported the founding of Wells Theological College in 1840
and continued his interest in archaeology at Banwell
Bishop Peter Price 2002mdash2013
Having trained as a teacher at Redland College
Bristol Peter Price spent six years teaching before
studying to be ordained He has worked for the
church in Yorkshire Croydon Southwark and
Kingston as well as in Bath and Wells He is ac-
tively concerned with issues of reconciliation and
has made contributions to peace-making in North-
ern Ireland Iraq and Zimbabwe He was awarded the Coventry Cross of Nails for this
work in 1999 In 2008 Bishop Peter became one of the 24 Anglican Bishops who
serve in the House of Lords He retired on 30 June 2013
Bishop 2014mdash
Bishop
Special clothes Many of the people who take part in church services wear special clothes Some of these
garments are very colourful and they all have special names
On the following pages are some of the clothes and a model clergyman Copy the figure
on to thin card and cut it out Fold the stand at the dotted line to make it stand up
Laminating the figure might preserve it
Colour the garments before cutting them out Fold the tabs and attach the garments to
the figures
A booklet ldquoWhat they wear in Churchrdquo is available from the Diocesan Resource Centre
The recently retired Bishop of Bath
and Wells the Right Reverend Peter
Price
The Bishop of Taunton the
Right Reverend Peter Maurice
A Bishop wears a special Chasuble which is like a cape or cloak and
worn over all the other vestments It is often very brightly coloured The
long cloak is also called a Cope The clasp which holds it together in the
front is called a morse
A Bishop also wears a mitre which is a pointed hat which folds flat The
shape of the mitre is supposed to represent the flames that rested above
the Apostles heads at Pentecost The two parts of the mitre are said to
represent the Old and the New Testaments
A Bishop carries a Crozier which is
just like a shepherdrsquos crook He
carries it as sign that he is the lead-
er of the ldquoflockrdquo of Godrsquos people in
his Diocese
A Bishop also wears a special
ring which is a symbol of the
Bishoprsquos
faithfulness to God and the
Church It usually has a purple
stone
A Bishop usually wears a purple
cassock and a purple shirt
The Archbishop of Canterbury
The Right Reverend Justin Welby
A special Chasuble
Mitre
Crozier
CASSOCK
This is the long black gown that the priest puts on over his ordinary
clothes Choirs also wear cassocks of different colours
No one is very sure where the word cassock comes from but it has
always meant a long coat It was everyday wear for priests from
earliest times and the Church authorities were very strict about ldquolongrdquo
When fashion changed in the Middle Ages and men started wearing
short tunics the Church insisted that priests should continue to wear
their ankle-length ldquocoatsrdquo Even in Shakespearersquos day priests were
ordered to wear a cassock over their doublet and hose whenever they
went out in public
Cassock
SURPLICE
Have you ever wondered where this name came from (Donrsquot muddle it up
with surplus)
Surplice came from the fact that churches in Europe were very cold plac-
es in winter because most of them didnrsquot have any heating So the priests
who had to spend a long time shivering in church used to wear a thick
wool or sheepskin cloak In France this was called a pelisse
The pelisse made it very difficult for them to put on the alb (the long white
tunic with fitted sleeves)
They solved the problem by making the alb bigger and looser
SCARF
This wide plain black scarf is worn when the priest takes a service that is
not a Holy Communion or other sacrament It may be made of silk if the
wearer is a university graduate
STOLE
A coloured stole is worn over the alb and under the chasuble
This is a long narrow strip of silk in various colours and usually with a cross
at the neck that the priest wears for a service of Holy Communion or
Baptism
Surplice
Scarf
Stole
How to make a mitre
You will need
A piece of paper about 50cm by 60cm
Sticky tape
Fold it in half with the crease at the top
Fold the top right and left corners in to meet in the middle and form a
triangle There will be a strip left at the bottom
Fold the top piece of the strip up Flip the hat over and do the same with
the other strip
Add some strips to the back inside of the hat
Fold the bottom right and left points in to form a hat You can adjust the
size at this point
Here is how it will look when you flip it back over
The Shepherd and his Sheep
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Bishop Harewell 1367mdash1386
Bishop Harewell provided two-thirds of the cost for
the south-west tower and two bells called Great
harewell and Little Harewell His alabaster tomb has
a rebus of his name at his feetmdashtwo hares and a
ribbon of water representing a well A rebus is a
puzzle in which words are represented by a combination of pictures
Bishop Bubwith 1407mdash1424
In his will Bishop Bubwith left money for the building of the library over the whole
length of the east cloister the raising of the north-west tower to match the south-west
tower and a fund for the improvement of the roads and bridges of Somerset That
money was used to build the Almshouses in Chamberlain Street in Wells Bubwithrsquos
Chantry Chapel is on the north-east side of the Nave in Wells Cathedral
Bishop Bekynton 1443mdash1465
Thomas Beckynton was an important statesman-bishop but he was
also kind to local people He arranged for water to be piped from
the wells at his palace to a fountain in the market place to fill
buckets and to flow down the High Street to keep it clean Every
year on the Sunday nearest to 14 January the Lord Mayor and City
Council of Wells give thanks at his tomb The effigy on his tomb was
made 15 years before he died It shows him both as a grand bishop
and an ordinary man A small carving of his jester is on the corner
nearest the high altar Bekynton is responsible for the medieval gatesmdashBrownrsquos Gate
the Chain Gate Penniless Porch and the Bishoprsquos Eye Money from his will was used to
build the elegant tall chimneys in Vicarsrsquo Close Wells
Bishop Creighton 1670mdash1672
Bishop Creighton helped to repair the damage done to
Wells Cathedral during the Commonwealth also providing
an impressive brass lectern and Bible and having a new
window installed at the west end
Bishop Ken 1685mdash1691
Bishop Ken was a man of principles and respected for
speaking his mind This unfortunately led to a short stay in
the Tower of London During the Monmouth rebellion Bishop
Ken tried to persuade Judge Jeffreys to treat prisoners fairly
He led a simple life and regularly invited poor citizens to share
a meal at the palace He played the lute and the organ and
wrote many hymns including Praise God from whom all
blessings flow
Bishop Law 1824mdash1845
George Law had worked to improve the life of the poor in the
industrial cities of the north of England while he was Bishop
of Chester and continued this work with the rural poor once
he moved to Somerset He started a scheme of allotments
supported the founding of Wells Theological College in 1840
and continued his interest in archaeology at Banwell
Bishop Peter Price 2002mdash2013
Having trained as a teacher at Redland College
Bristol Peter Price spent six years teaching before
studying to be ordained He has worked for the
church in Yorkshire Croydon Southwark and
Kingston as well as in Bath and Wells He is ac-
tively concerned with issues of reconciliation and
has made contributions to peace-making in North-
ern Ireland Iraq and Zimbabwe He was awarded the Coventry Cross of Nails for this
work in 1999 In 2008 Bishop Peter became one of the 24 Anglican Bishops who
serve in the House of Lords He retired on 30 June 2013
Bishop 2014mdash
Bishop
Special clothes Many of the people who take part in church services wear special clothes Some of these
garments are very colourful and they all have special names
On the following pages are some of the clothes and a model clergyman Copy the figure
on to thin card and cut it out Fold the stand at the dotted line to make it stand up
Laminating the figure might preserve it
Colour the garments before cutting them out Fold the tabs and attach the garments to
the figures
A booklet ldquoWhat they wear in Churchrdquo is available from the Diocesan Resource Centre
The recently retired Bishop of Bath
and Wells the Right Reverend Peter
Price
The Bishop of Taunton the
Right Reverend Peter Maurice
A Bishop wears a special Chasuble which is like a cape or cloak and
worn over all the other vestments It is often very brightly coloured The
long cloak is also called a Cope The clasp which holds it together in the
front is called a morse
A Bishop also wears a mitre which is a pointed hat which folds flat The
shape of the mitre is supposed to represent the flames that rested above
the Apostles heads at Pentecost The two parts of the mitre are said to
represent the Old and the New Testaments
A Bishop carries a Crozier which is
just like a shepherdrsquos crook He
carries it as sign that he is the lead-
er of the ldquoflockrdquo of Godrsquos people in
his Diocese
A Bishop also wears a special
ring which is a symbol of the
Bishoprsquos
faithfulness to God and the
Church It usually has a purple
stone
A Bishop usually wears a purple
cassock and a purple shirt
The Archbishop of Canterbury
The Right Reverend Justin Welby
A special Chasuble
Mitre
Crozier
CASSOCK
This is the long black gown that the priest puts on over his ordinary
clothes Choirs also wear cassocks of different colours
No one is very sure where the word cassock comes from but it has
always meant a long coat It was everyday wear for priests from
earliest times and the Church authorities were very strict about ldquolongrdquo
When fashion changed in the Middle Ages and men started wearing
short tunics the Church insisted that priests should continue to wear
their ankle-length ldquocoatsrdquo Even in Shakespearersquos day priests were
ordered to wear a cassock over their doublet and hose whenever they
went out in public
Cassock
SURPLICE
Have you ever wondered where this name came from (Donrsquot muddle it up
with surplus)
Surplice came from the fact that churches in Europe were very cold plac-
es in winter because most of them didnrsquot have any heating So the priests
who had to spend a long time shivering in church used to wear a thick
wool or sheepskin cloak In France this was called a pelisse
The pelisse made it very difficult for them to put on the alb (the long white
tunic with fitted sleeves)
They solved the problem by making the alb bigger and looser
SCARF
This wide plain black scarf is worn when the priest takes a service that is
not a Holy Communion or other sacrament It may be made of silk if the
wearer is a university graduate
STOLE
A coloured stole is worn over the alb and under the chasuble
This is a long narrow strip of silk in various colours and usually with a cross
at the neck that the priest wears for a service of Holy Communion or
Baptism
Surplice
Scarf
Stole
How to make a mitre
You will need
A piece of paper about 50cm by 60cm
Sticky tape
Fold it in half with the crease at the top
Fold the top right and left corners in to meet in the middle and form a
triangle There will be a strip left at the bottom
Fold the top piece of the strip up Flip the hat over and do the same with
the other strip
Add some strips to the back inside of the hat
Fold the bottom right and left points in to form a hat You can adjust the
size at this point
Here is how it will look when you flip it back over
The Shepherd and his Sheep
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Bishop Creighton 1670mdash1672
Bishop Creighton helped to repair the damage done to
Wells Cathedral during the Commonwealth also providing
an impressive brass lectern and Bible and having a new
window installed at the west end
Bishop Ken 1685mdash1691
Bishop Ken was a man of principles and respected for
speaking his mind This unfortunately led to a short stay in
the Tower of London During the Monmouth rebellion Bishop
Ken tried to persuade Judge Jeffreys to treat prisoners fairly
He led a simple life and regularly invited poor citizens to share
a meal at the palace He played the lute and the organ and
wrote many hymns including Praise God from whom all
blessings flow
Bishop Law 1824mdash1845
George Law had worked to improve the life of the poor in the
industrial cities of the north of England while he was Bishop
of Chester and continued this work with the rural poor once
he moved to Somerset He started a scheme of allotments
supported the founding of Wells Theological College in 1840
and continued his interest in archaeology at Banwell
Bishop Peter Price 2002mdash2013
Having trained as a teacher at Redland College
Bristol Peter Price spent six years teaching before
studying to be ordained He has worked for the
church in Yorkshire Croydon Southwark and
Kingston as well as in Bath and Wells He is ac-
tively concerned with issues of reconciliation and
has made contributions to peace-making in North-
ern Ireland Iraq and Zimbabwe He was awarded the Coventry Cross of Nails for this
work in 1999 In 2008 Bishop Peter became one of the 24 Anglican Bishops who
serve in the House of Lords He retired on 30 June 2013
Bishop 2014mdash
Bishop
Special clothes Many of the people who take part in church services wear special clothes Some of these
garments are very colourful and they all have special names
On the following pages are some of the clothes and a model clergyman Copy the figure
on to thin card and cut it out Fold the stand at the dotted line to make it stand up
Laminating the figure might preserve it
Colour the garments before cutting them out Fold the tabs and attach the garments to
the figures
A booklet ldquoWhat they wear in Churchrdquo is available from the Diocesan Resource Centre
The recently retired Bishop of Bath
and Wells the Right Reverend Peter
Price
The Bishop of Taunton the
Right Reverend Peter Maurice
A Bishop wears a special Chasuble which is like a cape or cloak and
worn over all the other vestments It is often very brightly coloured The
long cloak is also called a Cope The clasp which holds it together in the
front is called a morse
A Bishop also wears a mitre which is a pointed hat which folds flat The
shape of the mitre is supposed to represent the flames that rested above
the Apostles heads at Pentecost The two parts of the mitre are said to
represent the Old and the New Testaments
A Bishop carries a Crozier which is
just like a shepherdrsquos crook He
carries it as sign that he is the lead-
er of the ldquoflockrdquo of Godrsquos people in
his Diocese
A Bishop also wears a special
ring which is a symbol of the
Bishoprsquos
faithfulness to God and the
Church It usually has a purple
stone
A Bishop usually wears a purple
cassock and a purple shirt
The Archbishop of Canterbury
The Right Reverend Justin Welby
A special Chasuble
Mitre
Crozier
CASSOCK
This is the long black gown that the priest puts on over his ordinary
clothes Choirs also wear cassocks of different colours
No one is very sure where the word cassock comes from but it has
always meant a long coat It was everyday wear for priests from
earliest times and the Church authorities were very strict about ldquolongrdquo
When fashion changed in the Middle Ages and men started wearing
short tunics the Church insisted that priests should continue to wear
their ankle-length ldquocoatsrdquo Even in Shakespearersquos day priests were
ordered to wear a cassock over their doublet and hose whenever they
went out in public
Cassock
SURPLICE
Have you ever wondered where this name came from (Donrsquot muddle it up
with surplus)
Surplice came from the fact that churches in Europe were very cold plac-
es in winter because most of them didnrsquot have any heating So the priests
who had to spend a long time shivering in church used to wear a thick
wool or sheepskin cloak In France this was called a pelisse
The pelisse made it very difficult for them to put on the alb (the long white
tunic with fitted sleeves)
They solved the problem by making the alb bigger and looser
SCARF
This wide plain black scarf is worn when the priest takes a service that is
not a Holy Communion or other sacrament It may be made of silk if the
wearer is a university graduate
STOLE
A coloured stole is worn over the alb and under the chasuble
This is a long narrow strip of silk in various colours and usually with a cross
at the neck that the priest wears for a service of Holy Communion or
Baptism
Surplice
Scarf
Stole
How to make a mitre
You will need
A piece of paper about 50cm by 60cm
Sticky tape
Fold it in half with the crease at the top
Fold the top right and left corners in to meet in the middle and form a
triangle There will be a strip left at the bottom
Fold the top piece of the strip up Flip the hat over and do the same with
the other strip
Add some strips to the back inside of the hat
Fold the bottom right and left points in to form a hat You can adjust the
size at this point
Here is how it will look when you flip it back over
The Shepherd and his Sheep
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Bishop Peter Price 2002mdash2013
Having trained as a teacher at Redland College
Bristol Peter Price spent six years teaching before
studying to be ordained He has worked for the
church in Yorkshire Croydon Southwark and
Kingston as well as in Bath and Wells He is ac-
tively concerned with issues of reconciliation and
has made contributions to peace-making in North-
ern Ireland Iraq and Zimbabwe He was awarded the Coventry Cross of Nails for this
work in 1999 In 2008 Bishop Peter became one of the 24 Anglican Bishops who
serve in the House of Lords He retired on 30 June 2013
Bishop 2014mdash
Bishop
Special clothes Many of the people who take part in church services wear special clothes Some of these
garments are very colourful and they all have special names
On the following pages are some of the clothes and a model clergyman Copy the figure
on to thin card and cut it out Fold the stand at the dotted line to make it stand up
Laminating the figure might preserve it
Colour the garments before cutting them out Fold the tabs and attach the garments to
the figures
A booklet ldquoWhat they wear in Churchrdquo is available from the Diocesan Resource Centre
The recently retired Bishop of Bath
and Wells the Right Reverend Peter
Price
The Bishop of Taunton the
Right Reverend Peter Maurice
A Bishop wears a special Chasuble which is like a cape or cloak and
worn over all the other vestments It is often very brightly coloured The
long cloak is also called a Cope The clasp which holds it together in the
front is called a morse
A Bishop also wears a mitre which is a pointed hat which folds flat The
shape of the mitre is supposed to represent the flames that rested above
the Apostles heads at Pentecost The two parts of the mitre are said to
represent the Old and the New Testaments
A Bishop carries a Crozier which is
just like a shepherdrsquos crook He
carries it as sign that he is the lead-
er of the ldquoflockrdquo of Godrsquos people in
his Diocese
A Bishop also wears a special
ring which is a symbol of the
Bishoprsquos
faithfulness to God and the
Church It usually has a purple
stone
A Bishop usually wears a purple
cassock and a purple shirt
The Archbishop of Canterbury
The Right Reverend Justin Welby
A special Chasuble
Mitre
Crozier
CASSOCK
This is the long black gown that the priest puts on over his ordinary
clothes Choirs also wear cassocks of different colours
No one is very sure where the word cassock comes from but it has
always meant a long coat It was everyday wear for priests from
earliest times and the Church authorities were very strict about ldquolongrdquo
When fashion changed in the Middle Ages and men started wearing
short tunics the Church insisted that priests should continue to wear
their ankle-length ldquocoatsrdquo Even in Shakespearersquos day priests were
ordered to wear a cassock over their doublet and hose whenever they
went out in public
Cassock
SURPLICE
Have you ever wondered where this name came from (Donrsquot muddle it up
with surplus)
Surplice came from the fact that churches in Europe were very cold plac-
es in winter because most of them didnrsquot have any heating So the priests
who had to spend a long time shivering in church used to wear a thick
wool or sheepskin cloak In France this was called a pelisse
The pelisse made it very difficult for them to put on the alb (the long white
tunic with fitted sleeves)
They solved the problem by making the alb bigger and looser
SCARF
This wide plain black scarf is worn when the priest takes a service that is
not a Holy Communion or other sacrament It may be made of silk if the
wearer is a university graduate
STOLE
A coloured stole is worn over the alb and under the chasuble
This is a long narrow strip of silk in various colours and usually with a cross
at the neck that the priest wears for a service of Holy Communion or
Baptism
Surplice
Scarf
Stole
How to make a mitre
You will need
A piece of paper about 50cm by 60cm
Sticky tape
Fold it in half with the crease at the top
Fold the top right and left corners in to meet in the middle and form a
triangle There will be a strip left at the bottom
Fold the top piece of the strip up Flip the hat over and do the same with
the other strip
Add some strips to the back inside of the hat
Fold the bottom right and left points in to form a hat You can adjust the
size at this point
Here is how it will look when you flip it back over
The Shepherd and his Sheep
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Special clothes Many of the people who take part in church services wear special clothes Some of these
garments are very colourful and they all have special names
On the following pages are some of the clothes and a model clergyman Copy the figure
on to thin card and cut it out Fold the stand at the dotted line to make it stand up
Laminating the figure might preserve it
Colour the garments before cutting them out Fold the tabs and attach the garments to
the figures
A booklet ldquoWhat they wear in Churchrdquo is available from the Diocesan Resource Centre
The recently retired Bishop of Bath
and Wells the Right Reverend Peter
Price
The Bishop of Taunton the
Right Reverend Peter Maurice
A Bishop wears a special Chasuble which is like a cape or cloak and
worn over all the other vestments It is often very brightly coloured The
long cloak is also called a Cope The clasp which holds it together in the
front is called a morse
A Bishop also wears a mitre which is a pointed hat which folds flat The
shape of the mitre is supposed to represent the flames that rested above
the Apostles heads at Pentecost The two parts of the mitre are said to
represent the Old and the New Testaments
A Bishop carries a Crozier which is
just like a shepherdrsquos crook He
carries it as sign that he is the lead-
er of the ldquoflockrdquo of Godrsquos people in
his Diocese
A Bishop also wears a special
ring which is a symbol of the
Bishoprsquos
faithfulness to God and the
Church It usually has a purple
stone
A Bishop usually wears a purple
cassock and a purple shirt
The Archbishop of Canterbury
The Right Reverend Justin Welby
A special Chasuble
Mitre
Crozier
CASSOCK
This is the long black gown that the priest puts on over his ordinary
clothes Choirs also wear cassocks of different colours
No one is very sure where the word cassock comes from but it has
always meant a long coat It was everyday wear for priests from
earliest times and the Church authorities were very strict about ldquolongrdquo
When fashion changed in the Middle Ages and men started wearing
short tunics the Church insisted that priests should continue to wear
their ankle-length ldquocoatsrdquo Even in Shakespearersquos day priests were
ordered to wear a cassock over their doublet and hose whenever they
went out in public
Cassock
SURPLICE
Have you ever wondered where this name came from (Donrsquot muddle it up
with surplus)
Surplice came from the fact that churches in Europe were very cold plac-
es in winter because most of them didnrsquot have any heating So the priests
who had to spend a long time shivering in church used to wear a thick
wool or sheepskin cloak In France this was called a pelisse
The pelisse made it very difficult for them to put on the alb (the long white
tunic with fitted sleeves)
They solved the problem by making the alb bigger and looser
SCARF
This wide plain black scarf is worn when the priest takes a service that is
not a Holy Communion or other sacrament It may be made of silk if the
wearer is a university graduate
STOLE
A coloured stole is worn over the alb and under the chasuble
This is a long narrow strip of silk in various colours and usually with a cross
at the neck that the priest wears for a service of Holy Communion or
Baptism
Surplice
Scarf
Stole
How to make a mitre
You will need
A piece of paper about 50cm by 60cm
Sticky tape
Fold it in half with the crease at the top
Fold the top right and left corners in to meet in the middle and form a
triangle There will be a strip left at the bottom
Fold the top piece of the strip up Flip the hat over and do the same with
the other strip
Add some strips to the back inside of the hat
Fold the bottom right and left points in to form a hat You can adjust the
size at this point
Here is how it will look when you flip it back over
The Shepherd and his Sheep
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
A Bishop wears a special Chasuble which is like a cape or cloak and
worn over all the other vestments It is often very brightly coloured The
long cloak is also called a Cope The clasp which holds it together in the
front is called a morse
A Bishop also wears a mitre which is a pointed hat which folds flat The
shape of the mitre is supposed to represent the flames that rested above
the Apostles heads at Pentecost The two parts of the mitre are said to
represent the Old and the New Testaments
A Bishop carries a Crozier which is
just like a shepherdrsquos crook He
carries it as sign that he is the lead-
er of the ldquoflockrdquo of Godrsquos people in
his Diocese
A Bishop also wears a special
ring which is a symbol of the
Bishoprsquos
faithfulness to God and the
Church It usually has a purple
stone
A Bishop usually wears a purple
cassock and a purple shirt
The Archbishop of Canterbury
The Right Reverend Justin Welby
A special Chasuble
Mitre
Crozier
CASSOCK
This is the long black gown that the priest puts on over his ordinary
clothes Choirs also wear cassocks of different colours
No one is very sure where the word cassock comes from but it has
always meant a long coat It was everyday wear for priests from
earliest times and the Church authorities were very strict about ldquolongrdquo
When fashion changed in the Middle Ages and men started wearing
short tunics the Church insisted that priests should continue to wear
their ankle-length ldquocoatsrdquo Even in Shakespearersquos day priests were
ordered to wear a cassock over their doublet and hose whenever they
went out in public
Cassock
SURPLICE
Have you ever wondered where this name came from (Donrsquot muddle it up
with surplus)
Surplice came from the fact that churches in Europe were very cold plac-
es in winter because most of them didnrsquot have any heating So the priests
who had to spend a long time shivering in church used to wear a thick
wool or sheepskin cloak In France this was called a pelisse
The pelisse made it very difficult for them to put on the alb (the long white
tunic with fitted sleeves)
They solved the problem by making the alb bigger and looser
SCARF
This wide plain black scarf is worn when the priest takes a service that is
not a Holy Communion or other sacrament It may be made of silk if the
wearer is a university graduate
STOLE
A coloured stole is worn over the alb and under the chasuble
This is a long narrow strip of silk in various colours and usually with a cross
at the neck that the priest wears for a service of Holy Communion or
Baptism
Surplice
Scarf
Stole
How to make a mitre
You will need
A piece of paper about 50cm by 60cm
Sticky tape
Fold it in half with the crease at the top
Fold the top right and left corners in to meet in the middle and form a
triangle There will be a strip left at the bottom
Fold the top piece of the strip up Flip the hat over and do the same with
the other strip
Add some strips to the back inside of the hat
Fold the bottom right and left points in to form a hat You can adjust the
size at this point
Here is how it will look when you flip it back over
The Shepherd and his Sheep
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
A special Chasuble
Mitre
Crozier
CASSOCK
This is the long black gown that the priest puts on over his ordinary
clothes Choirs also wear cassocks of different colours
No one is very sure where the word cassock comes from but it has
always meant a long coat It was everyday wear for priests from
earliest times and the Church authorities were very strict about ldquolongrdquo
When fashion changed in the Middle Ages and men started wearing
short tunics the Church insisted that priests should continue to wear
their ankle-length ldquocoatsrdquo Even in Shakespearersquos day priests were
ordered to wear a cassock over their doublet and hose whenever they
went out in public
Cassock
SURPLICE
Have you ever wondered where this name came from (Donrsquot muddle it up
with surplus)
Surplice came from the fact that churches in Europe were very cold plac-
es in winter because most of them didnrsquot have any heating So the priests
who had to spend a long time shivering in church used to wear a thick
wool or sheepskin cloak In France this was called a pelisse
The pelisse made it very difficult for them to put on the alb (the long white
tunic with fitted sleeves)
They solved the problem by making the alb bigger and looser
SCARF
This wide plain black scarf is worn when the priest takes a service that is
not a Holy Communion or other sacrament It may be made of silk if the
wearer is a university graduate
STOLE
A coloured stole is worn over the alb and under the chasuble
This is a long narrow strip of silk in various colours and usually with a cross
at the neck that the priest wears for a service of Holy Communion or
Baptism
Surplice
Scarf
Stole
How to make a mitre
You will need
A piece of paper about 50cm by 60cm
Sticky tape
Fold it in half with the crease at the top
Fold the top right and left corners in to meet in the middle and form a
triangle There will be a strip left at the bottom
Fold the top piece of the strip up Flip the hat over and do the same with
the other strip
Add some strips to the back inside of the hat
Fold the bottom right and left points in to form a hat You can adjust the
size at this point
Here is how it will look when you flip it back over
The Shepherd and his Sheep
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Mitre
Crozier
CASSOCK
This is the long black gown that the priest puts on over his ordinary
clothes Choirs also wear cassocks of different colours
No one is very sure where the word cassock comes from but it has
always meant a long coat It was everyday wear for priests from
earliest times and the Church authorities were very strict about ldquolongrdquo
When fashion changed in the Middle Ages and men started wearing
short tunics the Church insisted that priests should continue to wear
their ankle-length ldquocoatsrdquo Even in Shakespearersquos day priests were
ordered to wear a cassock over their doublet and hose whenever they
went out in public
Cassock
SURPLICE
Have you ever wondered where this name came from (Donrsquot muddle it up
with surplus)
Surplice came from the fact that churches in Europe were very cold plac-
es in winter because most of them didnrsquot have any heating So the priests
who had to spend a long time shivering in church used to wear a thick
wool or sheepskin cloak In France this was called a pelisse
The pelisse made it very difficult for them to put on the alb (the long white
tunic with fitted sleeves)
They solved the problem by making the alb bigger and looser
SCARF
This wide plain black scarf is worn when the priest takes a service that is
not a Holy Communion or other sacrament It may be made of silk if the
wearer is a university graduate
STOLE
A coloured stole is worn over the alb and under the chasuble
This is a long narrow strip of silk in various colours and usually with a cross
at the neck that the priest wears for a service of Holy Communion or
Baptism
Surplice
Scarf
Stole
How to make a mitre
You will need
A piece of paper about 50cm by 60cm
Sticky tape
Fold it in half with the crease at the top
Fold the top right and left corners in to meet in the middle and form a
triangle There will be a strip left at the bottom
Fold the top piece of the strip up Flip the hat over and do the same with
the other strip
Add some strips to the back inside of the hat
Fold the bottom right and left points in to form a hat You can adjust the
size at this point
Here is how it will look when you flip it back over
The Shepherd and his Sheep
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
CASSOCK
This is the long black gown that the priest puts on over his ordinary
clothes Choirs also wear cassocks of different colours
No one is very sure where the word cassock comes from but it has
always meant a long coat It was everyday wear for priests from
earliest times and the Church authorities were very strict about ldquolongrdquo
When fashion changed in the Middle Ages and men started wearing
short tunics the Church insisted that priests should continue to wear
their ankle-length ldquocoatsrdquo Even in Shakespearersquos day priests were
ordered to wear a cassock over their doublet and hose whenever they
went out in public
Cassock
SURPLICE
Have you ever wondered where this name came from (Donrsquot muddle it up
with surplus)
Surplice came from the fact that churches in Europe were very cold plac-
es in winter because most of them didnrsquot have any heating So the priests
who had to spend a long time shivering in church used to wear a thick
wool or sheepskin cloak In France this was called a pelisse
The pelisse made it very difficult for them to put on the alb (the long white
tunic with fitted sleeves)
They solved the problem by making the alb bigger and looser
SCARF
This wide plain black scarf is worn when the priest takes a service that is
not a Holy Communion or other sacrament It may be made of silk if the
wearer is a university graduate
STOLE
A coloured stole is worn over the alb and under the chasuble
This is a long narrow strip of silk in various colours and usually with a cross
at the neck that the priest wears for a service of Holy Communion or
Baptism
Surplice
Scarf
Stole
How to make a mitre
You will need
A piece of paper about 50cm by 60cm
Sticky tape
Fold it in half with the crease at the top
Fold the top right and left corners in to meet in the middle and form a
triangle There will be a strip left at the bottom
Fold the top piece of the strip up Flip the hat over and do the same with
the other strip
Add some strips to the back inside of the hat
Fold the bottom right and left points in to form a hat You can adjust the
size at this point
Here is how it will look when you flip it back over
The Shepherd and his Sheep
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Cassock
SURPLICE
Have you ever wondered where this name came from (Donrsquot muddle it up
with surplus)
Surplice came from the fact that churches in Europe were very cold plac-
es in winter because most of them didnrsquot have any heating So the priests
who had to spend a long time shivering in church used to wear a thick
wool or sheepskin cloak In France this was called a pelisse
The pelisse made it very difficult for them to put on the alb (the long white
tunic with fitted sleeves)
They solved the problem by making the alb bigger and looser
SCARF
This wide plain black scarf is worn when the priest takes a service that is
not a Holy Communion or other sacrament It may be made of silk if the
wearer is a university graduate
STOLE
A coloured stole is worn over the alb and under the chasuble
This is a long narrow strip of silk in various colours and usually with a cross
at the neck that the priest wears for a service of Holy Communion or
Baptism
Surplice
Scarf
Stole
How to make a mitre
You will need
A piece of paper about 50cm by 60cm
Sticky tape
Fold it in half with the crease at the top
Fold the top right and left corners in to meet in the middle and form a
triangle There will be a strip left at the bottom
Fold the top piece of the strip up Flip the hat over and do the same with
the other strip
Add some strips to the back inside of the hat
Fold the bottom right and left points in to form a hat You can adjust the
size at this point
Here is how it will look when you flip it back over
The Shepherd and his Sheep
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
SURPLICE
Have you ever wondered where this name came from (Donrsquot muddle it up
with surplus)
Surplice came from the fact that churches in Europe were very cold plac-
es in winter because most of them didnrsquot have any heating So the priests
who had to spend a long time shivering in church used to wear a thick
wool or sheepskin cloak In France this was called a pelisse
The pelisse made it very difficult for them to put on the alb (the long white
tunic with fitted sleeves)
They solved the problem by making the alb bigger and looser
SCARF
This wide plain black scarf is worn when the priest takes a service that is
not a Holy Communion or other sacrament It may be made of silk if the
wearer is a university graduate
STOLE
A coloured stole is worn over the alb and under the chasuble
This is a long narrow strip of silk in various colours and usually with a cross
at the neck that the priest wears for a service of Holy Communion or
Baptism
Surplice
Scarf
Stole
How to make a mitre
You will need
A piece of paper about 50cm by 60cm
Sticky tape
Fold it in half with the crease at the top
Fold the top right and left corners in to meet in the middle and form a
triangle There will be a strip left at the bottom
Fold the top piece of the strip up Flip the hat over and do the same with
the other strip
Add some strips to the back inside of the hat
Fold the bottom right and left points in to form a hat You can adjust the
size at this point
Here is how it will look when you flip it back over
The Shepherd and his Sheep
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Surplice
Scarf
Stole
How to make a mitre
You will need
A piece of paper about 50cm by 60cm
Sticky tape
Fold it in half with the crease at the top
Fold the top right and left corners in to meet in the middle and form a
triangle There will be a strip left at the bottom
Fold the top piece of the strip up Flip the hat over and do the same with
the other strip
Add some strips to the back inside of the hat
Fold the bottom right and left points in to form a hat You can adjust the
size at this point
Here is how it will look when you flip it back over
The Shepherd and his Sheep
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
How to make a mitre
You will need
A piece of paper about 50cm by 60cm
Sticky tape
Fold it in half with the crease at the top
Fold the top right and left corners in to meet in the middle and form a
triangle There will be a strip left at the bottom
Fold the top piece of the strip up Flip the hat over and do the same with
the other strip
Add some strips to the back inside of the hat
Fold the bottom right and left points in to form a hat You can adjust the
size at this point
Here is how it will look when you flip it back over
The Shepherd and his Sheep
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Add some strips to the back inside of the hat
Fold the bottom right and left points in to form a hat You can adjust the
size at this point
Here is how it will look when you flip it back over
The Shepherd and his Sheep
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
The Shepherd and his Sheep
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Setting the Scene
Around your space you could
Display pictures of some easily recognisable types of gate such as park
gates a baby safety gate farm gates zoo gates garden gates etc Include
some famous gates like Buckingham Palace or Downing Street
Display a toy farm including pens with animals in if possiblemdashsome open
and some closed
A small sheep pen made with small stones and some greenery on top of the
walls Leave a gap in the walls for a gate
Have a childrenrsquos Bible open at the parable of the Lost Sheep or the Good
Shepherd
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Bible notes
John 101-10
A Story about Sheep
1Jesus said
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead
of going in through the gate to the sheep pen 2-3But the gatekeeper opens the
gate for the shepherd and he goes in through it The sheep know their shepherds
voice He calls each of them by name and leads them out
4When he has led out all of his sheep he walks in front of them and they
follow because they know his voice 5The sheep will not follow strangers They
dont recognize a strangers voice and they run away
6Jesus told the people this story But they did not understand what he was
talking about
Jesus Is the Good Shepherd
7Jesus said
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep 8Everyone who came
before me was a thief or a robber and the sheep did not listen to any of them 9I
am the gate All who come in through me will be saved Through me they will
come and go and find pasture
10A thief comes only to rob kill and destroy I came so that everyone would
have life and have it in its fullest
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Luke 153-7
The Lost Sheep
3Then Jesus told them this story
4If any of you has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost what will you
do Wont you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until
you find it 5And when you find it you will be so glad that you will put it on your
shoulder 6and carry it home Then you will call in your friends and neighbours and
say Lets celebrate Ive found my lost sheep
7Jesus said In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of
one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who dont need
to
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Psalm 23
(A psalm by David)
The Good Shepherd
1You LORD are my shepherd
I will never be in need
2You let me rest in fields
of green grass
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water
3and you refresh my life
You are true to your name
and you lead me
along the right paths
4I may walk through valleys
as dark as death
but I wont be afraid
You are with me
and your shepherds rod [a] makes me feel safe
5You treat me to a feast
while my enemies watch
You honour me as your
guest
and you fill my cup
until it overflows
6Your kindness and love
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
The image of shepherd and sheep is a frequent one in the Bible Ultimately God is
the shepherd of the flock of Israel Israelrsquos rulers are also regularly called
shepherds yet their corruption and injustice mean they are often bad shepherds
Here Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and places himself in
Godrsquos place as the good shepherd Again one can sense something of the
ongoing tension between Christians like John (the Gospel writer) and leaders of
the Jewish synagogue in the way the story is told
The good shepherdrsquos concern is to protect the flock from outside dangers Un-
like thieves and bandits (perhaps the contemporary Jewish leadership and
previous false prophets) the sheep recognise the good shepherdrsquos voice and
he knows each of them intimately ldquoby namerdquo
The good shepherd goes ahead of his flock reflecting Palestinian
shepherding practice But in Johnrsquos story the ldquogoing aheadrdquo will lead to the
death of the shepherd
The cross does not fit our commonsense view of how the world should be for
with the shepherd dead surely the wolf can get his teeth into the flock Yet
paradoxically it is Jesusrsquo death that brings Godrsquos people life Hence this
reading is always set in the Easter season of the churchrsquos calendar of
readings
Jesus is also the ldquogate for the sheeprdquo the one through whom access is
gained to abundant life life in all its fullness As Jesus states elsewhere ldquoI am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
liferdquo
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Discussion ideas
How did the sheep recognise their shepherd They knew the sound of his voice
and he was able to call each one of them by name
If you were a shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep what would you have to do
to take care of it
Make sure the sheep have plenty to eat
Make sure that none of them wander off
Protect them from wild animals or thieves
Find them shelter from bad weather
In this country where do farmers keep their sheep In fields surrounded by hedg-
es or fences to stop them from straying
In the land where Jesus lived do the shepherds have green fields with fences
like us Because of the hot climate there is very little grass and the shepherd
has to lead his sheep from place to place to find enough food Often it is steep
and hilly and the sheep must carefully follow their shepherd along the path that
he shows them They rely on him to find food and water for them and to protect
them from wild animals
Why did Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd Like the shepherd Jesus will
stay with us always He knows all of us by name and calls us to follow him He
will lead us along the right path and protect us from harm along the way With
Jesus we can feel secure and safe because we can trust him to take care of all
our needs
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Open the Word
The Mountain
Remind the children what a shepherd is before telling the story
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating Today the shepherd was ill and a hired man was looking after the sheep
Suddenly the wolf appeared As soon as the hired man saw it he ran away as quickly
as he could The wolf ran as well straight at the sheep Then the sheep ran Some
werenrsquot quick enough and the wolf got them Some ran the wrong way and went over
the edge of the cliff Very few reached the safe place
The mountain was quiet The only sounds were the sheep munching the grass and
bleating The real shepherd was there he was much better
Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a wolf peeping out from behind a tree
Luckily the shepherd jumped up and moved the sheep away from the wolf He guided
them away from the cliff Soon he got them to a safe place and they began munching
the grass again
The mountain was quiet Jesus said he was like that shepherd who looked after his
sheep and loved them
Mime
Using volunteers as a shepherd hired hand wolf and some sheep mime the scenes below
Sheep graze watched by the shepherd The wolf appears and the shepherd moves
them away being scratched by the wolf in the process
Sheep graze The wolf appears but the hired Sheep graze The wolf appears but
the hired scatters the sheep
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Noisy story
Tell the Bible story with responsive noises Practice the responses first Here there are five but you can use as many as your group will remember
Shepherd - cheer
Sheep - baa
Gate - creak
Thief - boo hiss
Pasture - munch munch yum yum
One day Jesus told the people a story He said I want to talk to you about sheep (baa)
As you know anyone who does not enter the sheep (baa) pen through the gate (creak) but climbs instead over the wall is a thief (boo hiss) The person who goes in through the gate (creak) is the shepherd (cheer) of the sheep (baa) The gate-keeper opens the gate (creak) for the shepherd (cheer) The sheep (baa) hear the shepherds (cheer) voice when he calls his sheep (baa) by their names and he leads them out of the gate (creak) into the pasture (munch munch yum yum) When he has led them out of the sheep (baa) pen the shepherd (cheer) walks in front of the sheep (baa) and they follow him because they know his voice The sheep (baa) will only follow the shepherd (cheer) whose voice they know Jesus
told them this story but the people who were listening didnt understand what he was saying
So Jesus told them something else He said I am like the gate (creak) for the sheep (baa) It seems a very strange thing to say but in those days the shepherd (cheer) would lie across the opening of the sheep (baa) pens to make a kind of hu-man gate (creak) with their body So Jesus went on All others who came before
me are thieves (boo hiss) and robbers but the sheep (baa) did not listen to them I am the gate (creak) Whoever comes in by me will be saved they will come in and go out and find pasture (munch munch yum yum) The thief (boo hiss) wants to steal and kill I come to give you wonderful life
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Story bag
You will need a bag with the following items in it
An old coat
A battered hat
A walking stick
A trendy coat
A baseball cap
An old and a new toy sheep
You will also need two children to mime as you go along
This is hellip the shepherd give one child the old coat hat and stick
Every day hellip goes up the mountain and protects the sheep She moves them on
from place to place making sure they are safe She guides them to the best grass
and keeps them away from steep drops down the hill If a sheep is ill hellip looks after
them and when itrsquos time for the lambs to be born shersquos there all the time Herhis
sheep are well cared for the child holds up the new sheep
This is hellip the shepherd give the second child the baseball cap and trendy coat
He wants to make money so hersquos being a shepherd Do you think he looks the
part I think his nice clothes might get ruined One day hellip had to look after the
sheep on his own He wasnrsquot very good He lay in the grass and sunbathed Just
after lunch a wolf crept out of the bushes As soon as hellip saw he ran as fast as he
could down the mountain The sheep had no one to protect them As you can see
helliprsquos sheep are not well cared for the child holds up the battered sheep
Which do you think was the best shepherd
Vote for the best shepherd and read John 1014-15
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
For those who help us
You will need a zig zag line of people for each child
Fold a strip of paper concertina fashion into four and draw a person shape on the
top with the hands and feet going to the edge of the paper Cut out carefully to
make a strip of people joined at the hands and feet
Ask the children to write their own name on the first person and then to write or
draw on the other figures people who help love care for and protect them They
might want to include family members school staff church leaders medical staff
etc They can use both sides of the paper
Prayers
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Thank you for animals
Give out circles of paper and invite everyone to write a prayer about animals on it
Stick the prayer circles onto a large piece of card to look like a caterpillar and stick
a smiley face with antennae on the front You might want to add feet to the circles
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Looking for the sheep
Play this searching game like the traditional ldquobear huntrdquo game
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
We wonrsquot go home lsquotil we find him
We might meet a lion
We might meet a bear
But wersquore not scared
God will take care of us
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos long grass
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to go through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep hellip
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a river
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to swim through it
Letrsquos go
Wersquore looking for the lost sheep
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos a hill
Canrsquot go over it canrsquot go under it canrsquot go round it have to climb up it
Letrsquos go
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Ah ah Whatrsquos this
Itrsquos big Itrsquos furry Itrsquos got sharp teeth
Itrsquos a lion
Up the hill -
Down the hill -
Through the river -
Through the long grass -
And home
God did take care of us
Thank you God
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Keep Thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand
Loving Saviour Thou didst give
Thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless
Bear the cruel nailsrsquo impress
I would praise Thee every day
Gladly all Thy will obey
Like Thy blessegraved ones above
Happy in Thy precious love
Loving Shepherd ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way
Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Protect the sheep
You will need blown-up balloons and a ldquosheep penrdquo created from chairs or
something similar leaving a space for the gatekeeper to stand in
One child is the gatekeeper and stands in the space in the ldquosheep penrdquo The
gatekeeper must protect the sheep stopping creatures or people (the balloons)
from getting in side
The remaining children try to get their balloons into the sheep pen by hitting them
through the gate If a balloon gets inside the sheep pen then the person who
threw it becomes the new gatekeeper
With a large group you might need more than one gatekeeper at a time
Musical sheep
Play a version of musical chairs with the chairs set in a circle one chair less than
the number of children When the music stops the children run to a chairmdashone
child will be out each time but only for one turn Donrsquot take a chair away Every
alternate go will have the right number of chairs The person in charge is of
course the shepherd
Does anyone like being left out in a game Talk about how the children had to
push and shove and use their wits to get into the circlemdashthen remind them that
God wants us to live together in fairness and justice
Butt butt hellip
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Model landscape
Make a simple model of a shepherdrsquos landscape using card green tissue or crepe
paper or artificial grass Add figures of a shepherd and toy sheep Be as ambitious
as you want
Baa biscuits
You will need
enough biscuit dough for each child to make a few biscuits
Rolling pin
Sheep shaped biscuit cutter
Baking trays
Roll out the biscuit dough and encourage the children to cut out sheep shapes
Bake in a moderate oven
The biscuits could be decorated with dried fruit for eyes and even iced
Hands Together
You will need
Finger paint
A large back-
ground sheet of
paper
Pens and pencils
Cleaning cloths
for the childrenrsquos
hands
Make a circle of hand
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Lollipop gates
You will need for each child
Seven lollipop sticks
PVA glue
Felt tip pen
Place two sticks vertically on the surface and place four sticks horizontally on top
to resemble a gate Glue these together Glue the last stick diagonally from the
top left to the bottom right
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
The Good Shepherd Calendar
You will need
A photocopy of the calendar for each childmdashphotocopied on thin card
Scissors and craft knife
Colouring pens and pencils
Glue
Photocopy the calendar onto thin cardmdashenough for one for each child
Cut them out and colour the top piece
Carefully cut the doors with a craft knifemdashyou may want to do this before the
session
Glue around the edge as marked
Place the front of the calendar on the back carefully
Open one door each daymdashit doesnrsquot which day is the start daymdashand follow the
instructions in the door
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Peppermint Sheep
You will need
12 heaped tablespoons if sieved icing sugar
1 egg white whisked until frothy
A few drops of peppermint essence
Greaseproof paper and icing sugar
Sheep template cut from thin card
Mix the icing sugar and egg white together and add a few drops of peppermint
essence Knead on a surface dusted with icing sugar
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Sheep hand prints
You will need
Dark coloured background paper
White pencil or crayon and a silver marker
Glue
Cotton wool
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Place the childrsquos hand on the paper and draw around itmdashspread the
fingers and thumb out The fingers are the legs and the thumb is the
head
Glue cotton wool all over the handprint leaving the tips of the fingers and
This sheep has been cut out
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Sheep name tags
You will need
a sheep template for each child
Pens and pencils
A safety pin to attach to the back
Give each child a sheep and encourage them to colour them as they wish
Write the childrsquos name on the sheep
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Sheep or lambrsquos head
You will need
A paper plate for each child (white)
A copy of the template for each child
Cotton wool
Strong glue
Paper and colouring pens
Scissors
Cut out the eyes
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Sheep Mask
Enlarge and copy on to thin card
Cut out the eyes
Thread cord through a hole
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Lollipop Lamb
You will need
A lollipop stick for each child
A copy of the template for each child
Scissors and glue
Cut out the parts of the lamb and stick them to the lollipop stick The tail should
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Copy the outline onto thin card
Make the sheep stand up by stapling A to B (tummy flaps) together
The sheep may be covered in cotton wool
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
You could use this shepherd to stick on a collage and surround with sheep
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Pictures to give you ideas
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
The sheep follow the good shepherd because they know his voice
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Can you unjumble
Use the code to find the words of Jesus
ldquo_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _rdquo
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Can you spot all 8 differences in these pictures
Why do Bishops carry a shepherdrsquos crook Is it
So they can catch sheep in the park
So they can play golf with it
So they can knock down conkers
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep
Keep thy lamb in safety keep
Nothing can thy power withstand
None can pluck me from thy hand
Whorsquos who
Dandy has a black face
Dodie has white feet
Dolly isnrsquot sitting down
So which
By the way
Which is a sheeprsquos fave rugby
team
Baaaa-th
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
The Parable of
the Lost Sheep
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all
Help the lost sheep find his way to the shepherd
What do you get if you cross a sheep and a shower of
rain
A wet blanket
What happened to the vampire who swallowed a
Add the letters of the word
shepherd to make 8 new words
Lot + s = Lost
Ill + h =
Car + e =
Ray + p =
Pat + h =
Each cat has lost something Can you find them all