The Reflectionary

An Activity – Sheep Racing!

This hilarious activity can be used for John 10 where the sheep follow the good shepherd, for Ps 23 where the shepherd leads the sheep to green pasture or any other Bible passage featuring sheep.

You will need:

• Paper plates (one per sheep)
• Yarn or string (5 m or more per sheep)
• Hole punch
• Black markers
• Glue sticks
• Cotton wool
• Chair or table legs to anchor the racers

If you want, you can have teams (tables, pews, families) make their own sheep to race, or you can make them in advance.

To make your sheep racer, stick cotton wool on the back of a plate and draw a head on. Punch holes at the sides. You can give it a name if you like, so that your team can cheer it on.

Loop your string or yarn around a chair or table leg (you might need to have someone sit in the chair) then thread the ends through the side holes on your racer as shown. The bum should be nearest the chair and the head towards the loose ends.

Make a small finger loop at the ends of the yarn. and put them on the little finger and thumb of one hand.

To race your sheep, hold the strings taut, and waggle your hand to pull them alternately. The sheep should waddle along the strings to you in a most adorable manner.

A Reflection – Dramatic Reading

Three readers, preferably placed around the room.
The dialogue overlaps in some parts, indicated by overlapping text and bracketed lines.
Bold type shows words to emphasise and linger over.
Pauses are indicated by gaps between and within lines, longer pauses by larger gaps.
Italics show directions for readers.

Note: Due to browser variations, the layout below might not be preserved. You can download a correctly-formatted A4 PDF by clicking here. [Ps 23 Dramatic Reading]

Psalm 23

1,2,3:     The Lord    is my shepherd

1:            The Lord is my shepherd                                                                           these lines said
2:            The Lord is my shepherd                                                                           directly one
3:            The Lord is my shepherd                                                                           after another
1:            The Lord is my shepherd                                                                          with no gaps

2:            I   shall   not   want                                                                                     slowly and deliberately

3:            He maketh me    to lie down in green pastures
He leadeth me    beside the still                           still waters.            ) like drops

1:                                                                        still      still                                         ) of water

2:                                                                              still      still                                   ) in a pool

3:            He restoreth       my       soul                                                                     peaceful, almost sleeping

1:            He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
1,2,3:     for His name’s sake

1:            Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil

1,2,3:     for Thou art with me                                                                                  straight after ‘evil’- confidently

1:            Thy rod and Thy staff     they comfort me

2:            Thou preparest a table before me                                                        with astonished gratitude throughout
in the presence of mine enemies

Thou anointest my head with oil

2:            my cup runneth over                                                   my cup runneth over                                                                  )
3:                                          my cup runneth over                                                   my cup runneth over                                             )
1:                                                                        my cup runneth over                                                   my cup runneth over            )

The above line not too hurried. It should sound like a cascade, not jostling crowd

2:            Surely goodness

3:            and mercy

1:            shall follow me      all the days of my life;

1,2,3:     and I will dwell in the house of the Lord        for ever.

To get the pause in the last line it is helpful to continue the beat of the line in the silence.
The beat is two light syllables followed by one heavy, with a comma gap before ‘for’, thus:
I will dwell in the house of the Lord , for ever.

So you could insert a silent phrase to maintain the beat and make sure you all come in together. Eg

I will dwell in the house of the Lord  (in the house of the Lo-rd)  for ever.

Bible Text

Psalm 23 King James Version

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain