This past Sunday we heard the passage from Jeremiah in which the prophet is sent by God to “the potter’s house” for a visual message. This story is the source of the image of God as a potter and humans as the clay. To remind us that we are each made by God to be “makers”- to create things, I gave every person who came for worship a plastic bag containing a ball of home-made play dough.
Here is the recipe we used:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup water
1 three ounce package of jelly powder
Combine the ingredients in a pot, and stir over heat. I found that the mixture “works” better if it is cooked. I tried the recipe the first time by mixing it in a bowl, and using warm water, but it was not as successful.
Once the mixture seems cooked, and you have stirred the lumps out, turn the dough out onto a flat surface to cool a bit, and then knead it as if it were bread dough.
Kneading the dough gives it a smoother consistency, and is also a wonderful feeling.
The jelly powder gives the play dough colour and scent. I chose orange, which made things a bit confusing, because the little balls of play dough in baggies looked and smelled like apricots.
