2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
T To most children an ark is Noah’s ark. So before reading this story, redefine ark
as box. Point out that Noah’s ark was
huge, big enough for all the animals. In
today’s story David takes care of an ark that is small enough for four men to
carry it. If possible show a picture of
it. Explain that inside this ark were
the stones on which the Ten Commandments had been carved. Simply insist that this was the most holy
object God’s people had. They had
carried it as they walked through the wilderness and kept it in a special tent
in the center of their town. Image how
they felt when the Philistines captured it and carried it off to their country
AND how they felt when they felt when they got it back. Then read the story.
T Worship built around this story requires a
grand processional. But, the
processional won’t make sense to worshipers until they have heard the
story. So…
…begin
by telling the story before worship begins, perhaps inviting children forward
to hear it on the steps as preparation for worship and then urging them to join
singing the processional song with the same vigor with which David danced
before God.
Or,
have your usual processional at the beginning of worship. Then after the sermon do a children’s time
comparing the processional at the beginning of worship each week with David’s
procession with the ark. Then restage a
processional with the whole congregation singing.
Whenever you do this, make it
a grand processional. Include praise
banners and even streamers on poles that are waved as they enter. The congregation may stay in their seats or
may join the processional walking around the perimeter of the sanctuary and
returning to their seats. Remind them to
take their song books with them so they can sing as they walk.
T The grand river processional of a thousand boats with
which Great Britain celebrated Queen Elizabeth’s diamond jubilee is
a current example of a processional like that of David.
T Since we are all in Olympic mode, recall Olympic
runner Eric Liddell (“Chariots of Fire” movie) who said “God made me
fast” and claimed that he could feel God’s pleasure when he ran well. Tell stories of other people who sense God
with them with they do certain activities, e.g. I know a woman who says she
“knits before God.”
T Teri posted on RevGalBlogPals when this text
came up in 2009 the possibility of a children’s time using the “Hokey
Pokey” to explore the truth that we have to put more than just our left
hand or our right foot in. We must put
our whole selves into worship, life, prayer, everything.
T Choose hymns of praise in which children
can join. “All Creatures of Our God and
King” calls on familiar pieces of the natural world to praise God. “Earth and Stars” with all its modern science
and technology references captures the attention of older children if they are
invited to listen for those references as they sing. And “Lord of the Dance” is a natural for the
day IF children are familiar with it.
T Invite children to illustrate their own songbook
from which to sing “Lord of the Dance.” Hand out the starter books and markers at the
beginning of the service, flipping through the verses to identify the stories
about Jesus featured in each verse. Plan
to sing the song closer to the end of the service so the artists have plenty of
time to work. The starter is two legal
sized sheets folded in half and nested.
Arrange the verses as follows
Outer
Page
Side
1: Blank (left side of page)
Title (right
side of page)
Side 2: Verse 1, lines 1 & 2 about creation (left)
Verse
5 and refrain (right)
Inner
Page
Side 1: Verse 2 and refrain (left)
Verse 3 and
refrain (right)
Side 2: Verse 4 and refrain (left)
Verse 1, last
2 lines re birth and refrain (right)
Psalm 24
T Eugene Peterson in The Message makes “Lift up
your heads, O gates!” “Wake up you sleepy headed people! King-Glory is coming!” That begs to be further edited for children to
“Wake up you sleepy heads! It is time to
worship. God is here!”
T “Lift Up the Gates Eternal” sets Psalm 24 to a familiar Israeli folk tune. Capture the feel of David dancing before the
ark by singing each verse a little faster than the one before. If a soloist or choir sings the refrains, he/she/they
can set the pace for the congregation which sings the verses.
For added energy, bring in banner twirlers on the last verse.
T To bring the psalm to life as the call to
worship it was have it read by two groups. “One” could be a worship leader or a choir in
place at the front of the sanctuary. “Two”
could be a class/choir/group standing at the rear of the sanctuary or could be
the entire congregation.
ggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg
Psalm 24
All: The
earth is the Lord’s and all that
is in it,
the world, and those who live in it;
for
he has founded it on the seas,
and established it on the rivers.
One: Who
shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
Two: Those
who have clean hands and pure hearts,
who do not lift up their souls to what is false,
and do not swear deceitfully.
One: They
will receive blessing from the Lord,
and vindication from the God of their salvation.
Two: Such
is the company of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Organ
chord, trumpet ta-ta, or other music
Two: Lift
up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
One: Who
is the King of glory?
Two: The
Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle.
Organ
chord, trumpet ta-ta, or other music
Two: Lift
up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
One: Who
is this King of glory?
Two: The
Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory.
Based
on NRSV
gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg
Amos 7:7-15
 |
| from Wikipedia GNU Free Documentation License |
GBefore
reading the text introduce plumb lines to the children: Demonstrate a plumb line against side of pulpit
or building OR against both a straight, sturdy tower of blocks and a crooked,
easily toppled one. Then, note that Amos
says God has judged the people of
Israel just as wejudge a wall. Then,
read the passage from the Bible.
GPresent this scripture
scene with 3 readers: a narrator
(probably a worship leader), Amaziah (wearing a worship leader’s robe with the
fanciest available stole), and Amos (wearing jeans and a t shirt)
FGHJFGHJ FGHJ FGHJ FGHJ FGHJ FGHJ FGHJ
Amos 7:7-15
Narrator: Amaziah was the king’s prophet. He was the main leader at Bethel, Israel's national temple. The king paid him
well. One day Amos, stood up in the
worship center to speak God’s message.
Hear the Word of the Lord.
Amos:
I had another vision from the Lord. In it I saw him standing beside a
wall that had been built with the help of a plumb line, and there was a plumb
line in his hand. He asked me, “Amos,
what do you see?”
“A plumb line,” I answered.
Then the Lord said, “I am using it to show
that my people are like a wall that is out of line. I will not change my mind
again about punishing them. The places
where Isaac’s descendants worship will be destroyed. The holy places of Israel
will be left in ruins. I will bring the dynasty of King Jeroboam to an end.”
Narrator:
Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, then sent a report to King Jeroboam of
Israel:
Amaziah:
Amos is plotting against you among the people. His speeches will destroy
the country. This is what he
says: ‘Jeroboam will die in battle, and the people of Israel will be taken away
from their land into exile.’
Narrator:
Amaziah then said to Amos,
Amaziah:
That’s enough, prophet! Go on back to Judah and do your preaching there.
Let them pay you for it. Don’t prophesy
here at Bethel any more. This is the king’s place of worship, the national
temple.”
Amos: I am not the kind of prophet who
prophesies for pay. I am a herdsman, and I take care of fig trees. But the Lord took me from my work as a shepherd
and ordered me to come and prophesy to his people Israel.
Narrator:
This is the Word of the Lord.
Based
on the TEV
FGHJ FGHJ FGHJ FGHJ FGHJ FGHJ FGHJ FGHJ
Psalm 85:8-13
This psalm in which steadfast
love and faithfulness meet and righteousness and peace kiss generally leads to
giggles among literal-minded children. So,
on a Sunday with so much else that speaks straight to them, I’d omit it or
address it mainly with the abstract thinking adults.
Ephesians 1:3-14
T Introduce Ephesians as a letter that was written
not to one church but to many churches in one area. As he greets
everyone, Paul outlines the most important thing that they all share – they all proclaim that Jesus is Lord. With the children or all worshipers, identify
other churches in your area. Children
might name people they know in some of the churches or tell about going to
scouts or playing on a sports team at another church in the area. Point out that all of these churches worship
differently and have different ideas about many things, but all of them agree
on one thing – Jesus is Lord. That makes
us all brothers and sisters in God’s big family. Mention some of the things you do together as
God’s family – maybe soup kitchen or food pantry. Conclude with prayers for all the churches in
your area. (This is one way to help
build recognition and appreciation of other churches among the children. It is too easy for them to see others as
different from us and therefore “less” than we are.)
T What all the churches have in common is all proclaim
that Jesus is Lord. Paul spells out this
lordship in rather complex theological language. Behind that language is the story of Jesus’
birth, teaching, crucifixion, resurrection, and reign. In the middle of the summer one way to
rehearse this story is to enjoy a hymn sing singing your way through
Jesus story – possibly with some brief reflections on the way. To encourage children to join the singing, include
some of the songs below.
“When
Morning Gilds the Sky”
Briefly
walk through the verses before singing it and point out the repeated chorus “may
Jesus Christ be praised.” Encourage the
youngest to sing that phrase if nothing else.
“What
Child Is This?”
This
is not the most familiar Christmas carol to children, but it refers to all the
parts of the Christmas story. Point them
out before singing it… remember the shepherds?
The wisemen? Etc.
“O
Sing a Song of Bethlehem”
Point
out Jesus the baby, child, teacher and savior in this hymn.
“Jesus
Christ Is Risen Today”
Tie
this to the Easter story and enjoy all the alleluias.
“Jesus
Loves Me”
This
says simply what Paul says complexly.
Instead of asking children to sing it alone (older children view this as
a baby song and generally resent being asked to perform it), ask the entire
congregation to sing it together.
Mark 6:14-29
LThis story of the abuse of power and being trapped by
power is hard to preach to adults and even harder to preach to kids. Children are extremely interested in power
and its use, but other biblical stories help them explore it more easily. If you do explore this story in their
presence remember that children are as horrified by this messed up family as adults
are. They are appalled that Herod’s wife
used her husband’s offer of a special gift to his daughter to have an old enemy
murdered, disappointed that the daughter went along with her mother, horrified
that Herod was so afraid of what his guests thought about him that he would do
the awful thing his daughter asked, and sad that a good person could be killed
in the crossfire of this evil family.
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