Psalm 8

Children’s Chapel

May 22, 2016

Proper 4C

Introduction for Teachers:  In our lesson today we will be looking at a reading from the book of Psalms. In the reading the author praises God for his creation drawing specific reference to how God created man to care for creation. As children of God we are made in his image and given many gifts and talents that are ignited by the power of the Holy Spirit to strengthen each one of us as we serve God and care for his creation.

Welcome: Children will enter quietly and sit together on the floor. Welcome all children and ask if there are any new friends today.

Preview the Story: In last weeks Bible story we learned about a very special gift that is given to each of us because God loves all of us as his children. That gift is the Holy Spirit who is a part of God and lives in each of our hearts to strengthen and inspire us as we grow in God’s love every day. Today we will listen to a reading from the book of Psalms which is a collection of prayers and songs written to God.

           

The Bible Story: (Read Aloud)

Psalm 8

¹O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

³When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established;

⁴what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?

⁵Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor.

⁶You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet,

⁷all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,

⁸the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

⁹O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Respond to the Story: In the chapter of Psalm that I just read to you, the author is praising God for the gift of creation. He says as God’s children God has “crowned [us] with glory and honor [and has] given [us] dominion over the works of [God’s] hands . . .” God has given us all of creation to care for. That’s a big job isn’t it? But God does not ask us to do this all by our selves. Just as we learned last week, God is always with us and through the power of the Holy Spirit he gives us certain gifts and talents from his own heart that give us the ability to care for his creation. God works through each of us his children to allow his love to flow into the world and to care for all of his creation. Just as the author of the Psalm we just heart had a grateful heart, we too may have grateful hearts knowing that God has made us his children and has given us the Holy Spirit to help us as we care for his creation.

Pray:  Thank you God for making us each one of us in your image and calling us all your children. Thank you for your creation and for your Holy Spirit who lives in one with you and your Son Jesus. Strengthen and inspire us through the power of the Holy Spirit to care for your creation. Amen.

Chapel Response Activity: Children will make a Psalm 8 craft. (Materials and supplies will be provided and set up for craft response activity.)

Pentecost

Children’s Chapel

May 15, 2016
Pentecost

Introduction for Teachers: Today is Pentecost Sunday in which we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. In today’s Bible story, Jesus has ascended to the Father in Heaven and the apostles have gathered together. Before Jesus’ Ascension he told the apostles that he would always be with them and that they would receive an advocate, the Holy Spirit, to help strengthen and inspire them in the work God has called each of them to do in his name.

Welcome: Children will enter quietly and sit together on the floor. Welcome all children and ask if there are any new friends today.

Preview the Story: Last week we talked about how we are all children of God and that each of us together, like puzzle pieces, make up the bigger picture which is the kingdom of God. We are all unique and we are all equally important in God’s kingdom. We are all also deeply loved by God.  Jesus tells his disciples before his Ascension to the Father in Heaven that he will continue to live among them in their hearts and that the Father will be sending the gift of the Holy Spirit to strengthen and inspire them. Today we will hear about the special day, which we call Pentecost, that the disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

           

The Bible Story: Acts 2:1-21 (For Teacher Reference)

2When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. ²And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Read Aloud: The Jesus Storybook Bible pages 326-331

Respond to the Story: Isn’t it wonderful how much God loves each one of us! God loves us so much that he gives us the Holy Spirit just as he gave to the disciples all those years ago on the first Pentecost. We can rejoice knowing that God’s love strengthens and inspires us through the power of the Holy Spirit. We can also know that God’s love for us is never ending and that we are never alone because God lives in each of our hearts.

This morning I want to show you something that might show you how the Holy Spirit works in each of us. Do you see this flashlight? How many of you have flashlights at home? Flashlights are useful for helping us to see in the dark. I wonder how a flashlight works to make it light up? (Allow answers, then open up the flashlight and look inside.) You’re right! A flashlight has batteries that give power to the flashlight to make it shine. Even though we can’t see the source of the power in the flashlight, we know that the batteries are there to make the flashlight shine. In the same way a battery gives power to make a flashlight shine, the Holy Spirit gives power to each of us to shine the light of Jesus. Even though we can not see the Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit and love are always with us to strengthen and inspire us.

Sing: Younger children sing with Kathryn first and then she will go to the older children’s classroom

Pray:  Thank you God for loving each of us as your children and for sending us the Holy Spirit to strengthen and inspire us as we grow in your love each day.

Response Activity: Children will make a Holy Spirit Flame Headband to wear as they return to the sanctuary.

God's Love Revealed in the Whole

Christ Episcopal Church

Children’s Chapel

May 8, 2016

Introduction for Teachers: In today’s Gospel, Jesus is speaking with our Father in Heaven about the relationship we all have as children of God. Jesus says, “As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Jesus continues his prayer asking that all of God’s children be one just as he and the Father are one. In Jesus’ words, the glory of God is revealed when each individual is joined in love with the Father as one. The kingdom of God has many parts, each unique, each equally important. One part reveals a glimmer of God’s love. Joined as one together, God’s love is revealed in whole. In talking about today’s Gospel lesson we will use the example of a puzzle (Each classroom will have it’s own puzzle box.)

Welcome: Children will enter quietly and sit together on the floor around the puzzle box. Welcome all children and ask if there are any new friends today.

Preview the Story: How many of you like to work puzzles?  Puzzles can be a lot of fun, right? (Open the box to reveal the pieces of the puzzle.) Wow! Look at all the pieces of this puzzle. The pieces of this puzzle are in many different sizes, shapes, and colors. Each of the pieces shows a bit of the picture and each piece is important. When the puzzle pieces are all joined together and become one, they show the entire picture. Let’s listen to the story from the Gospel of John.

           

The Gospel Story: John 17:20-26

Read Aloud

²⁰”I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²²The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, ²³I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

²⁴Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. ²⁵“Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. ²⁶I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Respond to the Story: In the Gospel story today Jesus talks to God in heaven saying that just as He and the Father are one, so too are each of us one with the Father. Like the pieces of this puzzle, the members of God’s kingdom come in different sizes, shapes, and colors. Jesus himself prayed that each person would be joined as one with the Father so that the world would see God's love in us. You and I are part of the picture that is the kingdom of God. When we love one another, help one another, and serve one another we become one, just as Jesus prayed we would be, and when we are one, the world can see God's love in us.

Pray: Thank you God for making us each unique and thank you for making us each one with you. Help us to be kind and helpful to one another so that your love may be seen by the world as we are joined together in you.