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.)