Children's Message

INTRODUCTION

Does the summer seem too long? Are the dog days barking at you and your congregation? Maybe it is time for a praise break! The songbook of the people of God can be a refresher, an encourager, or even a challenge that our faith needs from time to time. We invite you to take this short three-week pause from the busyness of a summer of activities to remind yourselves that the God we worship and the Christ we follow are with us every step of the way. And the only appropriate response to encountering the divine among us is to sing, to shout, to declare our praise. Enjoy a Praise Break! The bell teaches children that praise is how our bodies respond when we notice God’s love—quietly, joyfully, and together.

The bell teaches children that praise is how our bodies respond when we notice God’s love—quietly, joyfully, and together.

Scripture: Psalm 17:1-7, 15, New International Reader's Version

A prayer of David.

17 Lord, hear me, because I ask for what is right.
Listen to my cry for help.
Hear my prayer.
It doesn't come from lips that tell lies.
²When you hand down your sentence, may it be in my favor.
May your eyes see what is right.

³Look deep down into my heart.
Study me carefully at night and test me.
You won't find anything wrong.
I have planned nothing evil.
My mouth has not said sinful things.
⁴Though evil people tried to pay me to do wrong,
I have not done what they wanted.
Instead I have done what you commanded.
⁵My steps have stayed on your paths.
My feet have not slipped.

⁶My God, I call out to you because you will answer me.
Listen to me. Hear my prayer.
⁷Show me the wonders of your great love.
By using your great power,
you save those who go to you for safety from their enemies.

Psalm 17:15, New International Reader's Version

¹⁵You will show that I am right; I will enjoy your blessing.
When I wake up, I will be satisfied because I will see you.

Object:

A bell

Message:

Good morning, friends. I'm really glad to see you today. Before we begin, I want to show you something. (Hold up the bell but keep it still.)

Do you recognize what this is? (Allow children to affirm.) This is a bell. It doesn't look very big, does it? But even something small can help us notice important things.

Have you ever been so busy playing, running, or talking that you didn't hear someone calling your name right away? (Allow children to respond.)

That happens to all of us. The palm we heard today was written by David.
David was talking to God, and he said, "God, listen to me. God, look at me. God, when I wake up, I want to see you."

That tells us something important: David believed God was close enough to hear and see him.

Let's see how the bell works. When I ring it, I want you to listen carefully, not just with your ears, but with your whole body. (Ring the bell once and wait.) Did you notice how the sound didn't stop right away? The sound just slowly faded. Even when no one touched the bell anymore, the sound was still there.

That's a little like God's presence.

Even when we stop talking…
even when we stop moving…
even when we are very quiet…
God is still with us.

David trusted that God was watching over him, not looking for mistakes or waiting for him to mess up, looking at a checklist, but watching over him because God cared. David believed God looked at him with love.

Sometimes we think being "seen" means someone is checking to see if we did something wrong. But David tells us something different. God watches us because God loves us.

Let's think about that together.

If God were looking at you right now, not to catch your mistakes, not to correct you, but just to watch you with love…what do you think would make God smile?

(Invite responses:
"When I help my sister."
"When I try again."
"When I sing."
"When I tell the truth.")

Yes. God smiles at those things.

God smiles when you try.
God smiles when you are kind.
God smiles when you keep going, even when something is hard.

(Quietly ring the bell once.)

This bell doesn't mean, "Uh-oh, stop."
It means, "God is close."

The sound reminds us to pause and remember:
God is not far away. God is not waiting to be disappointed. God is near, and God delights in you.

Prayer:

God, thank you for being close to us. Help us notice you with us today and every day.
Amen.

Praise Break: Between-the-Sundays Family Practices

Threaded Object: A bell (or any gentle sound: phone chime, spoon on mug, wind chime)

Families: If you don't have a bell, any soft sound will work. The point is noticing, remembering, and praising together.

Week 1 – Behold the Face

Theme: Noticing God's Nearness

Conversation Starters

What is something you noticed today that you usually hurry past?
When do you feel calmest or safest?
What do you think God notices about you?

Activity: "Notice and Ring"

Choose one moment each day, before school, at bedtime, or during a meal to:

Ring the bell once to get everyone's attention.
Sit or stand quietly for a few seconds.
Invite each person to name one thing they noticed that day (a sound, a feeling, a kind act, something beautiful).
Ring the bell once after each sharing.

This practice helps children connect noticing with God's presence, without needing to explain it fully.