Unity of Praise

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. 

Psalm 133, New International Reader's Version

A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. A psalm of David.

133 How good and pleasant it is
when God's people live together in peace!
² It's like the special olive oil
that was poured on Aaron's head.
It ran down on his beard
and on the collar of his robe.
³ It's as if the dew of Mount Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
There the Lord gives his blessing.
He gives life that never ends.

New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Object: 

A bell

Message:

Friends, today is our last Praise Break together. Before we do anything else, I want you to look around. Turn your head slowly. Look at the people near you. Look at the people far away. There are a lot of us here. The psalm today says, "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in peace."

That means God smiles when people:

• care for one another,
• listen to one another,
• and praise together.

Let's think about praise for a moment. I wonder, can one bell make a joyful sound all by itself? Let's find out. I'm going to pass the bell around. When the bell comes to you, ring it one time, then gently pass it to the next person. (Guide the passing slowly and safely.) Did you notice something? Some rings were soft. Some were loud. Some lasted longer than others. But every sound mattered. Every ring belonged.

Now, let's try something different. This time, we're going to praise together. When I ring the bell, everyone says, "Praise the Lord!" (Ring the bell, and allow the group to respond.)

Did you hear that? That sounded full. That sounded strong. That sounded like many people becoming one sound.

The psalm uses images to help us understand what God's blessing is like. It talks about oil flowing, moving from one place to another. It talks about dew falling, gently covering everything. God's blessing spreads. It reaches everyone. It brings people together.

When we praise together, we remember something important:

We belong to one another.
And we belong to God.

Prayer:

God, thank you for bringing us together.
Help us live in peace and praise you with joy.
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 3 – Unity of Praise

Theme: Belonging and Praising Together

Conversation Starters

• What does it feel like when everyone works together?
• When is it hard to get along? Talk about a time when it was hard to get along with someone this week.
• How can we show kindness as a family this week?

Activity: "Passing the Praise"

Gather in a circle.

1. Pass the bell around.
2. When someone holds the bell, they say one kind thing about the person next to them
   (or one way the family helped one another that day).
3. After the kind words, ring the bell and pass it on.

This activity reinforces unity and shared praise in a tangible, age-appropriate way.

Simple Prayer

God, thank you for our family.
Help us live together with kindness and love.
Amen.

Optional Family Tip
If the bell becomes part of the home:

• Keep it somewhere visible.
• Let children ring it when they notice something good, kind, or beautiful.
• There's no "right time"—only moments of praise.