Shout Praises! Focus on Psalm 111. n PREPARING FOR THE SESSION. WHAT is important to know? WHERE is God in these words?

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1 January 28, 2018 Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany Deut. 18:15 20 Ps Cor. 8:1 13 Mark 1:21 28 Shout Praises! Goal for the Session Third- and fourth-graders will use the acrostic Psalm 111 to articulate their appreciation of God s wondrous works. n PREPARING FOR THE SESSION Focus on Psalm 111 WHAT is important to know? From Exegetical Perspective, Christine Roy Yoder The psalm is an alphabetic acrostic: each line begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This literary framework signals that the psalm is a comprehensive, or A-to-Z, celebration of God s works. Indeed, following the invitation (v. 1) and reasons for praise (vv. 2 3), the psalmist recalls God s work on behalf of Israel, from exodus and entry into the land to Sinai and the giving of the law. This prompts some interpreters to regard Psalm 111 as a condensed version of God s salvation history. The rich range of the acrostic form therefore helps the psalmist affirm the rich variety of ways in which God relates to humankind and humankind to God. WHERE is God in these words? From Theological Perspective, Thomas D. Parker Those who revere ( fear ) God live in a larger world, because they allow themselves to be open to something greater, something better, that lies deeply within even the most ordinary experiences. It is all too easy to be overfocused and miss the full range of reality in what we live through. It is so easy to let our lives be defined by the little world we have created through habits of mind and body that do not allow anything that may lie beyond to be registered in our awareness. It really is all about cultivating a sense of the presence of God. To live as if there were no God is to live in a space too small for our souls to grow and flourish. SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? From Pastoral Perspective, Anne H. K. Apple Perhaps, a prophetic word from this psalm will come in the form of a question. How are we trampling through the past, treading in the present, and looking for the future coming of our Lord? Are we gathering together and listening and discerning God at work through us? In the world, are we crafting and singing awe-filled hallelujah songs? As we receive God s call to serve, we practice praise and live into God s promise. NOW WHAT is God s word calling us to do? From Homiletical Perspective, Elizabeth C. Knowlton The experience of a God who is both immanent and transcendent evokes a deep sense of a dynamic and multifaceted relationship. Reflect on the nature of the faith community that is created by such a God. This community is inwardly focused to be sustainable, but it also goes beyond its wall to evidence signs of God s character in the world. Psalm 111 provides a good lens through which to look in a new way for manifestations of God s living presence both in the world and in individuals and communities Westminster John Knox Press Grades 3 4 1

2 Shout Praises! FOCUS SCRIPTURE Psalm 111 YOU WILL NEED green cloth colorful streamers or gift-wrap ribbon white batterypowered Christ candle Singing the Feast, ; CD player Color Pack 17, 18 Bibles Resource Sheet 1 scissors newsprint, markers For Responding option 1: construction paper, markers option 2: paper, markers, instrumental music, music player option 3: copies of Resource Sheet 2 on card stock Hallelujah! Praise Ye the Lord! Hal - le - lu, hal - le - lu, hal - le - lu, hal - le - lu - jah! Hal - le - lu, hal - le - lu, hal - le - lu, hal - le - lu - jah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Focus on Your Teaching Some children in your group may worship regularly with their families. Some may seldom worship with their families, and may not be familiar with your church s worship space and traditions. Nonetheless, all third- and fourth-graders can learn about praise and its place in worship. They are ready to praise God for more than what they see in creation; they are beginning to appreciate God s character. These learners are reading chapter books and learning that a person s actions reveal her or his character. As this psalm recalls God s gracious acts, they will be invited to praise what God is like. Praiseworthy God, may I reveal to my students the joyful role of holy praise in the life of faith. Amen. n LEADING THE SESSION GATHERING Before the session, if you are using option 3 in Responding, make two copies of Resource Sheet 1 on card stock for each group of three or four and cut out the cards. Welcome each child by name. Invite learners to arrange the green cloth in the middle of your learning space and place the Christ candle on it. Arrange streamers or long pieces of gift-wrap ribbon on the cloth. Gather the group. Invite each learner to pick up a streamer or two. Sing Hallelujah! Praise Ye the Lord! (track 10 on Singing the Feast, ). Have half the group raise their hands and wave streamers while singing the hallelujahs and the other half raise their hands and wave streamers while singing the praises. Offer this prayer: Loving God, hear our praises and send your Spirit to guide our learning today. Amen. Display Color Pack 17 and 18, inviting learners to describe what they see. Take a show of hands to see how many consider each of these an awesome sight. Ask: P What would you like to do if you were in these places? P When have you been to an awesome place? What did you do there? EXPLORING Still looking at Color Pack 17 and 18, ask what the learners would praise God for in these pictures. You may need to explain that to praise means to express delight in, to give glory to, or to applaud something great. Introduce today s Bible reading as a psalm of praise. Recall together that a psalm is a poem or prayer that is meant to be sung in worship. Distribute Bibles and work together to find 2017 Westminster John Knox Press Grades 3 4 2

3 Shout Praises! Praise is one way we tell God how happy we are to be God s people. We can praise God not only for all the things our Creator has made, but also for God s love, power, and desire to care for us. If some learners are not comfortable reading aloud, have two learners read aloud in unison. Psalm 111. You might want to note that the book of Psalms is the longest book in the Bible. It includes 150 songs. Some of the songs are sad and angry, but many are full of praise. Cut apart the verse strips on Resource Sheet 1 (Psalm 111) and divide them among learners, forming pairs if you have a large class and giving learners more than one verse if your group is small. Allow a moment for the children to practice reading their verses, asking one another for help as needed. Call on children to read their verses in order, one at a time. Pause after each group of verses to discuss the text as follows: Read verses 1 3. Discuss: P What does the psalmist mean by when his people meet? When do God s people meet today? P What are some wonderful things God has done? P Justice means doing what is right for another person caring for people in ways that show God s love for them. How does God help us do justice? Read verses 4 6. Discuss: P Is it possible for people to always keep their agreements? P How are God s promises and agreements different from human ones? Read verses 7 10: P The psalmist says God is always honest and fair. How is this good news for us? P The psalmist says God is fearsome and holy. When might people be comforted by this? When might they be frightened? P How do you understand the phrase the first step to wisdom and good sense? How might respecting and obeying God make a person wise? Ask the learners to read the verses in order again, this time pausing only for everyone to shout Praise the Lord! after each verse is read. Gather around a piece of newsprint. Ask: If we were going to write a psalm about how wonderful God is, what words or phrases would we use? Record the children s responses randomly all over the paper. Invite each learner to choose a few words to make her or his own declaration of praise. Offer these words of praise to one another. EASY PREP RESPONDING Mark the activities you will use: 1. Acrostic Thanks In Hebrew, Psalm 111 is an acrostic, with each line beginning with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is a song of praise from A to Z. Form pairs or small groups to write acrostic psalms. Give each pair five or six letters of the alphabet and have them write these down the side of a piece of construction paper. Assign all the letters of the alphabet, keeping them in order. Challenge learners to come up with 2017 Westminster John Knox Press Grades 3 4 3

4 Shout Praises! something to praise God for that begins with each letter. They can use markers to write the words next to the letters on the construction paper and illustrate them. In addition to naming things God created, encourage them to use words that describe God s character and deeds, such as: miracles, mighty, helpful, healing, justice, and keeps promises. Arrange the papers from the small groups on a bulletin board or wall to make a complete acrostic. Read it together as an A-to-Z song of praise, ending with Praise the Lord! Children don t have much silence in their lives. Wondering about God is a worship skill that is best practiced in silence. As you teach, don t rush to fill every moment of silence. 2. Meditative Praise Children can use their imaginations to help them offer praise to God. Comment that not everyone is good at writing poetry as the psalmists were, but everyone can praise God. Invite the children to find a quiet place to sit with markers and drawing paper as they listen to quiet instrumental music, such as Music for Meditation (track 16 on Singing the Feast, ). Encourage them to draw pictures, list words, or write rhymes whatever their hearts say in the quiet. God loves all praise! Allow at least five minutes for them to create. If some children want to show their work, take time for this, but don t require all to do so. 3. Praise Match It is possible to practice articulating God s goodness and praise. Form groups of three or four and give each group two sets of cards made from copies of Resource Sheet 2 (Praise Match). To play, the groups place the cards facedown in rows. Each child takes a turn turning over two cards at time to try to find a match. If a match is not found, the cards are turned back over. When a match is found, the player praises God for something the symbol represents, then keeps the pair of cards. Point out that this is different from simply naming the symbol. For instance, the cross could be praise God for Easter or praise God for churches. The stone tablets could be praise God for Moses or praise God for the Ten Commandments. The player who collects the most matches wins. Be available to help players think of praise statements as needed. CLOSING Gather in a circle around the Christ candle. Read aloud Psalm 111:10. Invite learners to tell something they learned today that is a step toward wisdom and good sense for them. The word doxology comes from the Greek words for glory and declaration. If your congregation regularly sings a particular Doxology in worship, sing this as your closing song. Work as a group to create a litany of praise to God. Each person will praise God for something and all will respond, Praise God forever! Invite learners to pick up streamers or ribbons to wave during the response. Allow a moment for learners to think of what they want to say, then begin the litany with your own words of praise. Say farewell to each child by name: (Name), go now and praise the Lord Westminster John Knox Press Grades (K)1 2 4

5 January 28, 2018 Shout Praises! Grades 3 4 Resource Sheet 1 Psalm Shout praises to the LORD! With all my heart I will thank the LORD when his people meet. 2 The LORD has done many wonderful things! Everyone who is pleased with God s marvelous deeds will keep them in mind. 3 Everything the LORD does is glorious and majestic, and his power to bring justice will never end. 4 The LORD God is famous for his wonderful deeds, and he is kind and merciful. 5 He gives food to his worshipers and always keeps his agreement with them. 6 He has shown his mighty power to his people and has given them the lands of other nations. 7 God is always honest and fair, and his laws can be trusted. 8 They are true and right and will stand forever. 9 God rescued his people, and he will never break his agreement with them. He is fearsome and holy. 10 Respect and obey the LORD! This is the first step to wisdom and good sense. God will always be respected. Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version. Copyright 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission Westminster John Knox Press

6 January 28, 2018 Shout Praises! Grades 3 4 Resource Sheet 2 Praise Match 2017 Westminster John Knox Press