Creation Care Children's Message

Psalm 8:3-6, New International Reader's Version

I think about the heavens.
I think about what your fingers have created.
I think about the moon and stars
that you have set in place.
⁴What are human beings that you think about them?
What is a son of man that you take care of him?
⁵ You have made them a little lower than the angels.
You placed on them a crown of glory and honor.

⁶ You made human beings rule over everything your hands created.
You put everything under their control.

Children's Message

Have you ever been outside and looked up into the night sky at the stars? Have you ever been on an ocean beach and looked out beyond the waves? It seems that the stars or the waves go on forever, doesn’t it? The stars and ocean waves are so much bigger than we can imagine.

This psalm assures us that even though we might seem small, God loves us and has given us very important work to do. God shows us the beautiful creation, full of birds in the sky, fish in the water, and other animals as well. God entrusts each of us to love and care for all of God’s creation. Entrust means that we give care for something else. It means that we are in charge of something. God trusts us to take care of the earth and every living creature on the earth. God's creation is too important to be left to the care of strangers or those who do not worship God. Followers of Jesus are God's hands and feet on the earth!

Read Psalm 8:3-6.

Questions to ask:

• "How do you feel when you think about everything God created and realize that people are God's most special creation?"
• "I wonder about God's entrusting care to those who follow Jesus.”
• “How do you feel knowing God placed us in charge of caring for the earth and all living creatures?”
• “How can you care for God’s creation?”

One way we can understand how God entrusts us to care for creation is to plant and grow something. (Provide each child with a seed that over time will sprout and grow based on the child taking care of it. Remind the children that it might take time for the seed to sprout. You could find a location on the church property and collectively nurture and care for the plants.)

Encourage children to think of one way that they could become more involved in caring for God's creation. Perhaps the children would want to begin a recycling project or plant a garden. Suggestions might include:

• Volunteering at the local humane society.
• Beginning a recycling pick up in the neighborhood.
• Adopting a stretch of highway as a family and regularly picking up the litter.
• Helping other members of congregation to build a home through Habitat for Humanity.

Prayer: Maker of ALL things, thank you for creating me and caring for me. Thank you for trusting me enough to give me the important work of caring for ALL creation. Show me something that I can do to make a difference. Help me to take care of your beautiful world. Amen.

Questions for family discussion:

• Why do some people take care of God's earth while others do not care for it?
• How can we help Christians understand that God trusts them to care for all creation?
• What are some ways children can make a difference in caring for God's creation?
• What is one thing you would like to begin doing to care for God's earth?

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