27 — Making Worship Come Alive

A weekly blog of Creative Ideas for Leading Worship

Constructing a Service - Part 5

Making Worship Come Alive: 
The Introducing the Theme / Story Time / Children’s Talk section

 

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Introduction

The Introducing the Theme / Story Time / Children’s Talk section of a church service is where creativity and faith come alive. This is your chance to capture your congregation’s imagination, spark their curiosity, and open the door to deeper engagement with God’s message. Whether you’re speaking to children, adults, or a mix of both, this part of the service can be a highlight that sets the tone for everything that follows.

Over the years, I’ve experimented with many approaches to make this segment meaningful and memorable. Here, are some practical, proven strategies you can use to make this part of your service come alive.

 

1. Make It Visual and Tactile

People of all ages respond to what they can see and touch. Props and visual aids not only grab attention but also make complex ideas accessible and memorable. (See also our post about Displaying a model railway)

• Involve creative materials like stones, leaves, shells, or anything tactile that participants can arrange, build, or contribute to collectively. (See also our post about Creating a Natural Treasures Collage)
  
  
• Incorporate symbolic objects (e.g. candles, water bowls) to provide rich, tangible connections to spiritual themes.
  
  
• Display objects in sequence to illustrate progression or growth – like arranging Beatles LPs from earliest to last to symbolise the unfolding story of the Bible.

 

2. Encourage Active Participation

Interactive activities transform passive listening into genuine engagement. Inviting participation allows the congregation to embody the theme and feel its relevance.

• Invite children or adults to build or arrange objects as part of a larger narrative, connecting their hands-on work to the theme.
  
  
• Use dramatic storytelling by re-enacting Bible stories with participants taking on roles. This helps everyone feel part of the story, experiencing it from within.
  
  
• Create processions or movement-based activities that visually and physically convey the message (e.g. using a net to illustrate Jesus’ call to gather people).

 

3. Use Symbolic Actions

Rituals and symbolic gestures speak directly to the heart. By inviting people to participate in meaningful actions, you deepen their connection to the theme.

• Encourage participants to make a personal sign of faith, like dipping a finger in water and making the sign of the cross.
  
  
• Provide tangible symbols, like a bell to ring as a sign of commitment or renewal.
  
  
• Set up prayer stations that invite quiet reflection through sensory experiences.

 

4. Connect the Story to Everyday Life

Making connections between Scripture and real life helps bridge the gap between ancient texts and today’s world. It makes faith feel real, relevant, and alive.

• Share modern stories of faith and resilience that resonate with your congregation’s experiences.
  
  
• Highlight connections between biblical teachings and contemporary values like inclusivity, justice, compassion, and community.

 

5. Encourage Reflection and Sharing

Inviting reflection helps participants internalise the message. When people contribute their own insights, it enriches everyone’s experience.

• Foster small group discussions where participants share thoughts or feelings related to the theme. 
  
  
• Encourage creative expression, such as making collages or using natural objects to illustrate a theme.
  
  
• Ask thought-provoking, open-ended questions that prompt deeper reflection and insight.

 

6. Use Music and Song

Music is a powerful way to reinforce the theme and create unity. It helps embed the message in the heart and memory.

• Teach a simple song or refrain that reflects the theme and invite everyone to sing it together at key moments.
  
  
• Incorporate music as a response, reinforcing prayers or reflections with melodies that connect emotionally. (See our post about Three Sung Responses)

 

7. Practical Steps for Planning

To ensure this section of your service runs smoothly and feels meaningful, consider the following steps:

1. Identify Your Theme: Start with a clear understanding of the theme or scripture you want to introduce. Make sure your activity or story supports the broader message of the service.
   
   
2. Choose Your Approach: Decide whether to use props, storytelling, role-playing, creative activities, or symbolic actions. Think about what will be most engaging for your congregation.
   
   
3. Gather Materials and Prepare: Prepare any props or visual aids well in advance. Ensure you have everything you need on the day of the service.
   
   
4. Brief Your Helpers: If involving other people, explain their roles clearly beforehand. Allow time for a quick run-through if needed.
   
   
5. Reflect and Connect: At the conclusion of the activity, take a moment to reflect on what was learned or experienced. Relate it back to the theme of the service.

 

Top tip

To be most effective you need to be able to lead this part of the service from memory. 

This helps the activity to feel spontaneous and encourages the congregation to respond and take part. I write out what I am going to do and say, and quickly scan my notes at the lectern before I start the activity. I don’t necessarily use the precise words I have written down but will always get the gist of the message across. 

If you don’t feel you can memorise what to say, your activity is too complicated. Simplify it so that you just take one or two actions and have one or two messages.

 

Conclusion

The Introducing the Theme / Story Time / Children’s Talk section of a service is a precious moment where theology meets creativity, and words give way to experience. It’s a chance to engage minds, touch hearts, and create lasting memories that speak to all ages.

I encourage you to experiment with the ideas and techniques shared here. Try a new approach, introduce a fresh prop, or invite your congregation to participate in a way they’ll remember long after the service ends. Whether it’s through song, storytelling, symbolic action, or creative collaboration, let your creativity flow.

Above all, keep your focus on making the theme of the day come alive in ways that are meaningful, memorable, and spiritually enriching. When you do, you’ll see how powerfully this part of the service can draw people deeper into worship.

Now it’s your turn – give these ideas a try and see how they transform your worship experience. And if you discover new approaches that work particularly well, share them with others. Creativity flourishes when it’s shared.

 

The Constructing a Service series

This is the fifth post in the Constructing a Service series.

Previous posts covered:

• The Elements of a Service
  
• Choosing Hymns, Songs and Waiata
  
• Finding or Writing Prayers and Liturgy 
  
• Writing Your Sermon
  

Following posts will cover:

• Designing / Typesetting the Order of Service
  
• Two sample services led by Philip

 

Ngā mihi
Philip