What occupies the attention of many members of the congregation including tom during church services in Tom Sawyer?

Tom, fond of himself as he is, does enjoy it when the reverend tells the congregation that, at the end of time, the lion and the lamb will lie down together and a little child will lead them; he can't help but picture himself as that little child.

Soon he loses interest and takes out a small box from his pocket. In the box is a beetle or "pinch-bug."

Somehow the beetle ends up in the aisle, flailing wildly, helpless, on its back.

The beetle attracts the attention of some other bored churchgoers andthat of a stray poodle. (How the stray dog got into church is anyone's guess. Things really were different back then, we guess.)

The dog circles around the bug for a moment, then goes in for the attack…well, sort of. He snaps at it for a while before getting bored and following a fly around.