Children's Conversations at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu

A children's conversation by Pastor Jeff Lilley When I was young, I was part of a club with a secret handshake. I'll teach you all so you can be members. When you were baptized, you didn't learn a secret handshake because God welcomes all of us just the way we are. You--and everyone else--receive the love of God, and it doesn't cost you anything.

A children's conversation by Pastor Jeff Lilley Today we remember that baptism of Jesus, but do you remember your baptism? Jesus came to John as an adult and asked to be baptized. When he came out of the water, there was a dove and a voice saying "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased." We have a dove near our baptismal font, so when you were baptized, you saw a dove, and you heard the same words. So, let us celebrate Jesus' baptism, and your baptisms, and everyone's baptisms.

A children's conversation by Pastor Jeff Lilley Today is the ninth day of Christmas. It is still Christmas, and in today's Gospel, we heard of the Word in the beginning. We know that a new beginning starts with Jesus. Jesus came not just for Christmas Day but for all time. Christmas is always a part of who we are because God's gift of Jesus is always with us.

A children's conversation by Pastor Jeff Lilley This is the fourth Sunday of Advent, so it will be Christmas soon. You say you are excited about your travels, presents, and many other things, but I'm most excited that "God with us" is coming. We sometimes forget what Christmas is all about, but I hope that every day between now and Christmas, you will think about "God with us."

A children's conversation by Pastor Jeff Lilley This is the third Sunday of Advent (which means coming), and we know Jesus is coming from the candles and other signs. In our Gospel, John asks if Jesus is the one, and Jesus tells him to look at the signs. I want you to look for the signs of Christmas, but I also want you to be signs of God's presence through kindness, love, and prayer.

A children's conversation by Pastor Jeff Lilley This is the second Sunday of Advent (which means coming), and today we find out who is coming. Isaiah tells us about a branch from the root of Jesse. A few weeks ago, I found this stick and put it in a dirty coffee cup, and you can see the roots. Soon it will have branches. God made a new branch from the root of Jesse--Jesus the Messiah. God's love and justice grow like the branches outside my office. And you are also branches growing from God's love.

A children's conversation by Pastor Jeff Lilley Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Now "advent" means coming, and that's because Jesus is coming at Christmas. We see signs in the Advent candles and blue vestments. Blue is the color of hope, and we have hope because Jesus is coming. And we prepare by putting on Christ, or putting on love.

A children's conversation by Pastor Jeff Lilley -------------------------------------------------------- We were just singing "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands," and when I said "eat some bread," you all looked confused. The disciples and people in today's Gospel were also confused when Jesus said, "I am the living bread." Now eating Jesus' bread of heaving is really about love, you can show that by hugging someone. So let's try it.