Children's Conversations at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu

A children's conversation by Pastor Jeff Lilley -------------------------------------------------------- Today we continue looking at characters from the Bible with P for Phoebe. She is only mentioned briefly in 1 Thessalonians, whose writer was grateful that Phoebe was a supporter of the church there. She's not famous, but she reminds us how important the work is of every one of us who works in the church.

A children's conversation by Pastor Jeff Lilley -------------------------------------------------------- In today's Gospel, Jesus says, "I am the bread of life," and people think he's crazy. But God takes ordinary things and makes them holy. This happens with the ordinary bread we use in Communion. It you take ordinary plumeria flowers and make them into a lei, they become a symbol of love. In many ways, Jesus was an ordinary man, but in the way he lived his life, we find the bread of life.

A children's conversation by Pastor Jeff Lilley -------------------------------------------------------- In today's Gospel, Jesus and the disciples are with a big crowd, and everyone is hungry. So Jesus feeds them all with five loaves and two fishes, and there is lots left over. We see something similar when we put out the shopping cart here at church and it fills up with food for the hungry. This is a miracle we see all the time when people share what they have.

A children's conversation by Pastor Jeff Lilley -------------------------------------------------------- In today's Gospel, the people follow Jesus and the disciples to the other side after being fed. But this time Jesus feeds them spiritually with the Bread of Life rather than with the bread they are looking for. We receive the Bread of Life through communion. The bread at communion is not God's love, but it carries God's love for us like a bucket carries water.

A children's conversation by Pastor Angela Freeman -------------------------------------------------------- All of us have said, "This isn't fair." In today's Gospel, that's what the workers say in the story Jesus tells. They don't like the fact that the landowner paid the people who worked a little the same as those who worked all day. They think they deserve more. The landowner in the story represents God, and the good news for us is that God does not deal with us as we deserve. God loves us and is gracious and merciful to us, even though we don't deserve it.

A children's conversation by Pastor Angela Freeman -------------------------------------------------------- Today I brought a friend, my dog, Molly. A few years ago she was injured and couldn't walk, but then she got a knee replacement, and now she's fine. This is one example of something we used to think was impossible but now can be done. In the part of the Gospel just before what we read today, Nicodemus thought it was impossible to be born again. But our God is a wonderful God who loves the world so much and can do impossible things.

A children's conversation by Pastor Angela Freeman -------------------------------------------------------- Today I brought an icon of the Holy Family. Sometimes families look like this one, and sometimes they are quite different. Of course, all of us here in church are a family as well, and we know that when two or three of us are together, Christ is with us. I am really glad you and everyone here are part of my family.

A children's conversation by Pastor Angela Freeman -------------------------------------------------------- In today's Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples to take up their crosses and follow him. We never have to die on the cross because Jesus did, but we are called to focus less on ourselves and more on our community.

A children's conversation by Pastor Angela Freeman -------------------------------------------------------- Do you know that each of you has a superpower, and so does everyone here? Some are very kind or can explain difficult things; others are patient. These are gifts from God, and this week I want each of you to think about your superpower--your gift. God wants you and all of us to use those gifts to build up the church and for the good of the world.

A children's conversation by Pastor Angela Freeman -------------------------------------------------------- Today we have Stitch with us. In the movie "Lilo and Stitch" he is a rascal, but in the end he becomes a good friend. In today''s Gospel, Jesus tells us that sometimes when we plant good seeds we also get weeds. Some people try to pull up the weeds and tear the plants, so our Gospel tells us to wait and give the seeds a chance to develop into good grain.