Children's Conversations at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu

A children's conversation by Pastor Jeff Lilley -------------------------------------------------------- In today's Gospel, Jesus talks about everyone taking the best seats at a banquet and advises his listeners to take a different seat so they can be invited up front. In your schools some kids can get left out, and and you can help them by being their friends. You can share God by helping people that way.

A children's conversation by Pastor Jeff Lilley -------------------------------------------------------- In today's Gospel, Jesus heals a woman who is bent over and can't stand up. Jesus calls us to unbind things that are tied up. In this bag I have tied up a bunch of balloons. I'm going to let them go, and I want you to keep them free and floating in the air during the rest of the service so you can remember this message of Jesus.

A children's conversation by Pastor Angela Freeman -------------------------------------------------------- In today's Gospel, Jesus talks about divisions in families. You probably disagree with family members sometimes, but Jesus does not want you to be separated from your family. However, sometimes we go separate ways from friends and family because of big, important issues. You are not supposed to hate them, but you are called to follow where Jesus leads.

A children's conversation by Pastor Jeff Lilley -------------------------------------------------------- In today's Gospel, Jesus tells people that God will give us the kingdom. Jesus is talking about the kingdom of God, and you have that kingdom all around you. God has given it all to you to take care of and to love. Whoever you are and wherever you are, it is all yours to care for.

A children's conversation by Pastor Angela Freeman -------------------------------------------------------- You each probably have a piggy bank at home. You may say it belongs to you, but it really belongs to God, and you get to care for it. God created the earth and everything in it, so we have to take good care of our money and everything else. Your challenge for the week to come is to think about how you can do that.

A children's conversation by Pastor Jeff Lilley -------------------------------------------------------- You all know the Lord's Prayer. Jesus taught it to the disciples when they asked him how to pray. It's an important prayer, but we pray at other times too. Prayer is just talking with God, and you are never too little or too old to talk with God. We can pray all the time, and God promises to hear us.

A children's conversation by Pastor Jeff Lilley -------------------------------------------------------- In today's Gospel story Jesus is talking with Mary, and her sister Martha is distracted by the housework. We often get caught up in all the activities and things in our lives. We need to put those aside and pay attention to the love of Jesus.

A children's conversation by Pastor Angela Freeman -------------------------------------------------------- This Tanzanian carving shows people holding each other up so the ones on top don't fall. It represents a family supporting each other. You should think of yourself as being supported by your family and your friends. And at the same time, you are holding other people up. Even though you are small, you can encourage others, and here at church we all support each other.

A children's conversation by Pastor Jeff Lilley -------------------------------------------------------- When a friend wants you to come to their birthday party, they invite you and welcome you at the door, and then you play games, eat cake, and open presents. Church is like that. God invites you and welcomes you at baptism. God feeds you with the bread of communion, and you get a present in the form of everyone here. You and everyone else at church are God's gift to the world. We celebrate with God every week, so welcome to the party.

A children's conversation by Pastor Angela Freeman -------------------------------------------------------- This conch shell I have is hard and solid to protect an animal inside it. We have skeletons inside our bodies and homes to protect us, but some people also close themselves off and protect themselves with an invisible shell. But in today's Gospel, Jesus calls us to take risks. We can be brave and answer that call because God is with us to protect us.