About The Children's Talk at Holy Communion - Lake View

Welcome to my blog. After three years of doing the children's talk, I've decided to take the plunge and share via the web. I've actually been working on writing a "how-to" do your own children's talk. My personal belief is that all adults in our church are able to help children understand The Word and our Episcopal worship. Before I started doing the Childrens' Talk, I had to resolve my own internal conflict with that belief and my fear that I wouldn't be successful or knowledgeable enough (or worse!) bore the children. I also believe that we learn best by doing, and I actually had to live out my beliefs and have faith in God that I could do the Childrens' Talks successfully. And so I began.

What sustained me were all the people in my congregation and of course, Father Glen. Everyone's interest and supportive compliments regarding the children's talks really bolstered my self-confidence. The lessons improved as I learned what works (or doesn't work) and so I approach the next level of standing up for my beliefs by sharing what I've learned with other adults so they too can have their own childrens talks. You are welcome to borrow from these conversations to have a talk of your own with a child you love.

My hopes and prayers are that this blog may help other adults - parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles, and all those who care to learn the joy of nurturing the spiritual needs of a child. I also hope that all adults will experience what I have and begin to realize this one thought. The best gift we can give our children is the knowledge of God's love - His forgiveness, hope and joy to become part of their lives.

-Susan Ciminelli,
Children's Ministry
Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion

The Baptism of Jesus

Good morning. Do you know that today on our Church Calendar we talk about the Baptism of Jesus.

In the Reading for today, it tells about Jesus coming to a man named John the Baptist to be baptized. Then the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove and God spoke. "This is my son with whom I am well pleased."

[I have a small card showing Jesus in a ray of sunshine looking up at the break in the clouds.]

Look I have a picture.

God did this to show that a Baptism is a sacred event - that means something special happens when you are baptized.

[I drew a picture on paper with a house inside a heart.]

What do you see here?

"A house inside a heart."

You're correct. This is a home inside my heart. I've made a home for someone special.

How is a home different from just a house?

"A home is where you live, a place of your own. A house is just a building."

Would you say a home is the special place where you live and call it your own every day?

"Yes."

So if you make a home in your heart, it's a special place for someone every day to be in your heart. When you are baptized, the Holy Spirit - enters your heart and this is means that Jesus is always with you inside your heart.

So you must be wondering what does that mean?

Here's some pictures on these stickers of things that you can do all the while that Jesus is in your heart...

Which of these things do you like to do? (swimming, roller skating, skiiing, tennis, painting, taking snapshots, reading a book.)

Being baptized means that no matter what you are doing, Jesus lives in your heart. When you make a home in your heart for Jesus, you are receiving God's gift every day.

The Gift

I have a box in my hand - it's decorated so it looks special. What do you think it is?
Children:"A present / a gift."
At Christmas, are gifts an important part of the holiday? Did you receive any gifts?
Children:"Yes."
Did you know what makes something a gift? There's two things that make something a gift.
For example - could I give you a gift even if it's not wrapped special?
"Yes."
So the wrapping doesn't matter. What matter's is that I am giving it - what matters is my happy thoughts about giving you something, right?
"Yes."
Suppose you had a gift for me. Here, take this box and try to give it to me.

• Child : "Here's a gift for you."
• Me: "No thank you. I don't want a gift today."
  

So do you think this is a gift if I don't accept it?
Is it a gift if I say no thank you?
"No."
So everyone agrees, a gift is only a gift if when offered, the person accepts it.

Do you know what the very first Christmas gift was?
I'll give you a hint, the very first Christmas gift came from God and was given to everyone -from people living in Bethlehem two thousand years ago to you and me living today.
Can you guess what God's gift was?
"Jesus. Baby Jesus."
Correct. However, not everyone understood God's gift.
People knew God was going to give us a gift - and that gift would be a Saviour.
People were expecting a mighty King who would rescue them from their problems.
Instead God gave the world a helpless little baby.

Do you think some people wondered, "Now how could a baby save us?"

Do you think some people rejected God's gift because they didn't understand why God would send a baby?

On Christmas eve, we celebrate God's gift to us and accept Jesus in our lives. This means that we remember Jesus every day. By doing this, we have done our part (part two) and received God's gift -his Son Jesus in our lives. By doing this, we do have a Savior. And He is Christ the King! Remember to receive Jesus in your heart so you can truly have God's Christmas gift to you.

Merry Christmas!