Today's selected readings: Advent 1 (Romans 13: 9-14) Duties towards one another

Matthew 24: 36 - 44 No One knows the day or the hour and we need to be ready.

Kid's Church talk: -

• Our two readings for today remind us that we have an obligation as Christians (What are they) Check Romans
• Do you think we can just mosy along and get around to doing the right thing when we are ready, or is there an urgency about this. Why is there an urgency? (Discuss) Check Matthew
• Today we have welcomed a new Christian into our midst through the baptism service
• Today is also a reminder to the Parents and Godparents, or anyone of us who has children or are a godparent to another child
• God gives us responsibilities in baptism. What might some of those be? (Discuss)
• Baptism is a privilege not a right, and as a result God expects us to provide the best support we can give.
• I can think of no better symbolism that this Harley Davidson Bike
• (At this point the rider is asked to start up the bike, however it is rigged so it will not start [Spark plug lead taken off]. The bike is started a number of times, but won't fire into life. Fr Max then asks the congregation for suggestions as to how the bike might be started. Eg: Battery flat, no petrol, etc until finally the suggestion comes forward [or a plant offers the advice] that the petrol tap might be turned off. The tap is turned on [in fact the spark plug lead is put back on] and the bike started again. This time it fires into life and is revved a number of times and then turned off[It is wise to warn parents with young children]
• You can see that the bike only fired into life when the petrol tap was turned on to allow the petrol to flow into the engine
• It is like that for us.
• The petrol reminds us of the power and presence of Jesus. The engine is us in our daily life. The tap is what the parents and godparents have control over.
• They can turn the tap on and allow the power and presence of Jesus to flow into the child's life through encouraging the child to say his/her prayers, attending worship, doing the right thing by others, reading and understanding God's word. Parents could read simple bible stories to the child before bed etc
• OR they can turn the tap off by not doing any of these things and prevent Jesus from being a part of the child's life. After all, Jesus does not interfere unless we invite him into our lives. That is what free will is about.
• The choice is ours.
• If the tap is turned on, then the parents and Godparents will be fulfilling the promises they made in the baptism service
• Let us pray that the parents and godparents today make the right choices.

Kids Church Activity:
Participate in the Harley Bike experience

What you need to get ready:

A Harley Davidson Motor Bike.