There’s a baptism at 10:30 am. Focus on the baptism candle.
I’m so happy you’re here today!
So today at the 10:30 am we’re going to have a baptism! I’m really excited about it. God loves us always and a baptism is one of the ways we know God does. Little —- is going to be carried up here to the front and in front of family and friends and the entire church, God is going to make a promise to be with —- always. And this is a gift because the creator of the entire universe, of all the stars and planets and blackholes and all creatures and animals and other people is going to say to give little —– a gift of love that will never end, no matter what. And this gift of love is a promise – a promise from God to help us grow in faith and love towards God and each other.
Part of the baptism involves this….what is it? A candle. A candle! Right! Let’s talk about the candle for a bit. Is it small or big? Is it as big as the altar candles? Is it as big as a birthday candles on a cake? Accept all answer. Get the kids to talk about the candle a lot.
There are only a few times when I use candles at home. When there is a birthday, and we need a special cake or cupcake, we need candles on the cake to represent the party. We put the candles on the cake, sometimes having enough candles to represent how old someone is, light then and then what? Sing a song and watch the person blow out the candles. And when a person blows out a candles, we tell them to do what? Make a wish! We usually tell people not to tell their wish – but sometimes I wish for a special present, or for something fun to happen, or I wish that my family and friends have a fun time or are taken care or etc. What other wishes could you make? Accept answers.
Well, this candle is like a birthday candle because it has a wish attached to it too. But instead of a wish that we ask after we blow the candle out – this wish, this prayer we make, this promise God makes to us, is made once we light the candle. Because scripture tells us that Jesus is like a candle in a darkened room or a flashlight in the middle of a night. When we have a hard decision to make, Jesus promises to help us. When we are confused or worried or don’t know what to do, Jesus promises to the help us. When we have a choice to make between what will only help us and what will help other people, Jesus promises to show us what God wants. This candle is a candle that marks our baptism. It’s a birthday candle that celebrates the day God, in a very public place, tells the entire world that we are loved. This candle will be for —- a sign that Jesus will always light his way. And that’s a wish, a prayer, and a promise that we can never blow out.
Thank you for being up here and I hope you have a blessed week!
Each week, I share a reflection for all children of God. The written manuscript serves as a springboard for what I do. This is from Christ Lutheran Church’s Worship on the 20th Sunday After Pentecost, 10/22/2017.