Pentecost - God's Love is for everybody
This week is Pentecost, when we celebrate the way that God breathes through each of us. One of the very special things about Pentecost is that on that day, the disciples of Jesus were able to tell the story of Jesus in all different languages. This reminds us that God sent Jesus for everyone in the world, that God loves everybody. God’s spirit is like the wind, sent to breathe through us to make beautiful things happen, showing God’s love to all.
Read It
Acts 2:1-4
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. - NRSV
Acts 2:1-4
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. - NRSV
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Do It
Spirit of God: Talk about the spirit of God, something that we can’t see, but it is very active and makes things happen. Go fly a kite, and as you fly it, talk about how many people can see it and enjoy its beauty. We work with the wind to make it fly, and that’s how the Holy Spirit works, too. God’s Table: Invite some friends over, friends who speak multiple languages if possible. Have everyone bring a dish that’s from a different culture. Set the table with red, the color of the fire of the Pentacost. Before the meal, reach hands up and say the same prayer in all the languages represented. |
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Pray It
Thank you for the presence of your Spirit!
Thank you for the presence of your Spirit!
Extras
The Holy Spirit is hard to understand, hard to explain. Because many of us struggle to have a grasp on it as adults, it's a daunting task to explain it to our children. Here are some ways of thinking about the Holy Spirit - some more geared for adults, some more for children.
The Holy Spirit is hard to understand, hard to explain. Because many of us struggle to have a grasp on it as adults, it's a daunting task to explain it to our children. Here are some ways of thinking about the Holy Spirit - some more geared for adults, some more for children.
- St. Patrick's Clover: St. Patrick is said to have explained the Trinity (God, Jesus, Holy Spirit) as a clover. The three petals are separate, but all part of the same thing.
- Breath: The Greek and Hebrew words for spirit are both sometimes translated as breath. Using our own breath as an object lesson can be effective with children (and adults!). Blow your breath out. See what you can do with it (blow out a candle, blow bubbles, cool food). You can't see it, but you know it's there because of what it does. Now hold your breath. You can't just hold it forever. We need breath to live, just like the Holy Spirit gives us live.
- Button-pusher: During my fumbling attempt to explain the Holy Spirit to our 4-year-old, he said, "Oh! It's my button-pusher!" To him, those urges he gets to pray for someone, go help a person, give something away, share a smile, or hug his brother feel like a button getting pushed in him to help him know what to do.
