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On Pentecost Unleash the Astonishing Power and Presence of God’s Holy Spirit

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pentecost with kids

So…Pentecost. Where did it come from? What is it? And how can you talk about it with kids?

Not until I was in my ministry career did I know what Pentecost was. If this is you, no shame. Some churches don’t celebrate it. On the other hand, some churches celebrate it without much explanation at all.

A quick side note here: It doesn’t help anyone to assume that people thinking about the liturgical calendar and know what’s going on. Most people have no idea. And to assume otherwise often leaves people feeling excluded and bored. Furthermore, what a missed opportunity to reveal the power of your tradition and God’s presence among us!

So, explain the history behind Pentecost, because some of us don’t know and because we all can use a refresher. OK, stepping off the soapbox.

Pentecost is all about God’s presence with us through the Holy Spirit. How do you experience God’s presence? We’d love to hear in the comments below!

pentecost with kids

A Shift of Focus at Pentecost

Pentecost is an event we celebrate every year in the Church. And its roots are actually in scripture. If you haven’t already, give Acts chapter 2 a read.

In the Acts story, the disciples were celebrating Festival of Weeks AKA Shavuot AKA Pentecost, a Jewish harvest festival seven weeks after Passover. In Hebrew, Shavuot means “weeks.” In Greek, Pentecost refers to the same thing. But instead, it means “fifty,” the number of days rather than weeks after the last Sabbath of Passover.

What the disciples experienced on this particular Pentecost shifted their focus entirely. It was a pivot in their theology and their faith and ministry practices.

pentecost with kids

A Promise Kept

Jesus promised that a comforter, teacher, and advocate would come to take his place. Enter the Holy Spirit on Pentecost! Acts 2:1-31 tells the story of the Holy Spirit coming to dwell with the disciples.

All that gathered together that day spoke in tongues, and there was something like fire around each of them. It was an amazing day for them. And it would prove to be an extraordinary day for the whole of the faith community.

In the Christian tradition, the Holy Spirit became a part of the picture of what we now call Pentecost. Jesus made a promise and kept it. Pentecost turned out to be a day of fulfillment. The disciples knew they weren’t alone in their work.

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Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit, really the Trinity, is a tricky topic. Since we’ve been conscious creatures, we’ve been searching for ways to talk about God that make sense of our experiences in the world.

The Holy Spirit is the way we speak of God’s presence among us. The Spirit speaks to us, pointing us in the direction that serves us. The Spirit heals us, offers comfort and instruction, and somehow guides Life as she has her being in and through each of our lives.

Talking with Kids About Pentecost

A great way to speak to kids about Pentecost is while coloring! Reflection takes place, and conversations happen when kids are engaged around the table. Invite kids to color together while discussing the following:

  1. Take a moment to close your eyes. Notice where you feel your breath as you breathe. You may feel a faint tingling in your hands or the soles of your feet. God is with us even now as we breathe together, in every part of our body and breath.
  2. We use the name Holy Spirit when we talk about God being here within us and all around us. How might you describe God’s presence using your words? “When God is with me, I feel/things are…”
  3. In the Pentecost story, the Holy Spirit was with the disciples. The Holy Spirit arrived and helped everyone there connect, even though they spoke different languages. How does the Holy Spirit help us use our words to connect with others? Maybe in talking through a conflict or in sharing stories or encouraging each other?
  4. How might it be difficult to understand someone even though they speak the same language as you? And how about when we don’t have much in common with someone else?
  5. The Holy Spirit helps us experience hope, freedom, compassion, understanding, and connection. In what area of your Life can the Holy Spirit help you experience these things now?

pentecost illustrated children's ministry

Pentecost Coloring Pages

We have many options for coloring pages when it comes to Pentecost. One of them, our Pentecost Coloring Page & Poster, is a hand-drawn illustration by our founder, Adam Walker Cleaveland, and can be used in any number of ways to help you celebrate Pentecost in your congregations.

The illustration consists of hand-lettering that says Pentecost in the middle. At the top of the illustration are the words “I will pour out my Spirit.” At the bottom, beneath all the flames, are the words, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Happy coloring! I hope you experience God’s presence anew within and around you this Pentecost.

How do you experience the Holy Spirit? Don’t forget to share with us in the comments below!

Uncover the Majesty of the Divine Feminine This Mother’s Day

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Celebrate Mother’s Day this year by uncovering the power and majesty of the Feminine Divine with your children.

mother's day

Perhaps this Mother’s Day you celebrate because you mother lots of children. Or perhaps you aren’t a mother of children, but of ideas. Maybe you don’t have a relationship with your mother or you speak with her every day. Or perhaps your mother is now gone.

No matter where you find yourself fitting or not fitting this Mother’s Day, there may be even more to celebrate than you’ve imagined.

On Mother’s Day, we celebrate God our Mother. God who loves and offers faithfully, who nurtures, advocates for, and believes in us, who stands, speaks, fights, and births so life can prevail.

And on Mother’s Day we celebrate women, those with and without children, who embody Mother God. The women in the fields feeding us, those caring for the living and the dying, those cheering us on, those birthing their inspiration and inviting us to do the same.

mother's day

We always love hearing from you. Share your thoughts on relating to Mother God this Mother’s Day in the comments below!

Finding God Our Mother in Scripture

Our sacred texts have so much to offer us on Mother’s Day. Look to these scriptures for reflection and prayer! I hope you find joy and appreciation for the feminine within us all as you do.

Mother Eagle – Deuteronomy 32:11-12

God guarded Jacob as an eagle stirs up its nest,
    and hovers over its young;
as it spreads its wings, takes them up,
    and bears them aloft on its pinions.

Birthing Mother – Isaiah 42:14

For a long time I have held my peace,
    I have kept still and restrained myself;
now I will cry out like a woman in labor,
    I will gasp and pant.

Comforting Mother – Isaiah 66:13

As a mother comforts her child,
   so I will comfort you.

Mother Hen – Luke 13:34

How often have I desired to gather your children together [Jerusalem] as a hen gathers her brood under her wings…!

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Ways of Reflecting Upon the Scriptures This Mother’s Day

Paint or Draw

On Mother’s Day, read the scripture repeatedly aloud with your kids. Invite them to look for the words and images that stand out to them as they listen. Perhaps even colors will come to mind. Then, after paying attention to what comes to mind, bring pens or colors to paper and create.

Give your kids ten minutes to draw and color. Then, invite them to share their creations with each other. Close by reading the scripture once more together.

Practice Lectio Divina

On Mother’s Day, read the scripture aloud three times with your kids.

First, read the scripture slowly. Invite your kids to simply listen openly and to gather their focus to the present.

Second, read the scripture and encourage your kids to reflect on what God is giving to them, a word or image in the scripture perhaps.

Third, read the text and invite your kids to respond to God. This can be a time of sharing verbally together, silence, prayer, etc.

Fourth, invite your kids to rest and let go of their thoughts, listening deeply for whatever God brings to them.

mother's day

Breath Prayer

On Mother’s Day, read together one of the scriptures. Invite your children to choose, as you read, a word or phrase that they will speak in rhythm with their breath when you all pray. For example, from Isaiah 66:13, “I will comfort you.” On the inhale perhaps recite silently “I will” and on the exhale “comfort you.”

Consider bringing the group back together playing music or ringing a bell. Invite them to share with each other what the experience was like. Explain that they can use this kind of prayer with any phrase or scripture.

Blessings in Your Mother’s Day Celebration

I hope these scriptures help you connect to God, to women who do and have mothered you, and to the Sacred Feminine within you this Mother’s Day. And don’t forget to share your thoughts on relating to Mother God in the comments below!

mother's day

Further Resources for Mother’s Day Reflection

Talk to Kids About Sin and Restoration without Shaming Them

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What’s sin? Have you, like so many others, ever stumbled over your words trying to answer questions like these from your kids? You’re definitely not alone. Talking to kids about sin can feel like a daunting task.

sin

Maybe you were taught something about sin as a kid that was hurtful or traumatic. And, you don’t want to duplicate that for your kids. Or maybe you’ve moved out of your church background. And now that your ideas have shifted, you’re not sure how to communicate them.

We hope to offer you a few tools for going about talking to your kids about sin in a restorative way. How do you engage this topic with your kids? Share with us in the comments below!

Talking about Sin and Power with Kids

Before beginning any conversation with children and youth about sin, be sure you highlight God’s endless and boundless love. There is more than enough forgiveness for any of our personal or communal screw-ups. Jesus’ grace for even those who betrayed and murdered him is evidence enough for this truth.

Explain that sin has a whole lot to do with power. When there is an imbalance of power, we know that somehow somewhere a person or group is missing the mark. This is what we call sin. Tell your kids that we all miss the mark sometimes and hurt others and/or ourselves.

sin

Give them some examples that will make sense to them. When one group of people has more power to access food, housing, parks, money, education, healthcare, safety, etc. than another, somehow, somewhere, a person or group is missing the mark.

Perhaps, if they are old enough, invite them to give some of their own examples where there are those with more power to access certain things than others. Wonder with them about why that might be.

Explain to your kids that God intends and longs for us all to live an abundant life. A life filled with possibility, hope, and joy. A life that is thriving, because it doesn’t need to be primarily concerned with survival. Then, we begin to share in abundant living together.

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Looking at Sin Individually and Systemically

Awareness and responsibility are the two most important skills we can teach our children when it comes to creating systems that allow equal access for all. So, help your children look for ways they can be balancers of power.

Individually, when trying to stay more powerful than others we become overly concerned with the maintenance of our reputation, stuff, appearance, and status. We start thinking mine and me rather than ours and us.

And when this happens, we shun vulnerability and can begin to lie, horde, gossip, steal, ignore others’ needs, and use violence.

Systemically, sin functions in a similar way. But instead of individuals, large groups making decisions for mine and me rather than ours and us. The effects can feel pretty far removed from the issues we see in the world. However, you can help your kids learn how to decode this.

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Decoding Sin with Kids

To begin decoding sin in a situation, locate an area of suffering. Then, look to see if power to access something is being restricted. Help them search for the why. Figure out a cause. And finally, consider taking action. Here’s an example.

The suffering: Perhaps there are kids getting into trouble after school.

Lack of power to access: Maybe there aren’t safe, constructive activities to do within walking distance.

The why: Kids’ parents are working and can’t pick them up from school to drive them home or to an activity.

The cause: Cost of living force parents to be unavailable. A lack of allocated city resources for parks and recreation.

The action: Start an after school program for homework help or a seasonal sports tournament series. Petition the city for funding. Run a campaign for parks. Create a vanpool to transport kids to after school activities. Start a music program for youth.

Search anywhere. Look in the church, the family, the classroom, the office, the governing bodies, the land. You have endless opportunities to teach your kids about missing the mark and righting wrongs.

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Maintain the Connection

No matter what the question a child brings forth to you, maintain the connection. The fact that they feel comfortable enough to bring the ideas and uncertainty to you is huge. Honor that, and you’ll be serving your relationship and offering them a whole lot of confidence to wonder about their faith.

And don’t forget to share with us in the comments below! How do you teach your kids about sin in restorative ways?