This Sunday is Pentecost, the day we often refer to as “the church’s birthday” when teaching children about the liturgical calendar. While I am always in favor of opportunities to eat cake, I think there is an even more important and timely message in the Pentecost story. God’s people are united in their differences. We recognize this most profoundly when we listen to and seek to understand one another. This activity aims to help children see the power of the Holy Spirit as bringing unique people together.
Begin the time with your children by reading aloud the Pentecost story (Acts 2:1-42). Because this is a long reading and it contains images that are challenging for young minds to interpret (fire appearing above people’s heads), a children’s Bible is especially appropriate to use for this activity. Children’s Bibles often condense the story and reshape figurative language. (A particularly wonderful retelling of this text is included in “Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible.”)
After reading the passage aloud, “zoom in” on verses 4-12. (For those using a children’s Bible, this is the portion of the reading where those gathered in Jerusalem realize they are able to comprehend languages other than their own.) Imagine together with your children what it would be like to suddenly be able to understand languages they did not previously know. Try to focus the conversation on the ways that this experience would expand your understanding of other people. You’d be able to hear stories about their lives in the way they are most comfortable telling them.
Explain to your children that the Holy Spirit does not magically allow us to know new languages, but it does help us to connect to one another. It aids us in growing “fruits” that let us become closer to each other. Share Galatians 5:22-23 with your kids. Have them pick out a few of the fruits of the Spirit that they believe help them understand other people. Discuss how these particular fruits allow us to connect with one another. You may even want to share a few personal examples to help jump-start their thinking.
Next, move on to this art project to extend your children’s thinking. Ask them to pick one of the fruits of the Spirit to focus on. Then get on the internet and search for translations of this word in languages other than English or any other languages spoken in your home. Write these translations down on a sheet of paper. (For younger children, you may want to type the translations into a document and print it for use in their art.)
Have your children create pieces of art incorporating these translations as well as images and colors that represent the idea. As they work on their art, continue the conversation on connecting with and striving to understand others. If your children are older, you may even want to bring up events in the news where tragedies occurred because people did not seek to recognize the experiences of someone different than them. Discuss how drawing on the fruits of the Spirit to comprehend what a person was going through might have led to a different outcome.
Here are a few examples of what the art project might look like:
