by Flo Oakes, Director of Children’s Spiritual Formation at St. Mary of Bethany

I admit that sometimes as a parent, as a children’s minister, and even as an Anglican, I wonder if it really matters what we teach our families about the church calendar. Do they really get it? How important is it?

Eastertide and Pentecost are a great reminder for me not to underestimate these opportunities! I’ve seen that children hold a natural wonder and excitement (and sometimes skepticism) for nearly everything, and a good way to show children that they belong, that they are whole and valuable members of God’s Kingdom, is to share these liturgies and calendar days together—rather than gloss over them.

As Easter comes to a close, we look forward to Pentecost (the day we remember and celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ followers). Here are some quarantine-friendly ways to celebrate at home as a family:

1. Feast Together.

It is a feast day, after all! Pick out your favorite feast foods and break bread together. Use red napkins at the table. Afterward, put on your favorite music and hold a living room dance party. Maybe even wear red.

Ask: I wonder how the disciples felt when God gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit?

2. Listen Together.

Grab a blanket and sit outside on the grass. Close your eyes. Pay attention to the physical sensations of being outside. Do you hear any birdcalls? Is it windy outside? Can you hear the rustling of the grass in the breeze or feel the wind on your skin?

Ask: I wonder if there is anything about being outside that reminds you of God?

3. Read Together.

Light a candle and read the story of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-2) together as a family. Depending on the ages of your family members, you could read from a storybook Bible or straight from scripture (for older members, you could read Acts 2 in its entirety). You might even consider lighting a bonfire outdoors if you are able.

Ask: I wonder if the disciples were afraid of the fire?

4. Create Together.

We see the Holy Spirit represented at times as fire, wind, and even a dove. Younger children may enjoy making a pinwheel like this and seeing what happens on a breezy day. We can’t see the wind, but we can see what happens to a pinwheel when the wind turns it.

Ask: We can’t see wind, but we know it’s there—I wonder if that reminds you of anything else?

Very small children might like to make a dove craft like this using their hands:

Ask: I wonder why God sometimes used a dove to represent the Holy Spirit?

5. Sing Together.

God gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to the disciples on Pentecost—can you imagine how they had felt up to this point, waiting for this promised gift, wondering what in the world was going on after their world had been turned upside down? How they longed to hear from their friend, Jesus!

We are currently in a time of waiting as well. We long to hear from God in these strange and unprecedented days. “Spirit of the Living God,” by Audrey Assad, reminds us that God is the same God then and now. It’s God’s voice and breath that we have always longed for. Sometimes God’s voice is clear and sometimes we wonder where God is—or if God is even with us at all. Children feel all of these things, too. Consider learning/singing this song together as a family.

Ask: I wonder if there is a time you can remember when you heard from God, or when God felt close?

A Timely Celebration

Now, more than ever, it is an excellent time to talk about the church calendar—to remember the things God has done and to bring some rhythm and punctuation to the seemingly never-ending days we are experiencing. And may we remember that the God who sent wind and fire is the same God who speaks in a still, small voice—ever with us, in every moment of our year.

Flo Oakes is Director of Children’s Spiritual Formation at St. Mary of Bethany. She is passionate about children’s spirituality and creating art and resources that affirm the dignity of children. For the last several years, she has written and performed children’s music with the band Rain for Roots and authored a children’s ecology curriculum (“Wild Wonder”) for A Rocha, a faith-based environmental conservation organization. She also has experience teaching preschool and leading Creation Care Camp for kids and holds a BA from Lipscomb University in sustainability and writing.