By: Jodi-beth McCain
On Pentecost we pray together, Holy Spirit, come, and renew the face of the earth. In our atrium Pentecost celebrations the developmental stages of the children focus our prayers. The youngest call us to root ourselves in thanksgiving for the here and the now, while the older children often remind us that there is still work to be done in building God’s kingdom of shalom.
Recently, a group of children preparing to receive Communion for the first time were pondering a prompt, “If you want to have the Kingdom of God, observe the commandment____________.” One child suggested, “love everyone.” The group agreed but were not yet satisfied with this response. Someone else suggested, “Love everybody.” Many agreed and spoke of loving more than humans, and that “everybody” could include animals and plants and all of God’s creation. They discussed, wrote, and came to a consensus on the spoken prayers that they would share on the day of the celebration of their Communion. Their prayers included:
We pray for help for people who are in need or are hungry or homeless.
We pray that everyone feels they are part of our community and that we celebrate all of our differences.
We pray for all of God’s creation, for plants and trees and for Oak Flat to survive and have peace.
We pray for wasps, chihuahuas, and horses and for animals with diseases or without a home.
We pray for animals in danger of extinction, for koalas, northern white rhinos and endangered snakes, that they may live as long as possible.
We pray for light, hope, equality and family for all.
As we near the feast of Pentecost, we invite you to join us in praying with the children these intentions of radical communion and expansive love. Holy Spirit, come!
