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The Advocate Comes
Based on this morning’s Gospel—John 16:5-11
Parents: How can one understand the Holy Spirit? That is the challenge. The concept behind today's Gospel lesson is that Jesus stepped aside in his earthly form so that the Spirit, the "Advocate," could come to all people all over. The limits of time and space are not limitations to the Holy Spirit.
 The Spirit is compared to the wind (in fact the words "wind" and "spirit" are the same in the Greek language). "Can you see the wind?" "How do we know the wind is real?" "How can we know God's Spirit is real?" (We know the wind is real even though we cannot see it because of the effects it produces in the trees, the clouds, the water, and feeling its effects on our skin.)
The reading from Ezekiel (37:1-14) is a wonderful story to act out. It tells of God's giving life to dry bones by breathing life into them.
Make special "Blessed Pentecost" cards with captions conveying the blowing breath of new life God gives through the work of the Holy Spirit. Cards could be made with computerized card-maker programs and the children could design them. Send them to family, friends, and neighbors. What a great way to witness your family’s faith!
Make Pentecost a special day in your family. Develop some family traditions around this un-commercialized Christian holy day. Some ideas:
Plant red flowers such as geraniums.
Read the Pentecost story from Acts 2 as part of your family devotions.
If you do not yet have daily family devotions, let the renewal of Pentecost flow into your family life and begin having such devotions.
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