First Thoughts: As we prepare for this Sunday's worship, we find ourselves contemplating the Trinity. The idea of God as Three-in-One has been the source of inspiration, debate, and outright confusion in the Christian world over the centuries. What exactly does it mean, and how do we celebrate it? My personal understanding of the Trinity is that it points us to the essential nature of God and offers an example to the church. God is community, different voices bringing their gifts and creativity to create, sustain, and support all of creation. Although different voices add to the conversation, ultimately the community of God speaks with one voice and acts with one mind. It gives us an inspiring image of what the church is called to do as well. As you prepare to teach the children, spend a few moments considering how you are blessed by the people in your community, and how their perspectives and gifts challenge and refine your own. Close in a prayer of thanksgiving.
Teaching On Your Own: Hey guys, I have a problem I want to share. See, my friend Sam and I have a band. I play guitar and he plays keyboard, and we're REALLY good. But this new kid just moved into my neighborhood. His name's Drew, and I think he's kind of cool. He even plays the drums really well. I thought I would ask him to join the band, but Sam got really mad. He said two's company and three's a crowd. Have you heard that expression before? Do you think Sam's right? Hey, wait a minute! Does anybody know what today is? It's Trinity Sunday. Do you guys know what the Trinity is? It means we celebrate God in God's three different forms. See, the Trinity teaches us that God operates kind of like a team. You might say that God the Creator is the part of God who holds everything together and keeps everything moving along. God the Christ is the part of God who lives in the world, giving us healing and hope, and God the Spirit is the part of God who keeps everything connected. All these parts work together to make our world work. Kinda like a band when everyone joins together to play the same song. Except you can't really have a band with two people, can you? Now if Drew joins us and plays his drums, we'll have a REAL band. I guess if God works as a team, we can work as a team too. How many of you have been on a team? Working as a team might be a bit difficult at first, as you try to understand each other and learn each other's gifts, but it really can be a huge blessing. Once you let in a third person, it's not so hard to let in even more people and have something even more special. You know what I'm going to tell Sam? "Two's company, three's a party!"
Teaching As A Team:
(Leader 2 looks troubled)
Leader 1: Hey (name), what's up? You look like something might be bothering you.
Leader 2: I'm having a problem with my best friend Sam. He and I have a band together. I play guitar and he plays the keyboard, and we're REALLY good.
Leader 1: I'm sure. Well, then, what's wrong?
Leader 2: A new kid just moved into my neighborhood. His name's Drew, and I think he's kind of cool. He even plays the drums really well. I thought I would ask him to join the band, but Sam got really mad.
Leader 1: Why was he so upset?
Leader 2: He said we didn't need another person hanging around. He said two's company and three's a crowd.
Leader 1: Oh, yes. I've heard that expression before. But it sounds like Sam might have the wrong idea about things.
Leader 2: What do you mean?
Leader 1: Well, today, for example, we're celebrating Trinity Sunday. It means we celebrate God in God's three different forms.
Leader 2: You mean there are three different Gods?
Leader 1: Not exactly. See the Trinity teaches us that God operates kind of like a team. You might say that God the Creator is the part of God who holds everything together and keeps everything moving along. God the Christ is the part of God who lives in the world, giving us healing and hope, and God the Spirit is the part of God who keeps everything connected. All these parts work together to make our world work.
Leader 2: Kinda like a band, working together to play the same song.
Leader 1: Right. Except right now you don't really have a band, just a duo. Now if Drew joins in, you'll have a REAL band.
Leader 2: I guess if God works as a team, we can work as a team too.
Leader 1: Right. Working as a team might be a bit difficult at first, as you try to understand each other and learn each other's gifts, but it really can be a huge blessing. And once you let in a third person, it's not so hard to let in even more people and have something even more special.
Leader 2: That's what I'll tell Sam then: "Two's company, three's a party!"
Closing Prayer: Loving God, help us to learn from your example in the Trinity, to receive the gifts of others and to offer those gifts ourselves. Help us to work together with each other and with you to create a world of peace, love, and joy for all. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: To reinforce this message in a home or classroom environment, ask the children to share what they understand the Trinity to be. Ask them why they think it might be important to understand God as "team God." Your children are likely to have at least been exposed to the idea of BFFs (Best Friends Forever.) Ask them if they have a BFF. Ask them if they have found any problems with this idea. Sometimes a BFF will decide they want us to be their only friend and not want us to be close with anybody else. Although it's great to have this kind of close friendship, only having one close friend isn't really that good for us or for others around us. But if we have two close friends, we're usually open to three or four -- or even more! Since we know God made everybody, and everybody has a gift to give, we want to expand our community as much as we can. This is why the Trinity is so important for us to understand. To have a community you need at least three people, just like the Trinity shows us!
For a craft idea, give each child a copy of the handout of the Enneagram (Adobe PDF).* The Enneagram is an ancient spirituality typing tool that shows us all the gifts God has put into the world through humans. Each of us is born with one of these gifts at our core, but we need all of them if we're going to have whole, balanced lives. That means we need others to provide the gifts that we don't have. Invite the children to color the pictures and think of people in their lives who might bring a certain gift to them. Close with a prayer thanking God for all the many people in our lives.
*The Enneagram is a download (Adobe PDF) attached to this sermon.
