D/G CIRCUS SPECTACULAR: A DESIGN SESSION 52: "ME, MYSELF & I: SHADOWS OFGOD" (a tableau for Pentecost, Holy Trinity and Peace Tree Day) BIBLICAL BASIS: Acts 2:1-21 – the story of Pentecost (cf Exodus 34:22; Leviticus 23:21; Numbers 28:26; Deuteronomy 16:10) Galatians 5:22-23 – "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace (read "wholeness")…." John 3:8 – "The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born (read "baptized") of the Spirit." RESOURCES: "Pockets," vol.30, no.5, June, 2010, pp 6, 42, 43; IDB, v.2, pp626-38. PROJECT: spotlighted "actors" in ring 2; making/coloring interfaith decorations for "peace tree" set up at baptismal font in narthex. AVAILABLE TIME: @30 minutes. PURPOSE: celebrating and explaining the Holy Trinity and the gift of peace (ie "wholeness") given by the Holy Spirit. ________________________________________________________________________________ 1. Calliope plays one verse of "Holy, Holy, Holy," LBW#165 2. Dismissal to the "Big Top" with the "Big Ticket" 3. All welcomed, admitted to the tent 4. 3-ring action including: RING 1 CENTER RING RING 2 D/G VIDEO PLAYING: SAY: When something very special and "Rickety-Rackety" stupendous is going to happen in a circus, the lights in the tent are turned down so that all in the audience will know something special is going to happen. And today something special is going to happen in ring 2…so…but first, I need a volunteer to be the special act in ring 2. [ASK FOR A VOLUNTEER] Okay, (child's name) has volunteered. Thank you very much. Now, will someone turn off the lights. [LIGHTS TURNED OFF] Thank you. Okay, here we go. SAY: [LIKE A RINGMASTER WOULD] Ladies and gentlemen and children of all ages. I direct your attention to ring 2 and the fabulous, …exciting, …amazing, …stupendous, …incredible (child's name). [TURN ON SPOTLIGHTS, CHILD DOES ROUTINE OF CHOICE, WHEN DONE……] SAY: Thank you (child's name) for that great routine. ASK: Okay, what did you see? [KIDS RESPOND] [ALLOW OTHER CHILDREN TO DO ROUTINE IF THEY WISH, POINT OUT THE 2 SHADOWS SURROUNDING THE PERSON] SAY: Yes, the person and the 2 shadows Almost like 3 "persons" (ie from the Latin "persona") in one. The church calls that "Trinity." "Trinity" is a way of talking of the one God revealing himself, …showing himself in 3 different ways as: …Father – creator, …Son – redeemer, …Holy Spirit – comforter and leader into future. This in the time of the year the church calls Pentecost. A time of remembering God's presence with us through the Holy Spirit: his love for us, …his joy for us, …his patience with us, …the PEACE he gives to us: "devout people of every nation" (read: "gentiles"). [MOVE TO CENTER RING] SAY: And tomorrow (or whenever June 1 is) is a very special day to many people around the world. It is called: "PEACE TREE DAY." A festival especially for children, …youth and …families of every culture and …faith to celebrate peace in diversity. A celebration that started in the cities of Toronto and …Vaughn, Canada in 2006. A celebration being implemented …in Israel to help understand children from Jewish and …Muslim cultural backgrounds, …in Kashmier, India to Hindu and …Muslim children, and …in Chicago and Phoenix, …New York and San Francisco. [EXPLAIN PEACE TREE PROJECT, THE SYMBOLS, AND HOW KIDS WILL HANG THEIR DECORATED ORNAMENTS ON OUR PEACE TREE BY THE BAPTISMAL FONT IN THE NARTHEX.] [AS KIDS ARE MAKING PEACE ORNAMENTS, DO THE FOLLOWING FROM "POCKETS": P.6 – "10 WAYS TO MAKE THE WORLD MORE PEACEFUL" P.43 – "CHOOSE PEACE" P.42 – "KEEPING THE P'S"] [CLOSE WITH ECHO PRAYER: Loving Father, thank you for the gift of peace in our lives you give us in Jesus. May we share that peace, …hope and …love with others. Amen.] [GO TO PEACE TREE BY BAPTISMAL FONT AND HANG ORNAMENTS].