Trinity Sunday

This Sunday is a special day in the church year called Trinity Sunday. The word “trinity” means “three in one.” So, Trinity Sunday is the day we celebrate the fact that God is three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—but still one God. This is a hard idea to understand, even for adults. It is a mystery, like many things God has done.

We might not understand the Trinity, but it tells us something very important about God: His love is MUCH bigger than the love of just one person. God’s big love is what makes it possible for us to love one another—just like God wants us to!
So, let’s take a closer look at the Trinity and how it shows us God’s love.

Hear
What is the Trinity? And what’s love got to do with it? Watch the video below to learn more.

Think
When you’ve finished watching the video, talk about these questions with your family:
  • Can you think of any times at church when we talk about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
  • What are some ways God loves us as the Father? As the Son? As the Holy Spirit?
  • How does God’s big love show us different ways we can love other people?

Do
Connect more deeply with today's lesson by trying one or more of these activities:
Picture
Make Trinity symbols out of clay.
The church uses different symbols to remind people of the Trinity. Some common symbols are three interlocking circles, a triangle with three equal sides, or a knot with three loops, like the one shown here.

Use modeling clay to make some Trinity symbols. Notice how the three parts of each symbol make one shape that never ends. How is this like God's love?
Picture
Create a shamrock.
According to legend, St. Patrick used the three leaves of the shamrock to explain the Trinity. The heart shape of each leaf also reminds us of the different types of love expressed by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Make your own shamrock out of green paper. Cut out three heart shapes and a stem, then tape or glue the pieces together. If you'd like, you can label one leaf for the Father, another for the Son, and the third for the Holy Spirit.
Picture
Have a snack!
Eat a snack that makes you think about the Trinity! One good option is twist pretzels. Each pretzel has three "holes": one for the Father, one for the Son, and the other for the Holy Spirit. The entire pretzel represents God--and it is shaped a bit like a heart, which reminds us of God's big love.

Apples can also help us understand the Trinity. An apple has three parts: seeds, flesh, and peel. Each part is different and has a different purpose, yet each is still "apple"--just like the three persons of Trinity are different but still God.
Share what you've made! Take a picture of your project and send it to [email protected] so we can include it in our online gallery!

Pray
Thank you, God, for the mystery of the Trinity,
And for the love you show us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Help us share your big love with others so that we can live the way you want us to:
Loving each other, and loving you.
Amen.
CHRIST THE KING LUTHERAN CHURCH
17195 CLEVELAND ROAD  +  SOUTH BEND, IN 46635  +  (574) 272-4306