{"id":1372,"date":"2020-04-16T17:32:23","date_gmt":"2020-04-16T17:32:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.presbyterianmission.org\/weekly-offerings\/?p=1372"},"modified":"2020-04-16T17:32:23","modified_gmt":"2020-04-16T17:32:23","slug":"pentecost-building-the-household-of-god-with-children-youth-and-young-adults","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/centernet.pcusa.org\/weekly-offerings\/2020\/04\/16\/pentecost-building-the-household-of-god-with-children-youth-and-young-adults\/","title":{"rendered":"Pentecost: Building the Household of God with Children, Youth and Young Adults"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcomed into God’s household<\/h4>\n

Take a minute to look back on your life. Who all have you lived with? In the earliest parts of our lives, we might live with parents or grandparents or other caring adults. Perhaps siblings. Over the years, we might live with friends and extended family, family of choice or even sometimes with strangers. And sometimes we might find ourselves living alone.<\/p>\n

No matter whom we live with now, or whom we have lived with before, God\u2019s vision\u00a0 for the world is that everyone find a place within God\u2019s kingdom\u2014God\u2019s house. What\u00a0 we celebrate at Pentecost is God\u2019s pouring out of the Holy Spirit so that people of every identity and language can hear a word of welcome into God\u2019s household.\u00a0 All belong in God\u2019s household, and we get to live together, and learn together and\u00a0 celebrate together.<\/p>\n

“God from my youth you have taught me”<\/h4>\n

\"\"At Pentecost, we look especially to the children, youth and young adults with whom God has called us to live. The psalmist reminds us of the importance of faith being\u00a0 established during our earliest years, saying, \u201cGod from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.\u201d God\u2019s youngest family members need\u00a0 support to build their full potential in both faith and life, and all of us have a role to play. These young ones also show and sometimes teach all of us more about faith in Jesus Christ and how the Holy Spirit is moving in our world.<\/p>\n

The Pentecost Offering supports the development of children, youth and young adults in throughout the country. Forty percent of this offering stays within your communities because we want to build the household of God together. The remainder is sent on to the denomination so that young adults can lay a foundation for their lives through a year of service as part of the Young Adult\u00a0 Volunteer program. It is also used to support ministries with youth, through experiences of worship and formation like the Presbyterian Youth Triennium, which gathers nearly 5,000 young people every three years to learn and grow together. There is also a portion of this Offering that supports the education of every child in this country, through the Educate a Child, Transform the World national initiative. Even when there are no children or\u00a0 young people in the places where we live, there are many, many with us in the\u00a0 household of God.<\/p>\n

During this Pentecost season, join us in celebrating the fact that we are building a life of faith and building the household of God with our children, youth and young adults. Through our gifts today, we join with them and with God in building that household\u00a0 together. And you know what we always say \u2026 if we all do a little, it adds up to a lot.<\/p>\n

Let us pray<\/h4>\n

Holy Spirit, breathe on us.\u00a0 Inspire us to give and to grow\u00a0 your household. Thank you for the special place you offer to\u00a0 the youngest members of your family. May our efforts reflect the joy and delight\u00a0 that Jesus showed in welcoming children. Amen.<\/p>\n

Join us<\/h4>\n

For more information and resources related to the Pentecost offering, visit\u00a0presbyterianmission.org\/pentecost.<\/a>
\n<\/u> This post is based on the Minute for Mission script which can be found on our\u00a0website<\/a>\u00a0as a\u00a0script<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Please give generously to the Offering:<\/p>\n