31 May 2026
Bible readings for today
Liturgical colour: WHITE Trinity Sunday celebrates the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, the three Persons of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
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CollectAlmighty God,
by your grace alone we are accepted and called to your service; strengthen us by your Holy Spirit and empower our calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. E te Atua kaha rawa, mā tōu aroha noa anake e whakaae i a mātou hei kaimahi māu; mā tōu Wairua Tapu hoki mātou e whakakaha, e whakamana i tāu i karanga i a mātou. Ko Īhu Karaiti tō mātou Ariki. Āmine. |
Trinity Sunday
Input for LeadersIntroduction
The Trinity can be a big theological concept for kids (and adults) to grapple with. We have a Father who loves us, Jesus who came to earth to show us who God is, and the Holy Spirit who lives inside us to help, encourage, empower and lead us. But they are all also one! We may not understand everything, but we can know that we are more loved that we can ever know. |
Gospel Conversations 2023 (Diocese of Dunedin) Matthew 28:16-20
Trinity Sunday! It's the one Sunday of the year dedicated to a doctrine - which may be why preachers sometimes dread it! But our panel today ponder not what some might see as a dry doctrine, but a God of relationships, of love, of welcome, of mystery: a God who asks us not to keep that love to ourselves, but to go out to make disciples of Love in our world. Lectio Visio
Two beautiful free downloadable images by Sarah Lea West. All Rights Reserved, shared and distributed with permission. Terms of use
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Intergenerational Worship |
Kids Talks |
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Intergenerational worship ideas for Trinity Sunday (Intergenerational Ministry, Auckland Anglican Dio) - includes God, Jesus and Holy Spirit stations plus some other ideas.
Quick Questions
Preschool PlayHere are some ways you can invite your preschoolers to play their way into the bible story and spending time with God.
Share the Story: Try one of these two lovely simple ways to explore ideas about the Trinity with little ones.
One...two...three... : Have a collection of items in threes... 3 books, 3 blocks, 3 animals. Bonus points if they are things that can go together e.g. stacking cubes or stacking dolls. Also include some things that go together e.g. (plastic) knife, fork, spoon, a set of three farm animals - mum, dad, baby. Things to talk about: Sorting and counting and stacking are lots of fun for preschoolers. What do they notice about the items? What is important about 3? Can things be three but also one? Three animals, one family? Ice Cream Sundaes: (Faith Journey) - Why not have a Trinity 'Sundae' - neapolitan flavour - 3 in 1! Playdough station: Try offering 3 colours of playdough or add a laminated trinity symbol playdough mat. Pray it!Strandz have put together this fun kinetic way to pray using a (somewhat Trinity like) fidget spinner. Download the Fidget Spinner prayer and a new kids worksheet to go alongside it, to draw or write your prayers.
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How to explain the Trinity to Children (A Heart To Know) - a great explanation of the Trinity using a Celtic Knot. Also covers common metaphors (egg, apple, water, person) and what works about them and what doesn't. Recommend!
Three in One (Christianity Cove) - object lesson with playdough. The Trinity (Sunday School Works) - it's okay if we don't fully understand it. Who's and What's (The Gospel Coalition) - three who's but one 'what'. God is love (Equipper) - The Trinity as a loving relationship. Games and ActivitiesThree-in-one games and activities (BRF) - a whole selection of games, ice-breakers and activities to get your kids moving and thinking. Includes some great ideas of how you can talk to the children about the trinity.
Ice Cream Sundaes: (Faith Journey) - Why not have a Trinity 'Sundae' - neapolitan flavour - 3 in 1! Another Name For... Divide into teams and give each team paper and pens. Read out a word from your prepared list (names, places, or describing words work well — you could even include words like God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit). Teams have one minute to write down as many words as they can that mean the same thing. Repeat with at least five different words, then compare the teams’ answers and see how many they found. Trinity Bracelet (Sermons 4 Kids) – To help the children remember that the trinity is 3 in 1, have them make a bracelet that contains three strands. There are various ways to do this and with various types of material. Use whatever you have on hand – yarn, ribbon, string, leather strands, elastic, etc. Tie three pieces together at one end; then, if you have any beads or charms you could let them decorate the strands and then tie them together at the other end. Then tie both ends together (or use hooks if you have them). Origami Bracelet (Cultivating Catholics) Celtic Knot Stained Glass (A Heart To Know) Stained Glass Christian Symbols (Flame Creative) - using plastic lids. Make a 3-D triangle (Makezine) Worksheets: God the Father, Jesus the Son, & Holy Spirit (Ministry to Children) Trinity Shield (TPT) - make a Shield of the Trinity (a traditional Christian visual symbol which expresses many aspects of the doctrine of the Trinity). Draw your own version of the Shield of the Trinity (Catholic Icing). Go now...At the end of church services in the Anglican Dioceses in New Zealand, many of our congregations finish with "Go now, to love and serve the Lord. Go in peace!" to which the response is, "Amen! We go in the name of Christ!"
Remind the group of these words, and how they reflect the words of today's passage in Matthew 28. In the same way Jesus sends out his disciples into the world, we are sent too -- empowered by His same spirit. |
What is the Trinity?
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The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20)
Intergen Worship
TalksFull lessons plans & activities (Trueway Kids) - for a variety of ages.
We can teach like Jesus (RFour) The Great Commission (MinistrySpark) - grab and go sample lesson for older primary kids. Great Commission Object Lesson (Sunday School Works) - using dominos to show the power of sharing the gospel Matthew 28:16-20 (Gary Neal Hansen) - a paraphrased retelling of today's story. |
ActivitiesA selection of games and activities, including a board game (Ministry Ark)
Preschool PlayBaby and Toddler lesson (Trueway Kids)
Pray it!How would you feel prayers (adapted from Ministry Ark)
You will need some pre-cut templates of speech bubbles, pens IMAGINE - you are one of the disciples when Jesus tells you to go into all the world. ASK - What is going through your mind? WRITE - in the speech bubbles what they would like to respond to Jesus when he tells them to go. i.e. “I’m too scared” “Yes God I will go” “Why me?” “How?” etc. DISCUSS (optional and only if the kids are happy to share) PRAY - Have a short time of quiet where kids can talk to God about their answers and listen to what he has to say. CreativityAn opportunity for co-creation as you consider how our many hands (talents, giftings) can be used to 'go and make disciples of all nations'
Source: Katrina McManus
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Creation (Genesis 1)
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Genesis 1 & 2 describe in creative imagery how God created the world, the home that we love and enjoy. Whether you are in the creationist camp or the evolution camp, we believe that science and faith need not be so binary and dualistic. Fostering a faith in children that is full of wonder, mystery, openness, creativity and inquisitiveness is key, as we help them understand that God loves the world, and everything/everyone in it. We may not know how God made the world, and we can uncover clues and amazing evidence along the way, but we hold both together in a beautiful tension.
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Activities
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Children's StoriesToday's bible story from Genesis is a great one to share with children, and there are a few different options for doing this. Our favourites include:
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