I fell in love with The Day When God Made Church: A Child’s Book About Pentecost the first time I saw it. This was shortly after it was published last year with words by Rebekah McLeod Hutto and illustrations by Stephanie Haig. Hutto’s language captures the wonder and excitement of the coming of the Holy Spirit to the early Christians on the first Pentecost, while Haig’s illustrations are colorful, fun, and inspiring. The publisher, Paraclete Press, lets you view the entire book on its website. You can also watch a video about the making of the illustrations. The book would make a wonderful addition to a children’s ministry collection or as a gift to a child or even an adult who would appreciate the beautiful words and drawings.
I first heard about the book when PRC presented a webinar titled “Worship for All Ages: Ideas for Pentecost” led by our own Karen Ware Jackson. (The free webinar was recorded and can be viewed using the link in this paragraph.) Rev. Jackson suggested using The Day When God Made Church in a worship service for all ages. Calling the book “amazing” and “inspiring,” she said it could be simply read, as the words stand on their own, or read while showing the images (after getting permission from the publisher). She also suggested that children or even the entire congregation could enact the images as the words are read, as in this passage:
A new sound comes.
WORDS!
Words, like raindrops,
fall across the room.
Some with LOUD sounds,
some with quiet WHISPERS,
words like DRUMBEATS,
words that TIPTOE through the air.
The last page of the book includes ideas for parents, educators, and pastors for celebrating Pentecost with children using symbols, participation in worship, and even holding a birthday celebration for the church.
would love to win this book for my church!
Looks like an amazing book!!! Pentecost plans in the works!
I would love a free copy!
This book would make a great addition to our ministry resources!
Would love this book for our kiddos.
Thank you for this helpful review. I’ve been wanting tocheckbthid book out.
I want to add this to our church library!
I am always looking for great ways to re-tell important stories of our faith!
Our Sunday school classroom teachers would love to have an additional way to tell this story. Thank you for your article!
What a wonderful book!
Would love to add this to our church’s library!
Yes! I’d love to have this book!
Pick me. Sounds like a great book.
Looks great!
Quite an appropriate book to be published by Paraclete Press! 😉
It sounds terrific.
I’d love to win this book from a fellow author!
Love new ideas with children!
Looks amazing! Would love to have a copy of this book.
This would be an amazing book!!! I would live a copy.
I would love to have this book for Children’s Church!
This looks like a wonderful book to add to our library!
Would love to be able to share this book with others
I would love to have this book for my church!
I would love a copy to share with families at our church!
This book has been on my wish list for a while, so I would love to have a copy!
I’ve been wanting this book for our children at church! Awesome!
What an amazing opportunity. Thank you so much for making this offer. It’s a lovely book.
Any opportunity to help kids connect with the language of the church is such a gift! Would love to win this book!
Very impressed with this. It tells the story simply!
This would be wonderful as I prepare Pentecost Sunday in my church.
I think I just fell in love with a book…. 🙂
Would love to win a copy! Have heard good things about this book and always looking for new Pentecost resources.