Community Connection ~ June 8, 2025: Pentecost Pinwheels
June 8: Pentecost Pinwheels
The Pentecost story includes powerful imagery of the Holy Spirit rushing down like the wind. And just as the wind is unseen except in how it moves the things around it, faith exists unseen in our lives - except for in how it moves us. It’s no surprise, then, that a common activity on Pentecost is to make a pinwheel! This week, we encourage you to give this simple, satisfying craft a try, and to reflect on how faith makes your metaphorical pinwheel spin.
In order to make the simplest (and therefore our favorite) version of a pinwheel, all you need is a piece of paper, a pencil with an eraser, and a push pin. Cut the paper into a square (6x6 is the ideal size, but not an absolute requirement), and either fold or trace an X from corner to corner. Cut along each line of the X until you get about an inch from the center of the paper - you will have created 8 corners. Then fold every other corner towards the center without creasing the paper. Go slightly past the center so the four points overlap; we recommend using a small piece of tape or a dab of glue to hold each center point in place, but again, not a requirement. Push your pin through the center, making sure it goes through every layer of paper, and wiggle it around a little to make the hole a bit bigger - that will help your pinwheel spin more freely. Then push the pin into the eraser on a slight downward angle (again, to help it spin more easily). And that’s it!
If you need to see pictures/video to help make sure you’re on the right track, check out this wikiHow tutorial. Just know that we have adjusted their process a bit to make it slightly simpler (and because we think using a pencil is easier than using a dowel).
We hope not only the pinwheel itself but also the process of creating it provides you with some quiet, reflective time. You can extend this time by coloring, drawing, or writing prayers or words of faith on your pinwheel before you fold it. And please share pictures of your finished product with us! You can connect with us on Facebook or Instagram.