Pentecost - thursday after Pentecost Sunday
1) game – uno spin
2) Pentecost Acts
2:1-42
Pentecost is
the festival when Christians celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is
celebrated on the Sunday 50 days after Easter (the name comes from the Greek pentekoste, "fiftieth").
Pentecost Symbols
The
symbols of Pentecost are those of the Holy Spirit and include flames, wind, the
breath of God and a dove.
It has a historical significance, as it commemorates God giving the Torah
to Moses on Mt. Sinai. It also commemorates the time when the first fruits of
the wheat harvest were brought to the Temple in the form of leavened bread (Lev 23:17).
3) Video
4) Sit quietly….
“the followers of Jesus were trying to work out
what they were supposed to do now that Jesus had died, risen again and gone to
heaven. Their entire ministry so far had been with Jesus – he could teach them
what to do, but now he wasn’t there to help them! They had gathered together in
a room in Jerusalem, and it was during the festival of Pentecost.”
Put on fan
“as the believers were gathered, a strong wind
filled the room.”
how strange
this would have been - wind inside the house?!
“something even stranger happened. Something
appeared over the heads of the disciples“ .. light jar
What do you
think the atmosphere is the room was like?
What had
happened? The Holy Spirit had arrived,
and filled each of them, giving them God’s power. The believers began to speak in different languages – ones they have never even heard before!
and filled each of them, giving them God’s power. The believers began to speak in different languages – ones they have never even heard before!
At the time loads of people were in in Jerusalem
from all over the area, from lots of different countries. They could hear the
noise from inside the house.
‘What is
happening?’ they asked. ‘I can hear people talking about God in my own
language, how is this possible?’
Some of the people laughed at them, thinking the
believers were crazy or drunk. No one knew what was going on!
Then Peter stood up in front of the crowd which
had gathered and began to speak. He spoke with passion and authority. The
people listened to him. He reminded the people that the prophets had told them
that this would happen, that God was going to send his spirit to help them. He
told them about Jesus, and about how he had been sent as a gift from God for
the people, but the people had rejected him and put him to death.
Those that were listening felt terrible about
what they had done to Jesus, and they asked Peter what they should do. He told
them that they should change their lives, turn to Jesus who has the power to
forgive all people, and be baptised.
The Bible tells us that about 3000 people turned
to Jesus that day !
It’s often called the “Birthday of the church”
5)
Response:
Lead the group in a game of musical statues. Instead of
watching out for people who are moving when the music stops and them being out,
ask people to use the moment in silence to think about the story, and about
what God is saying to them. Make sure you leave an appropriate pause between
each section of music. Encourage energetic dancing to the music to celebrate
the forgiveness that we have in Jesus.
6)
Craft
Windsocks! Pentecost is when a rushing
wind brought The Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit is like the wind; we can’t see
it, but it’s there. Sometimes, we can feel it though! Each child can choose a
colored paper bag, cut off the bottom to make a tube. Decorate with stickers,
foam, sequins, and markers. Glue/tape streamers to one end, and tape a piece of
yarn to each side of the other end to make a handle.
7)
Praying
for People
each kid has a piece of paper . A4 in quarters
Where they write the name of someone they
would like God to bless this week.
They might like to include some detail on
the person or their situation,
Once
done, ask everyone to scrunch up their paper into a ball and on cue throw them
(gently!) into the air.
Everyone should then catch another one, open
it up and pray for the person on the paper.
