Pentecost

"When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them." - Acts 2:1-4 (MSG)

Worship resources and ideas

Bible Explore has a selection of ideas and material to us in Sunday worship 

Story

Picture
You can read about the story of Pentecost in:
  • Acts 2:1-13
  • The Jesus Storybook Bible - God sends help, p.326-332
  • God's Big Picture Storybook, by NT Wright -  p. ​230-233
  • The Day when God made the church, by Rebekah Mcleaod Hutto ​

Intergenerational worship

Activities

Games

What country am I from? 
You will need: White sticky labels and a pen. 
Preparation: Write the names of a different country on each of the labels. 

Get all the children to line up along a wall, facing the wall. Then put one label on each of their backs. Explain that each of them comes from a different country. The object of the game is for everyone to work out what country they are from. They can ask other children questions to help them work out where they are from. But they can only be answered with 'yes' or 'no'. Also, they can only ask a child one question, no more. Time them to see how long it takes!

​Parachute games
Talk about how the Holy Spirit is like the wind. It holds us up and fills us up and makes us float. The Holy Spirit first came to the disciples like a rushing wind.
  • “Spirit Says”  - like Simon says…Spirit says wave the parachute fast, wave it slow, make it still, put it over your head, turn around and hold it, etc.
  • “Tent Time” – everyone raises their arms up holding the parachute together, takes a few steps in toward the center, brings the parachute behind them, and sits down on the edge to make a mushroom, tent, dome, etc.
  • “Ball Bounce”  - use balloons and tennis balls on the parachute.  You can try to keep them all on, try to bounce them all off, split into two sides and try to get the balloon off the other team's side, etc.
  • “Switch Places” – number off the children, in 4's maybe?  Raise up the parachute, call out a number or two, and those kids run under the parachute and switch places or find a new place.

Prayers

Here are some dove and template flags for you to use in your pentecost prayer activities - as prayers, parts of banners, or crafts. ​
Flying Flames Prayers
Template: Flying flames prayers
Use the flying flames activity to remember how God sent the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Pray that we would be filled with the Holy Spirit too, empowered to love and care for the world. 
​Flame Finger Labyrinth
Here is a template for an A4 Flame Finger Labyrinth (Strandz)
Dove Flame Prayers
What you need:
  • Dove Flame Template pre cut in colour (red, orange and yellow - or in white if you want to allow people time to colour their birds).
  • blue tac or tape
  • A blank wall, pinboard or paper to write "Holy Spirit" or anything else across the top
  • pens, felts, crayons

What you do:
Use the dove/flame template as you talk about Pentecost and the Holy Spirit. Give out the pre cut doves/flames and demonstrate how, by turning the dove on it's side, it is also a flame. Talk about how the Holy Spirit gives us power, wisdom, etc.  You can also talk about the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

Ask each person to hold their flame and in a moment of silence, think about their own lives and the things the Holy Spirit helps them do.  

Close this time in prayer, thanking God for the gift of His Holy Spirit.  Then ask people to colour in their dove/flame and/or write something their thankful for.  If people don't know what to write, they can draw a picture or even just write their name.  Encourage adults and older children to help the younger ones.

As people finish, invite them to come and put their flame/dove at the front, as a corporate act of prayer. You could make a board/poster, or just bluetac them to the wall or prominent place, to remind everyone of what the Holy Spirit does for us everyday.
The Lord's Prayer in different languages
You might like to replace the lines with some of the languages that are important to your church family, or invite different members from the congregation to contribute their own languages to the prayer. 
​
E tō mātou Matua i te rangi (Te reo Maori) 
Geheiligt werde Dein Name, (German)
Your kingdom come, (English)
Laat u wil geskied, (Afrikaans)
jako w niebie tak i na ziemi (Polish)
Hōmai ki a mātou āianei
he taro mā mātou mō tēnei rā. (Te reo) 
A maddau I ni ein dyledion, (Welsh)
assim como nós perdoamos a quem nos tem ofendido, (Portuguese)
En leid ons niet in bekoring, (Dutch)
ma liberaci dal male (Italian)
Thi dit er Riget og magten og æren, (Danish)
i evighet. (Norwegian)
Amin (Romanian)

Look up, in and out!

  • ​​Look up! God sent his Holy Spirit in a surprising and amazing way! Flickering fire, and people speaking in different languages! How would you have felt to be there, too?
  • Look in! Jesus’ friends were together in the room. We don’t need to do this journey to Pentecost alone, either. God’s church is for everyone - all shapes, sizes, ages! Try and find a good faith-filled-friend to talk to about God.
  • Look out! People in today’s story were confused by what was happening! Today, people may be confused about Christians, too.  If your friends have questions about God or the church, ask​ God for the right words to talk with them.

Pentecost Media

You can read about the story of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-13, and in the Jesus Storybook Bible - God sends help, p.326-332

CHILDREN + FAMILIES MINISTRY FOR THE ANGLICAN DIOCESES OF NEW ZEALAND

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