Happy Pentecost!
The Day of Pentecost marks fifty days since Easter Day and brings the Easter season to an end. It is a major feast of the Church’s year when Christians recall how God’s Holy Spirit was given to the disciples after Jesus’ ascension, empowering them to begin the work of making disciples of all nations.(The Church of England Website)
Ages 3-7 (8+years below)
1. Opening Prayer:
"Dear God, we thank you for this SPECIAL Sunday, when your Holy Spirit brings the gifts of love and inspiration to our church family. Amen".
2. Opening Story:
Today we celebrate the BIRTHDAY of the Church! Many many years ago, God sent his Holy Spirit to Jesus' followers, boys and girls, and gave them all inspiration to share the Good News that people are God's children. That everyone is very precious in God's eyes.. Today we celebrate Pentecost (a Greek word for 50) as 50 days ago we celebrated Easter!
3. Watch this story:
4. Prayer:
- we thank God for the Holy Spirit who makes us one, big family.
- we pray for all children and parents and we ask God for the blessing.
- we pray for all who are not well or sad.
- we pray for our Sunday School.
Amen.
5. Activity:
Maybe we can make a cake with parents?
As Pentecost is known as the Birthday of the Church, it seems traditional to make a 'Birthday cake'! Can you show off those lockdown baking skills to create a cake/cupcakes? Perhaps you could make a 'fruits of the spirit' cake e.g blueberry muffins, pineapple upside down cake, banana bread, strawberry topping on a Victoria sponge. Share these cakes with your family in the spirit of love, kindness and generosity the Holy Spirit inspires.
If something lighter is in order, why not a fruit salad or fruit kebabs? The children can help cut up the softer fruit, and as each one is added to the bowl we can think of a different quality the Holy Spirit inspires. Please see the reading from Galatians below for ideas:
Galatians 5:22-23 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Fruit of the Spirit
22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.
Eg. A banana for kindness, passionfruit for love, pineapple for peace etc. A Fruits of the Spirit salad!
6.5. We can sing Happy Birthday to our church, St Mary's (especially if you make a cake!) and recite the Lord's Prayer (see the bottom of the page).
Colouring picture:
8+year olds
1. Opening prayer:
"Dear Lord Jesus, you have promised us that Your best Friend, the Holy Spirit will come. Today we celebrate the day when the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus' followers. We thank you for the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life and homes. Amen".
2. 50 days ago we celebrated Easter! Today we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit with many gifts. When did we encounter the Holy Spirit first time in our life? Maybe we don't remember, but perhaps it was our baptism (or Christening). Do you have any photos of this event? Can you see how little you were? Since then, the Holy Spirit is with each one of us. Today the Holy Spirit comes with special gifts: please read Paul's Letter to Galatians 5.22-23:
Galatians 5:22-23 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Fruit of the Spirit
22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.
This about these qualities the Holy Spirit embodies. Which gift (or fruit) would you like to receive in your current life? Why?
3. Watch this video:
4. As Pentecost is known as the Birthday of the Church, it seems traditional to make a 'Birthday cake'! Can you show off those lockdown baking skills to create a cake/cupcakes? Perhaps you could make a 'fruits of the spirit' cake e.g blueberry muffins, pineapple upside down cake, banana bread, strawberry topping on a Victoria sponge. Share these cakes with your family in the spirit of love, kindness and generosity the Holy Spirit inspires.
If everyone has had enough cake, why not a fruit salad or fruit kebabs? Brainstorm what each fruit could represent as they are added. Eg. A banana for kindness, passionfruit for love, pineapple for peace etc. A fruits of the Spirit salad!
5. Prayers:
- we give thanks for the presence of the Holy Spirit among us and the gifts that we have received.
- we pray for all people who find the current time difficult, especially we pray for children, teachers, doctors, scientists and key workers.
- we pray for our families and neighbours from our streets.
- we pray for everyone from our Church: St Mary's.
We say the Lord's Prayer.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.