Pentecost

The word Pentecost means 50. Pentecost Sunday occurs 50 days after Easter. On Pentecost, we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the Church.

Use these ideas to engage in worship with your children on Pentecost! Details of activities can be found below.

READ/WATCH/LISTEN

Read

Read the story of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-21.

As you read, make sound effects to go along with the whooshing wind, the flames that crackle, and the voices that speak in different languages.

Listen

Listen to a reading of the book " The Day When God Made Church."

The Day When God Made Church: A Child's First Book about Pentecost by Rebekah McLeod Hutto, Illustrated by Stephanie Haig

Used by permission of Paraclete Press, Inc.

To order the book, click here.

Watch

Older children, youth, and adults will enjoy this video on the Holy Spirit by The Bible Project.

WONDER

Wonder together:

I wonder what it was like to be there on that day of Pentecost, to see the flames on people's heads, hear the rush of the wind, and hear people speaking in many different languages?
The Holy Spirit is often pictured as wind, breath, a dove, and flames. How do these images help you think more about the Holy Spirit? If you were going to draw the Holy Spirit, what would you draw?
Pentecost is the birthday of the church. What do you love most about your church?
How can you use the gifts God gave you to serve the church and your community?

PRAY

The Hebrew word for Spirit is ruach. It means breath or wind. Just like the wind and our breath are invisible, so is the Holy Spirit, though we can feel the power and presence of the Holy Spirit (just as we can feel wind and breath).

One way of praying is called a Breath Prayer, literally a way of praying through deep, intentional breathing. Breath prayers include a name for God and a desire we have from God.

To pray, breathe in deeply as you say or think the name for God. Then as you breathe out, say or think what you are asking from God. Breath in and out slowly, continuing to repeat your prayer.

Since it's Pentecost, choose a Breath Prayer from these examples (or create your own!):

Holy Spirit (breathe in), guide me (breathe out)
Holy Spirit (breathe in), fill me (breath out)
Spirit of the Living God (breathe in), fall afresh on me (breath out)

DO

Experience the Wind

We see power in the wind when it blows.

Go outside and:

Fly a kite
Blow bubbles
Be still and notice how the wind blows through the trees and feel the wind on your skin.

Talk about the power of the Holy Spirit as you experience the power of the wind.

Pick and choose the activities that work best for your family!

Create Your Own Streamer

Experience the joy of the Spirit with streamers!

1. Find a stick, dowel rod, pencil, or other long type of stick

2. Gather up streamers (ribbons, yard, crepe paper, etc.)

3. Tie/glue/pin the streamer materials to the stick

4. Move and dance with your streamer!

Pentecost Pinwheels

Create a simple pinwheel with materials you have around the house. Talk about the Holy Spirit as you make the pinwheel. When finished, celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit by blowing the pinwheels! Watch how your breath changes the pinwheel and makes it move. How does the Spirit make you move? What does the Spirit call you to do?

Pentecost Coloring

Spend some time coloring this flame and talk together about how God fills you with the Holy Spirit. (Coloring page from Illustrated Ministry)

WANT MORE?

Enjoy a time of Children & Worship together with the story "Pentecost."