Pentecost for Children

Christians celebrate Pentecost on a day of Jewish celebration at the end of the early harvest. The story in Acts 2:1-42 tells how the early followers of Christ came together on Pentecost and bonded together into a body, ignited by the Holy Spirit, and felt prepared to spread the Word. Pentecost is the celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit.

The word, Pentecost, comes from the Greek word for five, penta, meaning the fiftieth day as it is the fiftieth day after Christ’s resurrection.

Early Christians often baptized new converts on this day, and they traditionally wore white.

The current Christian tradition is to use the colour red, remembering the red flames of the Holy Spirit. It is a celebration of hope and renewal of purpose and mission. It is a perfect time for children to celebrate being a Christian, sometimes in very different ways.

Search Acts 2:1-42 with Children

The followers of Jesus became excited when they realized that the Holy Spirit would help them tell others about Jesus. The Holy Spirit is a way that God works within us, giving us the courage to follow Jesus in all of life. At this time when people from many countries came to Jerusalem, and consequently there were people there who spoke many different languages. According to Luke, who wrote this story, the Holy Spirit helped the disciples speak in languages that these visitors to the city could understand.

Wonderings

I wonder what is the most exciting thing about knowing Jesus.
I wonder who might like to hear what you think about Jesus.
I wonder how you can share that feeling with that person or someone else.
I wonder who needs to know what a wonderful friend Jesus is to you.
I wonder who you know that speaks another language.
I wonder how you can be a friend to someone who speaks another language, as Jesus was a friend to others.
I wonder if there are other people you can talk to about the Holy Spirit.
I wonder what ideas other people have about the Holy Spirit.

Activity Starters

Are you going to give the Holy Spirit a chance to work inside you?
Why don’t you sit in silence for a minute, thinking of ways you can help someone?
Decide on a way to help someone else.
Why don’t you make bookmarks with a flame on it to put in a book to remind us that the Holy Spirit is always with us?
Try to listen to wind chimes and remember the Holy Spirit as wind in Luke’s story.
Make chimes as a reminder that the Holy Spirit is with us.
https://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/04/spring-art-for-kids.html

Conversation Starter

Read the Apostles’ Creed together as a family and look for the references to the Holy Spirit.

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BagH-zTfnsQ

Spirit of the living God

Families can recognise the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Use some of the wonder questions above as well as singing “Spirit of the Living God” together.

When are the times when they feel that God guided them to do something special, give someone encouragement, or act with courage?

Find a few moments of quiet as a family before going to bed, listening to the quiet.
Light a candle after the family meal and all sit together quietly looking at the flicker of the candle.
Create a sacred space in the home where all members of the family can be still and listen for the Holy Spirit.