Pentecost Sunday, Year C

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

"When Pentecost day came round, the apostles had all met in one room, when they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech."

(From the First Reading)

(Read the quote, then each line slowly, with pauses to allow the children (and us!) to reflect on the questions.)

We have spent the last week talking about the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit - Wisdom, Understanding, Fear of the Lord or Wonder and Awe, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, and Piety.

Now we have reached the great feast of Pentecost! Jesus' friends didn't really know what to do after He went up to Heaven, so they were gathered together in the room where they had celebrated the Last Supper with Him, praying. 

All of a sudden, things got very interesting! Let's read the passage again.

"When Pentecost day came round, the apostles had all met in one room, when they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech."

How do you think they must have been feeling when all this was happening?

What do you think it looked like? The tongues of fire, and the expressions on the apostles' faces, how they reacted. Can you imagine how it sounded? That great wind, and the apostles talking in all those different languages.

Jesus gave the great gift to the apostles to help them in their work for Him. What a wonderful gift. What a wonderful God, always making sure we have whatever we need.

Thank you, Jesus, for giving us the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for Your caring love.

(Allow any spontaneous prayers, perhaps leading by example. 3-6 year olds relate most naturally to God through prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 6+ will have started thinking about their needs and the needs of those around them in prayers of intercession. Some children may also just want quiet time to speak with God in their hearts.)

(Sing a simple hymn or chant if your children like singing. Or even if they don't ;) This can also be done at the beginning. )

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."