Celebrate Pentecost May 30, 2020 the Holy Spirit
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May 30, 2020 The Holy Spirit Celebrate Pentecost Overview Before he ascends into Heaven, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit upon his friends. The Jewish Materials feast of Pentecost is approaching. This feast comes l 50 days after Passover. Jesus’ 120 followers gather Copies of the “Pentecost, the birthday of the Church, Acts 2:1–41” and “What is the Holy Spirit Like?” together to pray. They have little idea what the Holy activity pages Spirit will empower them to do. Suddenly, they hear a noise like a strong, driving wind all through the l Bibles for each student (preferably with maps) house. The Spirit sets fire to their tongues to proclaim l Paper, pens, or pencils the Good News that God has raised Jesus from the l Venture/Visions Music CD and a CD player dead. People from many nations hear in their own languages the message Peter preaches—that Jesus is God’s Son and Israel’s Messiah. Peter’s fiery preaching launches a membership drive, a followership drive. Summarize by highlighting the young people’s The feast becomes the birthday of the Church. responses to the questions, especially the power of great communicators to fire them up. Share Experiences Discover Gospel and Doctrine Break the young people into small groups of Introduce the Scripture story of Pentecost. three or four. Ask them what they know about Explain that Pentecost is the birthday or launch Pentecost. A common answer is that the Holy Spirit of the Church. Scripture tells us 120 followers came down in tongues of fire. Does that mean the gathered and prayed together waiting for the disciples risk first degree burns? No, it means they Holy Spirit to come as Jesus promised. Today, are empowered with the gifts of communication, in the Twitter era, having 120 followers doesn’t confidence, and purpose. People hear their preach- sound that impressive. However, to gain the ing and understand their message and enthusiasm. attention and the trust of that many people without the help of any media tools is fairly Have your young people respond to the amazing. Jesus’ Good News goes viral on the first following questions in their small groups. Let Pentecost! volunteers share their answers with the large group. Pentecost: Birthday of the Church The Pentecost story, Acts 2:1–11, is the First Reading 1. What teachers or coaches fire you up with their on Pentecost Sunday. This reading is below in messages? Give an example. reader parts with the additions of a short version 2. When have you felt as if you’ve had the gift of of Peter’s preaching (Acts 2:14–36) and the tongues, the ability to get your message across results of his preaching—3,000 receive baptism in a clear and convincing manner? (Acts 2:37–41). Make copies and distribute to each young person. Assign individual parts and 3. What qualities do think are most important in groups to represent different countries and being a good communicator? regions. Proclaim the Pentecost story together. 4. Who do you think is the most influential public speaker you know? Who is the most influential © Pflaum Publishing Group, a division of Bayard, Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce this page for use by parishes, schools, and families using one-on-one communicator in your life? Pflaum Gospel Weeklies. The Holy Spirit: Celebrate Pentecost . Discuss: Live the Gospel 1. How is Pentecost like the Church’s birthday? What Is the Holy Spirit Like? Ask your group: 2. What work do the tongues of fire call Jesus’ how do we recognize the Holy Spirit at work followers to do? in our lives? The Bible compares the Holy Spirit Pflaum Gospel Weeklies 3. The people who hear Peter speak many to tongues of fire, wind, and breath. Explain languages but all hear one message. What do the questions on the activity page will help the they hear? young people identify ways the Spirit works in us, our world, and our relationships with each 4. How does Peter affect the people who hear other. Break them into small groups and make him preach? How does he affect you? Does he sure they have at least one Bible per group. fire you up about being a Christian? Invite them to discuss the questions together and then ask volunteers to share with the larger 5. What does Peter communicate to those who group. hear him? What does he communicate to you? Closing Prayer: Pentecost Prayer Service 6. What part of Peter’s message would you post Ask the young people to gather in a circle. on Instagram or Snapchat today? Choose a leader, three girls, and three boys to Geography Option: This Sunday’s Scripture talks take parts. Make sure you have copies of the about many groups of people from many lands. closing prayer, a hymnal, and a lighted candle Some of those countries and people have the or votive ready in advance for each student. same names today as in Jesus’ time; others have Introduce the closing prayer by instructing the changed. Most Bibles come with maps inside, young people to focus on the prayer’s call to usually at the back. Have your students find action. Remind all present that the Holy Spirit is the areas on the Bible map and compare them about action, motivation and courage. Celebrate to countries today. A list of the countries in the the Pentecost Prayer Service together. Pentecost reading and their names today follows: Arabia, Egypt, and Crete identify countries by the same name. Pontus, Pamphyia, Phrygia, and Cappadocia are regions in Asia Minor, Turkey today. Cyrene is Libya, Elam is Jordan, Median and Parthia are Iran today. Judea is Israel. Mesopotamia is the Iraq area. Rome is in Italy. © Pflaum Publishing Group, a division of Bayard, Inc.. Permission is granted to reproduce this page for use by parishes, schools, and families using schools, parishes, use by this page for reproduce to is granted Inc.. Permission a division of Bayard, Group, © Pflaum Publishing The Holy Spirit: Celebrate Pentecost Name Pentecost, the Birthday of the Church, Acts 2:1–41 . LEADER: We became members of your family at Bap- AFRICANS: We’re from Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, tism, Jesus. Be with us now as we remember the first and the region of Libya around Cyrene. We understand Pentecost. them. NARRATOR 1: When the Feast of Pentecost came, many ROMANS: We’re here all the way from Rome. We of Jesus’ followers gathered together in one place. understand them. NARRATOR 2: Suddenly, a sound from the heavens CRETANS: We’re from Crete. We understand them. Pflaum Gospel Weeklies filled the house where they sat, a sound like a strong, ARABS: We are from Arabia. We understand them. driving wind. ALL VISITORS: We hear these people speaking in their NARRATOR 1: Tongues as of fire appeared to them, own languages about the wonders God has done. resting upon each one of them. NARRATOR 1: The visitors didn’t know what to say. NARRATOR 2: And they were all filled with the Holy They were puzzled about what was happening. Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit ALL VISITORS: What does this mean? gave them words. VISITOR: They have had too much new wine. NARRATOR 1: Jews from many countries were staying PETER: We are not drunk. It is only nine o’clock in the in Jerusalem for Pentecost. They heard the sound and morning. What is happening is what the prophet Joel gathered in a large crowd. talked about long ago when he said, “In the last days I NARRATOR 2: They didn’t know what to think because, will pour out my Spirit upon all people, says the Lord, amazingly, they could each hear in their own language and they will all prophesy.” We have something to say what Jesus’ friends were saying. about Jesus from Nazareth. He showed who he was by VISITOR: Aren’t these people who are speaking from the miracles, wonders, and signs he worked among you. Galilee? God was working through him. He was crucified and put ALL VISITORS: How can we be hearing them in our to death, but God raised him up again. Death could not own languages? keep hold of him. We are his witnesses. Let the whole PARTHIANS: We’re from Parthia in the east. We people of Israel know that God has made Jesus, who was understand them. crucified, the Lord and Messiah. MEDES: We are Medes. We understand them. ALL VISITORS: What are we to do? ELAMITES: We’re from Elam in the south. We under- PETER: Change your attitude and be baptized in the stand them. name of Jesus the Messiah. Your sins will be forgiven, and ASIANS: We are from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappa- you will receive the Holy Spirit. docia. We understand them. NARRATOR 2: That day 3,000 were baptized. Acts 2:1–41 Pentecost Prayer Service LEADER: Let us pray for the help we need to share the GIRL 3: When we want to be tough— Spirit within us. ALL: Give us hearts that are gentle. BOY 1: When fighting seems like the way to go— Each person takes a lighted candle and returns to the circle. ALL: Help us offer a handshake in peace. GIRL 1: When others walk away from a newcomer— LEADER: Let us join in blessing each other. ALL: Direct our feet toward friendship. All hold candles toward center of circle. BOY 2: When we don’t want to understand— ALL: You are sent to be new apostles.