Scripture: Acts 2:1-13
Memory Verse: “But the Holy
Spirit will come and help you, because the Father will send the Spirit to take
my place. The Spirit will teach you
everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you.” John 14:26
(CEV)
Concepts:
1. The Holy Spirit came to the community of believers
just as God had promised.
2. The Holy Spirit gives us power to tell the world about
Jesus.
3. The good news of Jesus Christ is for all who will
listen.
Objectives:
1. The children will be able to retell the story of
Pentecost in their own words.
2. The class will understand that the Holy Spirit gives
us power to tell others about Jesus.
Procedure:
Welcome and Introductions:
1. Greet the children and introduce yourself. Wear your name-tag. Make sure the children
are wearing name-tags.
2. Explain the purpose of this workshop. In this
workshop we will hear and act out the story of Pentecost. In the last two
rotations we learned about Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. After Jesus was
resurrected he stayed with the disciples and taught them about God but before
he went to heaven he told them to wait for the Holy Spirit to come and fill
them with power. Pentecost is the story of how the Holy Spirit came to the
disciples. We consider Pentecost to be the birthday of the church.
Scripture/Bible Story:
After summarizing the events that happened before (crucifixion, resurrection) read Acts 2:1-13 to the children or allow the class to read.
Questions:
Why did the Holy Spirit give the
disciples the ability to talk to people who didn’t speak their language? To
help spread the good news of God’s love to all people and all nations and to
show the power of the Holy Spirit.
Have you every heard anyone tell
about the Holy Spirit helping them or have you ever felt the Holy Spirit? Any
answers
Application:
Props and set up: streamers (blue, red), puzzle necklaces Separate the puzzle pairs and give the appropriate number of halves to the shepherd and keep the other halves for the disciples. Make sure each half will have a partner and set aside unused ones for the second acting of the scenario.
1. Divide the class in half. Half will be the disciples and half will be the Holy Spirit. Instruct them in basic instructions first, then break up and continue with the following:
2. The disciples sit in a circle. The workshop leader sits with them as a disciple also. You may choose to dress as disciples to add authenticity. Pretend that you are the disciples, Jesus has gone and told you to wait for the Holy Spirit. You pray a lot, remember Jesus and wonder what will happen next.
3. The other half of the class goes to the other end of
the room where a shepherd will hand them each a blue streamer to represent wind
and a red streamer to represent fire. The children pretend to be a great wind,
whirling and twirling and burning flames. Play some exciting music to accompany
the wind and fire. Encourage kids to act like fire and wind and not just run
across the room.
4. When the wind and fire get to the disciples the
students will place the red streamer on the shoulders of one disciple and run
quietly back, with the wind (blue streamer), to the other end of the room. When
a disciple gets a streamer, the child holds it and jumps up to wave the streamer
and shout, “I feel the Holy Spirit!”
5. All the wind and fire will group back with the
shepherd who will give them each a “puzzle necklace”. They are to wait until
the disciples come find them.
6. When the disciples have all received the Holy Spirit,
the leader says “I feel the Holy Spirit and it makes me full of love and joy.
Let’s go tell the others about the love Jesus gave us”. The leader gives each
child a puzzle necklace and tells them to go find the match to their puzzle
half, and share some good news with their match. Ask the children to bring
their puzzle partner to the circle when the match is made.
7. Once everyone gathers share the completed pictures and
phrases.
8. Now repeat the drama and let the disciple and fire
groups switch parts.
Reflection Time:
After the drama is over
collect the puzzles and streamers and have the children join you in a circle.
Ask them how the Holy Spirit might make them feel (strong, calm, joy, desire
and ability to tell everyone about god’s love…) Give each child a small red
pompom. Tell them that this pompom represents the tongues of fire that the
apostles saw when they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Suggest that the
children keep the pompom in their pocket and it will be with them when they
need to remember the strength that the Holy Spirit gives us and the great love
God has for us.
Prompts for journal writing: Pentecost is considered the “church’s birthday” because it was when the disciples began spreading the news of Jesus’ love. Make a birthday card for the church. Decorate it with something that reminds you of the first Pentecost (tongues of flames, wind etc.)
Prayer: Try a pompom prayer. Tell children that you will start
the prayer and then you will pass the pompom to the next person who can add a
sentence to the prayer (thanking God or asking God’s help for someone who needs
it etc.). Remind them that the pompom represents the Holy Spirit, which gave
the disciples the courage to tell the good news of God’s love so when they are
holding the pompom they will feel the courage and strength to pray!
Start prayer: Dear Loving
God, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to the apostles so they could spread
the news of God’s love. Thank you also for sending the Holy Spirit to us so we
can feel your love and strength… pass pompom and children continue prayer.
Tidy and Dismissal: Ask children to help tidy up. Put costumes in bin on
stage. Re-stack the carpet squares. Lock the CD player up in the kitchen.
Teacher preparation
in advance:
1. Read the scripture passages and attend the Faith Quest Leaders Bible Study.
2. Prepare a closing prayer.
3. Make puzzle necklaces. To make a puzzle necklace: Paste a small picture on card stock paper. On the reverse side, print a phrase such as “God’s love is for everyone”, “The Holy Spirit is with me”, “Spread the Good News”, “The Holy Spirit will come and help you”, “The Holy Spirit will teach you everything”, “The Holy Spirit will remind you of what I said while I was with you.” Laminate the picture and cut in half a little zig-zaggy like a puzzle. Punch a hole in each half and thread with yarn to make 2 necklaces. Make enough necklace pairs for 20 kids or 10 pictures. Pictures may be cut from magazines, flower catalogues, clipart, etc.
4. Check out the room before your first Sunday workshop so that you know where everything is located. The bin with supplies is located on the stage.
Supply List
·
costumes
·
blue and red streamers
·
red pompoms – available at craft stores
·
puzzle necklaces
·
CD player and music