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Pentecost (Acts 2: 1-21)

After 50 days of waiting and celebrating the Good News of Easter, we arrive at Pentecost — the moment when God sends the Holy Spirit to empower and encourage the disciples. We celebrate Pentecost as the day the church was created, as God sends the Holy Spirit to encourage and empower the disciples.

Input for leaders

The BibleProject has some great resources to help unpack the whole story - particularly placing Pentecost within the context of Acts.  They also have a podcast episode on this: Pentecost and the Expected Unexpected Spirit and this great Acts Poster. ​
​Visio Lectio 
Two beautiful free downloadable images by Sarah Lea West. All Rights Reserved, shared and distributed with permission. Terms of use
A Reflection on Pentecost (Diocese of Wellington)
From Rev. Scottie Reeve, shared in lockdown. 
Gospel Conversations 2026 (Diocese of Dunedin) Acts 2:1-21
The Pentecost readings from Acts 2:1–21 and John 20:19–23 offer two strikingly different pictures of the coming of the Holy Spirit: one quiet and intimate, the other dramatic and world-changing.​ Today's discussion explores how the Spirit still comes among us today: as breath and wind, as forgiveness and reconciliation, and as the transforming presence of God that continues to renew our world.
Gospel Conversations 2025: (Diocese of Dunedin) John 14:8-17
We are still with Jesus in his final evening with his disciples, a time of bewilderment and fear into which Jesus speaks this promise of the coming Comforter, Advocate, and Intercessor. ​

Gospel Conversations 2022 (Diocese of Dunedin) John 14:8-27 
A discussion on who the Holy Spirit is, and what it means for the Advocate and Comforter to dwell with us. 
​
Gospel Conversations 2021 (Diocese of Dunedin) John 15:26-27; 16:4-15
A conversation on untangling some of the complexities of John's story of the coming of the Spirit. 

Intergenerational Worship

Intergenerational worship service (Intergenerational Ministry, Auckland Anglican Dio) - using stations to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit.

The Pentecost Art Project (A Rocha Aoteoroa NZ) -  art from across Aotearoa, exploring symbols of the Holy Spirit — breath, wind, fire, birds, flight, light — through a uniquely Aotearoa lens.

​Pop up Pentecost Family Service (Bible Society UK)

There are a whole bunch of Pentecost resources on the Barnabas website with decorations, prayer resources and creative ideas. 
Pentecost (Intergen Australia)
​Year A 2023, Pentecost
Bible references: Acts, John
Written and compiled by Rev Sandy Brodine
Pentecost (Intergen Australia)
​Year C 2025, Pentecost
Bible references: Acts
Written and compiled by Rev Beth Nicholls
​https://intergen.org.au/product/pentecostsunday2023

Kids Talks

Quick Questions

  • What are some of the symbols of the Holy Spirit?
  • Why is Pentecost so important to us?
  • What do you think the Holy Spirit looks like?
  • What part of this story do you wonder about the most? 
  • What question do you have for God about this story?
  • Have you ever felt or known that the Holy Spirit is with or in you? Share about it.

Activities

Pentecost Flame Hats
You will need:
  • 1 A4 piece of red paper, orange paper and yellow paper (per child)
  • Pen, scissors and tape/stapler and glue
What to do:
  • Fold the red piece in half long ways.
  • Next, fold it backwards and forwards like a fan.
  • Cut a flame shape along the fold edge as shown, making sure that you leave the paper joined at the sides.
  • Open in out, and you should have two long pieces.
  • Stick the pieces together at one end with tape.
  • Repeat all the above for the orange and yellow pieces. 
  • Next, lay the yellow piece on the table and spread a line of glue across the bottom as shown.
  • Lay the orange piece on the yellow making sure that you can still see the yellow flames
  • Spread a line of glue on the orange piece and then lay the red piece on top, again making sure you can still see the orange flames.
  • Fit for size on your head, and then staple together.
Variation
​You could get the children to write as many ways of saying hello in different languages that they can. Try asking your kids if they know any other ways of saying hello. Or check out this poster for some suggestions (clanz.co.nz)

Games

What country am I from? 
You will need: White sticky labels and a pen. 
Preparation: Write the names of a different country on each of the labels. 

Get all the children to line up along a wall, facing the wall. Then put one label on each of their backs. Explain that each of them comes from a different country. The object of the game is for everyone to work out what country they are from. They can ask other children questions to help them work out where they are from. But they can only be answered with 'yes' or 'no'. Also, they can only ask a child one question, no more. Time them to see how long it takes!

Parachute games
Talk about how the Holy Spirit is like the wind. It holds us up and fills us up and makes us float. The Holy Spirit first came to the disciples like a rushing wind.
  • “Spirit Says”  - like Simon says…Spirit says wave the parachute fast, wave it slow, make it still, put it over your head, turn around and hold it, etc.
  • “Tent Time” – everyone raises their arms up holding the parachute together, takes a few steps in toward the center, brings the parachute behind them, and sits down on the edge to make a mushroom, tent, dome, etc.
  • “Ball Bounce”  - use balloons and tennis balls on the parachute.  You can try to keep them all on, try to bounce them all off, split into two sides and try to get the balloon off the other team's side, etc.
  • “Switch Places” – number off the children, in 4's maybe?  Raise up the parachute, call out a number or two, and those kids run under the parachute and switch places or find a new place.

Pray it!

  • Dove + Flame Prayers (Strandz)
  • Flying flames prayers
    Use the flying flames activity to remember how God sent the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Pray that we would be filled with the Holy Spirit too, empowered to love and care for the world. ​
Lord's prayer in different languages
​You might like to replace the lines with some of the languages that are important to your family.
​
E tō mātou Matua i te rangi (Te reo Maori) 
Geheiligt werde Dein Name, (German)
Your kingdom come, (English)
Laat u wil geskied, (Afrikaans)
jako w niebie tak i na ziemi (Polish)
Hōmai ki a mātou āianei
he taro mā mātou mō tēnei rā. (Te reo) 
A maddau I ni ein dyledion, (Welsh)
assim como nós perdoamos a quem nos tem ofendido, (Portuguese)
En leid ons niet in bekoring, (Dutch)
ma liberaci dal male (Italian)
Thi dit er Riget og magten og æren, (Danish)
i evighet. (Norwegian)
Amin (Romanian)

Special Snacks

Popcorn
Talk about what happened at Pentecost. Then show them some popcorn, talk about how the disciples were like this popcorn before Pentecost. When God sent his Holy Spirit, like the warm air in this popper, look what happened to them! They exploded! We all have loads of exciting possibilities inside us, we just need God, Jesus and the Holy spirit to let it all burst out.
Recipe for coloured popcorn (Princess Pinky Girl)
 
Birthday cake! Pentecost marked the first birthday of the church, so when we celebrate Pentecost, we celebrate the birthday of the church.  Light trick candles (that relight themselves), sing “Happy Birthday”, and talk about how the Holy Spirit is like a flame in our hearts that won't go out.  It keeps us burning with love for Jesus. Eat and enjoy!

Preschool Pentecost

Picture
​Here are some ways you can invite your preschoolers to play their way into the bible story and spending time with God. 
(Ideas from a St John's Johnsonville lesson plan / Teri Johnson-Frow)

​Share the Story: Take the kids on a sensory journey!
  • You will need a dark room and whatever you can think of to recreate the sights/sounds of that first Pentecost (e.g. an electric fan, paper streamers in red/orange/yellow, some lights or a disco ball, things to make sounds like a rain stick or shaker. 
  • Gather outside the room. Take the kids  into the darkened space and get them sitting down. As you tell the story, get the extra adults to make the sound effects and turn on lights etc at the appropriate times.
  • SAFETY NOTE: Do you have any kids with sensory issues? Check in with their parents and make sure it will be okay for them. Let the kids know it will be dark and a bit noisy so that no-one gets a fright.  
  • For a simpler version gather the kids in a circle and hand out items to add sound to the story as you tell it :)

​Books - Gather a few special books on the theme of Pentecost. Put out some comfy cushions and blankets and create a reading corner with a friendly adult to read books to the kids. One of my absolute favourites is The Day When God Made Church by Rebekah McLeod Hutto. This is a great one to use for your sensory journey too.

Wings
Get the kids to experiment with throwing a flat piece of paper or throwing a folded paper plane. Which goes further? Why?  Let them decorate and fold their own simple paper planes before sending them flying!
Talk about: how the piece of paper can go further when it is the right shape. Talk about how the Holy Spirit helps shape us into the people who can listen to God and do what he wants us to. 
Wonder about: Why did the paper plane work better? I wonder what type of plane you are? I wonder what it feels like to go where the Spirit wants you to? I wonder what will help you fly with the Holy Spirit?

Wands
Make some worship wands using dowel or curtain rings and ribbons. Try these simple Fire Sticks  (Building Faith), these ones (Somewhat Simple), or these ones (Creative Home Life). Then put on some music and dance around. Pretend you are at the first Pentecost. Or just celebrate how  amazing God is! Try this song for starters.  https://youtu.be/tmcotqV-Nlg 
SAFETY NOTE: If using eye hooks make sure these are firmly glued/screwed in and can’t be unscrewed as they could be a choking hazard. 
Talk about: How amazing God is, what the disciples might have felt, what sounds and sights there were.

Open ended Play: As well as your structured activity try to offer a variety of toys/resources that your kids can engage with as they like.  For this session you could try some of the following - duplo blocks, wooden figures, red and yellow playdough, red and yellow paper, scissors and glue or white paper and fire colour felts. 

Pray: Gather in a circle around a bowl with some sand in it or a metal tray (something fire proof). Have one big central candle, and tell the kids it represents The Holy Spirit - Jesus - God with us. Then light and set out around it  a smaller candle for each of the children. (Try birthday candles if you are using sand, or tealights if not). Say each child’s name as you light their candle. Pray for the children to have the Holy Spirit in their hearts, and to share the good news of Jesus’ love with those they know.
SAFETY NOTE: Always keep water on hand if using candles/fire. 

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