8 June 2025
Bible readings for today
Liturgical colour: RED |
CollectE te Atua ora,
e te Wairua Tapu ora tonu, kia maringi iho mai tōu ngao kanapa taunanawe i whakakā ai i aua ākonga tuatahi kia tahuri anō ai te ao. Whakarongo ki tēnei īnoi i runga i tōu aroha. Āmine. Living God, eternal Holy Spirit, let your bright intoxicating energy which fired those first disciples fall on us to turn the world again. Hear this prayer for your love’s sake. Amen. |
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.
Leaders InputThe 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
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A Reflection on Pentecost
From Rev. Scottie Reeve, shared in lockdown. Gospel Conversations 2025: Pentecost! The day when we remember the Spirit coming in wind and fire and miraculous speech to launch the community of the people of the Way. But our Gospel reading is a much quieter scene. 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. Not as spectacular as the scene in Acts, yet profound. Damon Plimmer, Jonathan Gale and Esther Clarke-Prebble join Michael this week.
Gospel Conversations 2022: A discussion on who the Holy Spirit is, and what it means for the Advocate and Comforter to dwell with us. Watch here
Gospel Conversations 2021: A conversation on untangling some of the complexities of John's story of the coming of the Spirit. Watch here. ![]() Visio Lectio
A beautiful image from the Visio Lectio project, created by the Anglican Diocese of Auckland. © Sarah West. All Rights reserved, shared with permission. PNG Download Terms of Use |
Intergenerational WorshipIntergenerational 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 amazing Pentecost resources on the Barnabas website with decorations, prayer resources and creative ideas. Intergen Easter Pentecost (Yr C): A collection of resources and ideas, written and compiled by Rev Beth Nicholls Intergen Australia. Bible references: Acts
Kids TalksPentecostal Power (Sermons 4 Kids)
Pentecost…Tongues, Wind, Fire…and Happy Birthday to the church!!! (Ministry to Children) Pentecost Acts 2:1-21 (Gary Neal Hansen) God's Spirit Gives Courage (first talk) (Desperate Preacher) Christian's need The Spirit as much as Balloons Need Air (second talk) (Desperate Preacher) Quick Questions
Activities
Pentecost Flame Hats
You will need:
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) GamesWhat 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.
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Pray it!
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 SnacksPopcorn
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![]() 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!
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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