Pentecost in the Home

Pentecost comes fifty days after Easter. It is also known as Whitsunday, named for the white garments worn by those baptized during the vigil. Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit who moved over the waters at creation, was given to the disciples on Pentecost and gives new life to all of us at baptism.

Pentecost is sometimes called the Birthday of the Church as the coming of the Holy Spirit established the church. It is the Holy Spirit who gathers, enlightens, sanctifies and preserves the church.

Pentecost is also the time to look for the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, fear of the Lord, and joy in the Lord (Isaiah 11.2-3a), as well as the nine fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Focus

This is the day to focus on the Holy Spirit who fills our hearts as God's people, kindling the fire of God's love within. The Spirit brings power, enabling Christians to bring Christ's love to the world.

Mood

Pentecost brings a spirit of excitement and celebration. Red is the color of the Spirit; orange and gold with red recall flames.

Symbols

The dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit and of the Spirit coming in baptism. Flames represent the tongues of fire that rested on each of the apostles.

Food

Make a cake with the outline of a dove made with cinnamon red hots. To make the dove look for a clip art image, size it to about 6-inches wide, print and cut-out. Place it lightly on the top of the cake and use a skewer or knife tip to lightly draw the outline in the frosting. See below to see how to use the cake to show how sharing the light and love of Christ is like fire: it grows when shared.

Gifts and Activities

The Spirit came with a rush of mighty wind, so things that use air and wind make good Pentecost activities. Air and wind related gifts help make Pentecost a special day: bright red or orange kites, pinwheels, streamers, balloons, boomerangs, bubble liquid and windsocks. All are reminders of the power of wind, the power of the Holy Spirit.

Air supports kites as the Spirit upholds us.

Worship Leaflets

Have a red balloon and small red birthday candle for each person. After the meal, the first person lights the candle from a Christ candle, as Christ is our source of light, placing the individual candle on the cake. The next person lights their candle from the first person's, showing that we serve one another. Fire doesn't grow smaller when shared, neither does love.

PDF file for Pentecost family worship leaflet has just a bit to read, sing, and pray.

Print on heavy stock and you'll have reusable leaflets that may simply be pulled out to be used year after year. Covers may be decorated by children.

Reading should be done by both adults and children; it is important to involve everyone at an appropriate level.

Links

Tips for Starting Church Year Celebration in the Home 

Church Year Resource Books

Advent in the Home 
Christmas in the Home—All Twelve Days 
Epiphany in the Home 
Lent in the Home 
Holy Week in the Home 
Easter in the Home 
Ascension Day in the Home 
Pentecost in the Home
Trinity Sunday in the Home 
Ordinary Time in the Home 
Baptismal Anniversaries in the Home 
Valentine's Day in the Home

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