We have moved our next Messy Church to Sunday 2nd July at 3pm as the original date clashes with Father’s Day – watch out for the posters!
We were a small group at our Messy Church on Sunday 21st May but we all enjoyed the chance to chat and make activities based around the events of Pentecost.
As we made Dove wind chimes we thought about what it would have been like with the wind blowing inside the house and how the disciples felt when they received the Holy Spirit?
Sometimes the wind moves things in new and different directions. The Holy Spirit makes new things happen in people’s lives. The symbol of the wind is a good symbol to use to explain how Christians can be guided by the Holy Spirit.
We also made paper aeroplanes and wrote a prayer on it, praying we will be ready to follow when the Holy Spirit sends us in a new direction.
As we made our Flame tealight holders and Tongues of Fire headbands we thought how, when we receive good news, the first thing we want to do is tell someone.As Christians we have a message of good news to deliver about God’s infinite love. How many different ways could we deliver that message to others?
The disciples and other Christians had gathered together indoors to thank God when suddenly a sound like the blowing of a strong wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Acts 2
One of the symbols of the Holy Spirit is a flame of fire. At Easter the Paschal Candle is lit and then the flame is passed to light other candles filling the space with more and more light.
Every time the followers of Jesus obeyed him and passed on the message of God’s love by telling others it was as if the flame was passed on. The good news of God’s love was beginning to spread.
The Dove is also a symbol of the Holy Spirit – God’s presence with each person.
As we made a Holy Spirit Fridge Magnet we discussed if it was easy, or difficult, to wait patiently for something special to happen?
Can you think of a time when it felt like you had waited a long, long time, or a time when God seemed far away? Waiting can be hard but it is also important to wait patiently for change to happen.
God wants us to love him and follow him, and Jesus shows us how we should love God.
Next they saw tongues of fire that separated and came to rest of each of them. When the tongues of fire came they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
They were filled with such joy and excitement and ran out of the house in great excitement.
Acts2
So what should we do? We should allow God’s love to work through us and tell others about God’s love, like passing on the flame – but we may need to wait patiently to see change happen.
What action is God is asking us to do so we can share the good news?
We thought about the ways we could do this and wrote on a paper dove what we felt we could do.
Some ideas included inviting someone to Messy Church; Helping out at home or helping a neighbour; Doing something to help look after the environment or in the community; What could we do as a Church and Messy Church community?
Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank you for sending your spirit,
Thank you for the amazing story of Pentecost,
Thank you for your Church.
Fill us with your Holy Spirit,
Help us to share the good news,
And spread your love to one another.
Amen.
