Pentecost marks the end of Eastertide. Throughout the season of Eastertide, we have contemplated how the small, ordinary things can point us to God. Pentecost is a holy day in the Church Year, but it is also a season. This season is actually referred to as Ordinary Time, but more on that in a later post.
Pentecost, in essence, is when Christians remember the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Early Christians. It has been viewed as the "birthday of the church" and feast day. Fun fact, Pentecost was originally a Jewish feast. In the Old Testament, it is translated as the feast of weeks or the feast of harvest, but in Greek, it was called Pentecost. For more on the Jewish history of this Christian holy day, you can check out this site here, this site here, and this other site here. The reason so many people from so many places were in Jerusalem was for this Jewish feast. It was one of the three holy days that required Jews to travel to Jerusalem.
Celebrating Pentecost at Home: This site here and this one here each have 5 ways Pentecost can be celebrated at home. Our celebration doesn't have to be expensive or elaborate to be meaningful. This site here has more ideas for celebrating at home. They encourage utilizing the wind in our celebrations. This site here has more of a prayer service/liturgy for Pentecost that can be done at home.
Celebrating Pentecost at Church: This site here covers the biblical basis for Pentecost and has a lot of ideas (including many craft ideas) on how Pentecost can be celebrated at church. (I loved their idea on reading part of Acts 2 in many different languages). This site here has some ideas for celebrating Pentecost as a Church. Since Pentecost is viewed as the Church's birthday, they recommend serving cake.
Suggested Activities:
Plan: Look through the sites referenced above for ideas that would work for your family and church.
Read: Acts 2 is the story of Pentecost, so it can be read and discussed.
Decorate: Red is the color of Pentecost, so try to wear red clothes, set out red decorations, and eat red foods.
Feast: This is a feast day, so be sure to include special foods in your Sunday meals. Bonus points for including naturally red foods.
Contemplate: Reflect on the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit as we remember the Spirit coming to guide us.
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