Hosted by the Faith To Go team in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, David Tremaine and Charlette Preslar, and joined the each week by a special guest, the Faith To Go Podcast highlights themes from the Sunday Gospel reading for you to take into your faith discussions and reflections throughout the week.
Activity Time: Come Holy Spirit
Supplies: red, orange, yellow paint, straw, paper or paper plate
On the paper write, “Come Holy Spirit”. Let each family member think of a way that they want to be filled with the Holy Spirit (strength, wisdom, love, courage, forgiveness, etc.) put a small puddle of paint on the paper, lift your prayer, and then blow the paint across the paper with the straw.
Take some time to notice how the paint moved on the page. Did it splatter? Does it look like a flame? Did some of the puddles move easier than others? What shapes and patterns do you see? How is that like the Holy Spirit moving in our lives?
Let the paint dry and then hang your paintings up to remind you that the Holy Spirit is always moving in our lives.
Story Time: What is Pentecost?
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1. What does Pentecost mean?
2. What do you think was the most exciting part of the story?
3. What was the most important part? Are they the same?
4. What languages are spoken around our community?
5. Which language would you like to speak?
Dinner Time: Strong and Brave
Below is a prayer with which to start your meal and then discussion questions to explore this week’s topic with your family while you eat.
Prayer -
Breathe into me, Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy. Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy. Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy. Amen.
- St. Augustine of Hippo
Questions:
1. What do you think it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
2. How do you listen/know where the spirit is leading you?
3. What makes something holy?
4. What helps you to feel strong and brave?
5. What do you do when you don’t feel that way?
Bedtime: Reflections for Children at the End of the Day
During your bedtime routine, invite your children into a time of reflection about their day, maybe by saying, "Did you know that God really wants to know what happened in your day today, and that God is always listening whenever you need to tell God something?" Then continue with these questions:
1) What are some things that happened today that you want to tell God about?
2) What is one happy thing that happened today? What is one sad thing that happened today?
3) Did you see God or feel God with you when those things were happening? Where did you see or feel God when those things happened today?
4) Read to your children this week’s scripture selection, then ask the questions that follows.
Acts 2:1-21 (God’s Word, My Voice)
On Pentecost, everyone was together. All of a sudden, there was a noisy rush of wind from the sky and it filled the whole house where they were. Then little flames appeared on the tops of each of their heads! Everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit and the Spirit helped them talk in different languages so everyone could understand what was being said.
Faithful Jews from all over the world were living in Jerusalem at that time. A crowd gathered around the house. They were curious because although they were from other places, they could hear their own languages spoken. they were astonished. “How can these people from Galilee know how to speak my language? Or your language? How are they doing that? They’re talking about God’s power and we understand what they’re saying. What is going on?”
Some people who heard them thought they were talking crazy talk, like they were drunk. Peter was with the other eleven apostles, and he stood up and said, “Listen to what I have to say. It may sound like we’re drunk, but we’re not. It’s only nine o’clock in the morning. Remember the prophet Joel said that in the last days, God would pour out the Spirit on everyone and you will hear about what is to come and what is real. On that day, everyone who turns to me will be saved. Today is that day.”
Did the story remind you of anything that happened in your day today?
5) What are some things that you want to tell God that you are grateful for today?
Share some of your conversations in the comments below: