What the children will need to KNOW before the ritual: What is Pentecost? The Christian feast of Pentecost marks the end of the Lent, Easter, Pentecost cycle. The word “Pentecost” is the Greek word for “fifty” and is the name given to the Jewish feast of “Shavouth “which was celebrated 7 weeks after the Passover. This Jewish feast commemorated the giving of the Law to Moses on Mt Sinai. What is the story of the first Pentecost? Locate and read the story of the first Pentecost from Acts 2:1-11. (Where and When did this story take place? Who was there? Why were they afraid? What happened? How were the friends of Jesus changed? ) Who is the Holy Spirit? The Church teaches that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, alive in the world today, dwelling with people and in people. The reading from Acts is a recount of the sending of the Holy Spirit to the disciples. God’s spirit as promised by Jesus was poured into their lives and they were changed or transformed from people of fear to people of courage. The church teaches that the Holy Spirit is constantly coming into peoples’ lives to strengthen them so that they are guided in the way of truth. What are the gifts of the Spirit? The gifts of the Spirit are first listed in Isaiah 11:2-3. Isaiah was one of the Hebrew prophets. Locate this and compare with the list of the gifts of the Holy Spirit as taught by the Church. The seven gifts of the Spirit are as follows: Wisdom, Understanding, Right Judgement, Courage, Knowledge, Awe and Wonder and Reverence. Organise students into learning teams to explore the seven gifts of the Spirit. Discuss how the Spirit is active in the lives of people when they live out these qualities or gifts. Discuss and respond with an example of a person, an event or an action that depicts the specific gift of the Spirit. Groups choose a box to wrap and label with the specific gift. Prepare and place words, phrases, names of people who use the particular gift, illustrations, symbols etc into the box and wrap with coloured ribbon. What are the actions and symbols used in the Sacrament of Confirmation? Revisit with the students the significance of this sacrament and explore the calling by name, the renewal of Baptismal promises, the anointing with oil and the laying on of hands. What the teacher will need to DO before the ritual? - Choose suitable songs or music for the ritual.
- Gather resources as in red/orange material to drape the sacred space, red candle, the bible etc
- Decide on where this ritual will take place and how the students will be arranged.
- Prepare students for active participation and allocate responsibilities.
- Have 7 different boxes; if possible a variety of colours, shapes and size. (Crazy Clarks would be a good place to buy these.)
- Multi coloured Post Its
- Bookmarks with the words of Calling of the Holy Spirit prayer ( This prayer is used by the Bishop/priest at Confirmation. When praying this prayer, the Bishop/priest extends his hands over the whole group being confirmed.)
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