Intergenerational Pentecost Resources

On this page you’ll find intergenerational Pentecost resources and ideas to help you celebrate whether it’s just with your household or as a faith community.

What is Pentecost?

Pentecost is a religious holiday that celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit on the early followers of Jesus Christ. It also recognizes the day that the church was established. Pentecost, as a Christian feast, dates back to the first century. It occurs 50 days after Easter Sunday and falls on the ancient Jewish festival called the “feast of weeks”. The colour for Pentecost is red.

We are then in the season of Pentecost until Advent begins, which makes it the longest season in the Christian Church. This season is also called Ordinary Time. The colour for the season is green. We focus on the life of the Church as it grows in the midst of the world.

Some traditions use ordinary time and some continue to number after the last feast day, so it becomes the _______ Sunday after Pentecost.  Ordinary Time also stands for Counted Time, coming from ordinal (counted).

Celebrating Pentecost

Pentecost decorations including coloured streamers, spirit banners and earth, water, wind & fire symbols in jars. Church set up in the round.
red streamers and a dove decoration for Pentecost

For many years, it has been the tradition in our congregation to wear red on Pentecost Sunday. It is usually a service where we might celebrate worship in a different way. Using some more creative elements and different senses to engage people in different ways.

Apart from inviting people to wear red, over the years we done various things including different decorations which have included candles, fans, doves and streamers. Sometimes these elements where utilised in prayers or other parts of the service. Other ideas have included the call to worship, prayers or benedictions with actions and using a song based on Acts 2 that was written by two teenage boys from the congregation. We would have various ways that all ages could be engaged and included in the celebration. There might have also been some hands on craft or activity ideas for children or others to use during some of the less participatory parts of the service.

Alternatively, you could have a community celebration outside of worship. As wind is one of the symbols of Pentecost you could celebrate outdoors with kites and other wind toys/activities.

Household Pentecost Ideas

Below are a number of ideas that you can use with your family or household to celebrate Pentecost.

At Home Reflections and Celebrations

  • Reflections for Pentecost at Home – simple, one-page instructions for households to celebrate Pentecost at home.
  • Pentecost GIFT (Grow in Faith Together) – some simple ideas to help families celebrate Pentecost from Grow Ministries (scroll down on the 2nd link to find GIFT Pentecost)
  • God’s Big Pentecost Story – A celebration for families from Christian Reformed Church

Pentecost in a bag or box

You could use the ideas below to assemble your own Pentecost bags or boxes to give to households to use at home. Or compile your own from the ideas suggested. Ideally include some way for households to engage in the Pentecost reading from Acts 2.

  • Pentecost Story Bag – filled with a homemade Pentecost book, felt board with figures, Pentecost tab pull, ‘fire’ streamers, paper windmills, bubbles, battery operated tea lights, birthday badge
  • Pentecost in a box – including Pentecost at a glance handout, interactive storytelling, decorate Pentecost greeting cards, birthday candles, red streamers

Pentecost Craft and Prayer

Ideally don’t just use these Pentecost craft ideas as stand alones but use them as the basis for teaching, discussion or prayers based on Pentecost.

Pentecost Food

Food is often part of a good celebration. Since Pentecost celebrates the day the church was established or the birthday of the church why not have a Pentecost Cake.

Or for a simple no bake celebration option why not make Pentecost Sundaes.

Intergenerational Pentecost Resources and Worship Ideas

Pentecost Intergenerational Worship Ideas

Most of these links have ideas that can help you plan out a full Pentecost worship service or community celebration.

Pentecost Children’s Address/All Age Talks

Telling the Pentecost Story

Pentecost Prayer Ideas

If you use some of these Intergenerational Pentecost resources or ideas, I’d love to hear what you do.

If you’d like some help planning your own Pentecost Celebration, please reach out to me.