Pentecost/St. Philip and the Eunuch
PENTECOST/PHILIP AND THE EUNUCH
Objectives:
- Understand that Pentecost is the birthday of the Church.
- Know that the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost
- Understand the importance of baptism and chrismation.
Possible Lesson Plan:
- Open with prayer.
- Read the stories in the Beginner’s Bible pp.472-487, the CBR pp 268-269 and the Read with Me Bible, pages 411-414, and/or the Golden Children’s Bible, pages 462-463. Review with the students the story of Theophany, the baptism of Jesus. Where was he baptized? By whom? Who spoke and what appeared? Use the icon as a storytelling aid, identifying the characters and their roles. Who’s the little person in the center? (He represents the whole world.) Think a bit about the whole world – all the different peoples and customs. If you have pictures or dolls of people from around the world, show them now. Do they all dress alike? Look alike? But God sent His Spirit to all of us.
Start your timeline with Pentecost and St. Philip with the Ethiopian.
- True/False Questions:
True False
The Holy Spirit came as tongues of The Holy Spirit came as a dove at
fire at Pentecost. Pentecost.
Chrismation is the sacrament of the Peter baptized the eunuch.
coming of the Holy Spirit
The eunuch was from Ethiopia. Theophany is the feast of Jesus’s birth.
Philip baptized the eunuch. The eunuch did not believe in Jesus.
- 4. Try just a bit on the Holy Spirit: Can we see the wind? Can we see what it does? Turn on a fan and watch their hair blow, pieces of paper move, etc. Can something invisible be very strong? When is the wind very strong? (tornado, hurricane, etc.) The Holy Spirit is like the wind. We cannot see it, but we can feel it. It is very strong. It is all around us and in us. So when the Holy Spirit came, the disciples could not see it, but they felt it and could hear it blowing and it changed their lives. The day when the Holy Spirit came down is called Pentecost; practice the word. When did each of us receive the Holy Spirit? (Chrismation)
We’ve now met all the Persons of the Trinity. This is a mystical concept, confusing to even adults. But let’s discuss it briefly. Practice making the sign of the cross and saying “in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Who is the Father? Remind the children of the Lord’s Prayer; say it together. Who is the Son? (Jesus) Who is the Holy Spirit?
Simple craft? Take 3 craft sticks and glue together in a triangle. Write Father, Son, Holy Spirit on each one. One triangle, 3 sides. Trinity snack? How about 3-flavor Neopolitan ice cream? 1 sundae, 3 flavors.
- The Church was born on Pentecost. Even though Jesus had risen from the dead, the disciples were still frightened and didn’t know what to do. After the coming of the Holy Spirit, the disciples could speak many languages and they were no longer afraid. They went all over the world, telling people about Jesus. What did some of the disciples do after Pentecost? (wrote gospels, traveled to far lands, baptized people, died for Christ) Have a Birthday Party for the Church, complete with cake and candles. How old is the Church?
- A baptism is a very special time. Ask the children if they have seen a baptism? Who is present? What happens? Take them to see the font. Show pictures of a baptism. Ask if they were baptized? Who are their godparents? Explain that their godparents held them and held a candle and promised to help them grow to be strong and love God. Explain that they were undressed and dipped in the water three times, then dressed in white, new clothes. Their hands, feet, chest, forehead, eyes, ears, mouth, and throat were all blessed with holy oil; with small children let them touch each part. With older children, explore why these parts were chosen. They were given a cross; are they wearing a cross today?
- Role-play a baptism – Dress an immersible baby doll in a blanket. Have a baptismal outfit ready. With younger children, the teacher will have to be priest and tell the others what to say; older children can read the “script”:
Priest (making sign of cross in water in tub): May this water be sanctified with the power of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Priest (with hand on head of baby): In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, I lay my hand upon your servant (name) who has come to be a part of your family. Since this baby cannot speak for himself, who will answer for him?
Godparents (1 holding baby and 1 a candle): We will.
Priest: Do you hate Satan, the devil, and all of his evil ways?
Godparents: We do.
Priest: Turn and spit on him. (Godparents do this.) Do you want to be baptized?
Godparents: I do.
Priest: Do you believe in Jesus Christ?
All: Recite the creed. (Godparents now remove the blanket)
Priest (anointing baby using cotton swab dipped in oil making sign of cross):
The servant of God (name) is anointed with the Oil of Gladness in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Priest (taking naked baby and immersing 3 times in a tub of water): The servant of God (name) is baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Priest (after godparents dress baby in baptismal robe): The servant of God (name) is dressed in the Baptismal robe in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
- Sing “As many as have been baptized…” 3 times while the “baby” is marched 3 times around the room.
7. Make a Diorama:Take a shoebox. Glue light blue paper in the back and decorate with
clouds, etc. Instead of grass on the bottom, since this is the desert, try sandpaper. Make chariot with a cup and wheels of cardboard with a pipe-cleaner axle and shafts. People can either be made from pictures cut from icons and taped to a pipe-cleaner stand or shaped completely from a pipe-cleaner (2 for a horse). Stick legs in clay to stand up. Arrange nicely in box. Can you tell the story from your diorama?
Too time-consuming? Easier yet…cut out the figures from the icon printed on cardstock, fold the bottom back and tape in place. No shoebox? Use a nice thick piece of sandpaper and add the figures
- Close with prayer: Lord, help me to share your love with someone each day, as Philip did with the eunuch.