Pentecost/St. Philip and the Eunuch
PENTECOST/PHILIP AND THE ETHIOPIAN
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 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?
- Feed the Elephant 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 Ethiopian.
coming of the Holy Spirit
The eunuch was from Ethiopia. Theophany is the feast of Jesus’s birth.
Philip baptized the Ethiopian. The Ethiopian did not believe in Jesus.
4. Begin your Timeline with figures for Pentecost and Philip and the Ethiopian.
5. 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?
6. 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.
7. Sing “As many as have been baptized…” 3 times while the “baby” is marched 3 times around the room.
8. Make a Come Alive Mural of Philip and the Eunuch, with some children lying down
on a large piece of mural paper, the others drawing around them to make Philip, the
Ethiopian, the horse. Draw in the chariot. Cut out the faces and let the children color the
mural and take turns standing behind the characters while telling the story.
- Close with prayer: Lord, help me to share your love with someone each day, as Philip did with the Ethiopian.
