Pentecost

* Be sure to try the links to online activities shown in larger bold type.

Novena for Pentecost

After Jesus ascended into heaven, his followers waited in prayer for nine days in the Upper Room for the coming of the Holy Spirit. This is believed to be the first novena, in fact the word novena comes from the Latin form of the word nine. A novena is nine successive days of special prayer. You can join in a novena led by Dan Schutte right at your computer.

* Novena for Pentecost--Nine Days of Prayer

Who is the Holy Spirit?

How do you imagine the Holy Spirit?

Wind is a great symbol for the Holy Spirit because wind cannot be seen, but the effects of wind can be seen, heard and felt. Just like the Spirit among us.

* Listen to this fascinating YouTube.


What is Pentecost?

* Check out this 2-minute video from Busted Halo.

Before Pentecost was a Christian festival, it was a Jewish holiday. Pentecost was a harvest festival 50 days after the Passover. (Pente means 50 in Greek.) The crops were harvested and the people celebrated with great feasts.

On Pentecost today, Christians celebrate the first coming of the Holy Spirit to the church. You can read the Bible story in Acts 2: 1-11.

* Listen to the story of the first Christian Pentecost.

or

* Read the story as told through the eyes of someone in the crowd that day.

Look at the way people from different cultures picture the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

6th century Syriac Assisi 1290's Thailand He Qi India

Here is a puzzle showing another Pentecost image.

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* Try this quiz to see if you know the Scripture story of Pentecost

* or try this quiz about Pentecost celebrations.