I know it’s been said in a few places, but isn’t it nice celebrating a day of faith that consumerism isn’t a part of. The liturgical colour of red, dresses the church up, but many congregations go all out to make it both a liturgical and physical experience, with sights, sounds and movement bringing us into the day.
During the week, even though our congregation would be worshipping away from “home” our church was decked out in its Pentecost colours for all to see who visit our buildings but don’t make it into services.
We worshipped in one of our neighbouring denominational church’s, and the sight and sounds added to the experience. We were given red balloons that were released during the first hymn, the noise as they popped on spiky objects as they rose to the roof was powerful. The experience, echoed through the Acts reading, giving the words experience and depth.
Most members of the three worshipping communities wore red, in all its hues and in many varied ways. I trotted out my flame jumper and red stockings for its annual parade.
It was a visual experience.
Outside the few remaining red leaves clung precariously to the trees they had clothed since Spring. It was as if the environment was contributing to our all senses Pentecost experience. Making it a legitimate immersive experience.
Today is sensual.
We use all our senses to worship today and it is also one of the most inclusive, not just because the two texts of Acts often called the Day of Pentecost and the Genesis Reading, known as the tower of Babel story, concentrates the significance of languages uniting rather than dividing us, but the messages today are understood by all ages in many ways, including being able to “read” both of these stories through our senses. The day is a truly intergenerational experience.
Now I could go two ways with today’s post, I could dwell on the importance of everyone hearing the word and take the opportunity to point you toward some resources that are multi lingual.
OR I could go into how we can take this experience of Pentecost and extend it beyond the bounds of the church, and into our homes, which is what happened on that first Pentecost day.
So today I will take both options.
Here are some multilingual resources for children
Max 7 https://www.max7.org/en
Sovereign Grace Music https://sovereigngracemusic.org
Bible gateway https://www.biblegateway.com
Illustrated Children’s Ministry https://www.illustratedchildrensministry.com
Thy Kingdom Come https://www.thykingdomcome.global/resources
Most Australian states are enjoying a long weekend to mark the Queen’s Birthday. Many families take the opportunity to grab a quick break and visit relatives or just to relax, so they may miss this significant event in the Church calendar. There are so many ways of incorporating a Pentecost day into family time.
Wear red
Have a cake, with candles and retell the story or read it from a one of the story book Bibles or read the story the Day that God made Church. See last week’s blog for some reading suggestions. https://wordpress.com/post/thecrossinmybackyard.wordpress.com/669
Set a table in red.
At dinner talk about those things that “set us on fire” what are we passionate about. Think about ways that you could tell others about Christ so that they will listen.
Use a colouring in page such as Illustrated Ministries as a placemat and let them colour it in during or after dinner.
Go and play in the autumn leaves.
So, it’s too late this year.
Hopefully I’ve sown the seeds for thinking about how you can extend the church experience into the home.
Blessings
Wendy L.
The Cross in My Backyard 