FAMILY DEVOTIONS: Pentecost

This week we celebrated Pentecost. In the days of Jesus, Pentecost is a holiday celebrated 50 days (from Greek ‘Pente’ meaning 50) after Passover. Pentecost is also known as the Festival of the Booths. It was the time of the Spring wheat harvest and people would bring offerings of grain to the Temple and offer prayers of Thanksgiving to God for the gift of the harvest. On this Pentecost, in the Book of Acts, the disciples are in prayer in a house when the Spirit descends like a might wind that shakes the house. Then God’s Spirit appears like tongues of flame and settle on the disciples. (Read Acts 2 together) They are given gifts for the common good. These are gifts meant to help the church community live and act with greater compassion.

This is a good time to wonder together about the gifts we have that we could use to help other people understand about God’s love through our example or our teaching or our stories. Talk with your children about their favorite gifts and wonder together about ways to use the gifts that are a part of who we are, to help people who need friends, assistance, caring, etc……..