Feast of Pentecost - Last Class of the year

 As this is the last class and Pentecost is still four weeks away, I explain this using the Liturgical Calendar so we get plenty of practice with it.   Since the first Sunday of June will be Ascension Sunday, I read to them from Acts about the Ascension.  Afterwards we begin discussing the Trinity, as the second Sunday of June is Trinity Sunday.  Before they go for the summer I want to be sure that all questions are answered regarding these feasts.  Finally we begin with the Bible story of Pentecost and I tell them what it was like back then for the Apostles.  They were so frightened and locked the doors until a driving loud wind came thru the room and tongues of fire appeared over their heads.  Then I light the candle and begin reading the Scripture.  We discuss how the Apostles received all those gifts that day and they gained great courage and were no longer afraid to go outdoors and teach the people about Jesus.  In fact, they could speak in many languages.  Then I light the Paschal Candle and tell them to listen carefully as I describe each gift because I will ask them to choose which gift they would like to have for themselves if they could have just one. 

  As I light the first candle from the Paschal Candle, I name a gift and ask a child to read the meaning of the gift from the poster.  Then I talk about it more while placing a small card naming the gift in front of the candle.  I light each candle from the Paschal Candle and do the same until all seven gifts are explained.  I just noticed that while taking this photo I left out the 7th Gift - Fear of the Lord "Awe"  (Will correct at a later date).

  Now I ask each child which gift they have chosen.  When they choose their gift, I give them their own red votive candle to hold during the ceremony which is lit from the specific gift candle.  They love this ceremony and take it very seriously when choosing.

    I always give them a little foldout booklet of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit which I order from Autom every year.  It also gives the definition of each.  This year we made a mobile of a dove out of a paper plate with the 7 Gifts hanging from it to take home.  I also have the Venn Diagram of the Trinity pictured above the prayer table which I give them to color every year.   Another diagram I give out is of a tree showing the roots of the tree as the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, while the Fruits of the Holy Spirit are named on all the branches.