Greetings Families!

I hope you enjoy this week’s LivingRoom Lesson. It will be the last one for a little while because we’ll be taking a break during the summer. BUT – we’ll have new opportunities for your family to participate in some fun activities as well, so please stay tuned for information about those!

Today we celebrate Pentecost, a celebration of the Holy Spirit and the growth of the Christian Church. Our own congregation has grown this week, with the addition of our new members from the Summit Church!

Step 1: Read the Scripture

Please read this scripture passage aloud with your family.

Acts 2:1-6, NRSV

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.

Step 2: Watch the Video

Watch this video together.

Step 3: Discussion

1. What special celebration was taking place in the story?
2. What was the sound the people heard when they gathered together?
3. What did they see?
4. Who filled each of the believers on the Day of Pentecost?

Step 4: Pray Together

Dear God: Thank you for filling us with the light and love of your Holy Spirit. Help us see your power in our lives this week as we trust you each day. Amen.

Step 5: Activity Time

One interpretation of the story of Pentecost is that all the apostles were able to speak in different languages and be understood by the people at the same time. This is a fun activity to try with your family. Below is a list of different ways of saying “peace” in different languages. According to birth month, assign each member of your family one of the languages and practice saying the word/phrase listed below. Then, on the count of 3, have each person repeat their word/phrase several times so that everyone is talking at once. Imagine how the early believers must have felt!

January               Salaamata (Afar in Ethiopia)
February             Yatanpa (Pintupi-Luritja in Australia)
March                  Koosi (Masaba in Uganda)
April                     Nye (Ntomba in Congo)
May                      Mir (Bosnian)
June                     Fred (Danish)
July                      Friede (German)
August                 Paz (Spanish)
September          Jam (Fula in West Africa)
October               Udo (Igbo in Nigeria)
November          Huag Totoka (Rotuman in Fiji)
December           Kapayapaan (Tagalog in Phillipines)

CLICK HERE for a Pentecost Coloring Page

Happy summer, everyone!

Miss Karen