Background Notes for Parents

About the Theme: PentecostIn this theme the children learn about the gift of the Holy Spirit and serving as a way of life.

Easter Sunday is the beginning of the Easter Season which lasts for 50 days. The celebration of the Ascension and Pentecost completes the Easter story.

AscensionForty days after Easter, the Church celebrates the feast of the Ascension of the Lord. Jesus appeared to his disciples after the Resurrection and told them that he was going back to his Father in heaven. Before Jesus leaves them, he gives his followers a mission. Jesus tells his disciples to be his witnesses. They are to "Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to everyone.” (Mark 16:15, 16)

The disciples cannot carry out their mission of spreading Jesus’ message to the ends of the earth without help. Therefore, Jesus tells his disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they receive power from God. This power is God's Holy Spirit, who Jesus says will come after he goes away. After Jesus ascends into heaven, the disciples wait for the promised Holy Spirit.

PentecostPentecost (or 'Shavuot' as it is called in Hebrew) is a Greek word meaning ‘fiftieth’. The Jewish ‘feast of weeks’ was held fifty days after the beginning of the grain harvest. It was a thanksgiving feast, celebrating the end of the harvest and commemorating the day God gave the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Jesus had told his disciples that it was important that they carry on his mission after he was gone. He promised he would give them the strength of his Spirit to do this. At Pentecost the Church celebrates Jesus fulfilling that promise to send the Holy Spirit to guide and help his disciples to understand all that he has taught them. It is celebrated 50 days (7 weeks) after Easter Sunday and brings the Easter season to an end. The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost changed the frightened disciples into witnesses who could speak out with courage. The Holy Spirit strengthens the Church today in its mission to continue the work of Jesus and proclaim the gospel to the whole world. Christians are called each day to accept and live lives of joyful service through the power of the Spirit in their lives. Christians believe that the Spirit of God is active in each person and, in a special way, in the community of believers, which is the Church. It is the work of the Spirit to help people to hear God’s message and to live Jesus’ way of service. The Feast of Pentecost is the celebration both of the gift of God’s Holy Spirit and the trust God places in people to be witnesses in the world. It is sometimes called the birthday of the Church because, filled with courage given by the Holy Spirit, the disciples went out among the people and began spreading Jesus’ message, thus marking the beginning of the Church.

Year 3

Key Vocabulary YEAR 3Energy

PENTECOST – SERVINGfirewindpowerenergygifts,Holy Spiritwisdomunderstandingright judgementcourageknowledgeawe and wonderreverenceResurrectiongood newsHoly Spiritfeast‘Share the Gospel’mission‘I will be with you...’

Christians believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit within them gives them energy and the power to live the way of Jesus. The symbols used for the Holy Spirit – wind and fire – are symbols of power and energy. At Pentecost, the disciples were filled by the gifts of the Holy Spirit and went out courageously to carry the Gospel of Jesus to the whole world.Children will know and understand:• The energy of fire and wind• The wonder and power of the Holy SpiritSee the Background Notes for Parents

Week 1 Lesson 1 talk about the power of fire and wind. Use the Flame and wind template and on it write and draw the sounds, the smells, the sights, the feelings you have, the difference it makes to our life, the movement it makes, the warmth or cold it brings. Lesson 2 share the story of the Ascension.Week 2 Lesson 1 children learn about the story of Pentecost. Lesson 2 children understand how Pentecost is celebrated in church and is known as the birthday of the Church.Week 3 Lesson 1 St Paul tells us that we all have different gifts for the Holy Spirit to use for the good of others. Lesson 2 children look at the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. How can people use their gifts to serve others? Week 4 - Celebrate what you have learned with a simple liturgy

https://missiontogether.org.uk/calendar/resources-for-pentecost-2020/

https://cafod.org.uk/Education/Primary-teaching-resources/Pentecost-primary-resources

Or use the simple Act of Worship below.

In the topic ‘Energy’ the children explore the energy of wind and fire. They learn about the first Pentecost when the promised gift of the Holy Spirit came to the disciples. The Spirit would give them the power to be his witnesses in Jerusalem and all over the world and would give them a new way of living. The children learn about the gifts of the Spirit which are given to Christians by the Holy Spirit so that they can help one another. These seven particular gifts should be used to help others.

Week 1: Lesson 1: Talk to your child about all the things that you can use fire for: starting a car, cooking, light, warmth, making things, metal work, glass, firing pottery, for purifying etc. Talk about the qualities of fire – it warms, melts, cooks, burns, change liquids and solid substances. Fire gives us light. Do the same with wind.Help your child to make a flame and wind mobile using the template attached. They colour and then write their ideas on the flame/wind aboutThe sounds you hear the smells you smell The sights you see the feelings you haveThe difference it makes the movement it makesThe warmth or cold it brings the power of fire/wind

Lesson 2: Share the story of the Ascension and key questions below. Using the grid below, ask your child to imagine they are one of the Apostles: what will they do to continue Jesus’ mission of serving others and being a witness.

Week 2: Lesson 1: Share the story of Pentecost with your child

‘When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered together in one place. Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong and powerful wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

There were Jews living in Jerusalem, religious people who had come from every country in the world. When they heard this noise, a large crowd gathered. They were all excited, because all of them heard the believers talking in their own languages. In amazement and wonder they exclaimed, “These people who are talking like this are Galileans! How is it, then, that all of us hear them speaking in our own native languages? We are from many different countries yet all of us hear them speaking in our own languages about the great things that God has done!” Amazed and confused, they kept asking one another, “What does this mean?” But others made fun of the believers, saying, “These people are drunk!”

Then Peter stood up with the apostles and in a loud voice began to speak to the crowd. “Fellow-Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, listen to me and let me tell you what this means. These people are not drunk, they are filled with God’s Holy Spirit.”

This is what the prophet Joel spoke about: God says: “I will pour out my Spirit on everyone and they will proclaim my message.” Awe and wonder came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles.’Acts 2: 1-18, 43

Go back through the passage and help your child highlight all the words in the passage which describes people who are bursting with energy or have no energy. Your child can then retell the story using the storyboard template.

Lesson 2: Read Church’s Story 3 page 113 below. The Church itself is part of the Pentecost story. Each year, Christians remember and celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, the new energy, the new power that he gives to the friends of Jesus. The priest wears red vestments to symbolise fire and energy. Many parishes celebrate Pentecost, the birthday of the Church, with a parish lunch or get together. Ask your child to design a birthday card for the Church using the colours and symbols associated with the Holy Spirit.

Week 3: Lesson 1: On Pentecost day, God’s Holy Spirit showered gifts upon the friends of Jesus, gifts which were different kinds of energy, gifts which transformed them. To help Christians live as followers of Jesus the Holy Spirit gives them different kinds of gifts so everyone can help one another. St. Paul explains this in his first letter to the people living in Corinth. He reminds the people that everyone has different abilities but that the Holy Spirit helps them in different ways.

God has given each of us different gifts. But he has given us the same Spirit in our hearts. There are many different ways of caring for ourselves and for one another. But it is the same Spirit who gives us the energy (power) to care for one another in these different ways.The Holy Spirit gives to some the power to speak wisely; to some the power to work out difficult problems and to explain them; to some the power to believe in and trust God; to some the skill of nursing and healing; to some the power to do wonderful things; to some the power to know God and to help others to know him; to some the power to distinguish clearly between right and wrong.All different gifts, all different forms of energy, but all given by the same Holy Spirit who is at work in our hearts.Based on I Corinthians 12: 4-8, 11

Q What does Paul tell us God gives to everyone?Q What different gifts/energies does Paul tell us God gives to different people?Q What are these to be used for?Q What gift/energy, do you think God has given to you? Q What gift/energy, would you like to have? Why?Q How can Christians be open to the Spirit and use their gifts for the good of others? Why

would they do this?

Ask your child to learn this prayer to the Holy Spirit (if appropriate) and make a prayercard:Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth.

Lesson 2: There are seven particular gifts, which are linked together and help people to lead good lives and make use of the gifts they have. These gifts should be used to help others.

Wisdom – that is the gift to be sensible and not to jump to conclusions but be thoughtful.Understanding – enables people to be compassionate and to take time to find out and be able to appreciate what is happening.Counsel – means using wisdom and understanding to come to a good decision about something.Fortitude – there are times when everyone needs to be brave in standing up for what they believe to be right and holy.Knowledge – without knowledge you cannot make right judgements or have an understanding. It takes practice to have true knowledge.Piety – this is about reverence and respect for God, for one another and for oneself.Fear of the Lord - this gift enables people to recognise the awe and wonder of God and be amazed by the love and goodness of God.

Help your child to think of ways that these gifts can be used each and every day in simple ways. Create a poster using the template or they can make their own. (The template uses easier language for the children.)

Week 4: Celebrate the story of Pentecost – what can you remember about the story? How does the Holy Spirit help us today?Mission Together and CAFOD have Pentecost liturgies you can download and celebrate.https://missiontogether.org.uk/calendar/resources-for-pentecost-2020/ https://cafod.org.uk/Education/Primary-teaching-resources/Pentecost-primary-resources

Or celebrate the simple Act of Worship below.

Week 1 Lesson 1

The Power of Fire and Wind

Week 1 Lesson 2 The Ascension

The Church celebrates the Ascension forty days after Easter Sunday, the day of the Resurrection.A disciple is a follower of Jesus. An apostle is someone who is sent out to spread the Good News of Jesus to the whole world.

Q How long after Jesus’ Resurrection was the Ascension? Q How do you think the apostles felt and wondered when Jesus disappeared from sight?Q How do you think the apostles could serve as witnesses all over the world?Q Why do you think that the apostles needed the power and energy of the Holy Spirit?

Imagine you are one of the Apostles, what will you do to continue Jesus’ mission?

What will you do? How will you do it? And why?

The Story of Pentecost

Week 2 Lesson 1

Week 2 Lesson 2

Q In the reading, what were the Jewish people celebrating at Pentecost?Q What was the promise Jesus made?Q Why is Pentecost known as ‘the birthday of the Church’? Q Why does the priest wear red vestments at Pentecost?Q Why would parishes celebrate richness and diversity especially on Pentecost Day?

Week 3 Lesson 2

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

to speak wisely; to work out difficult problems and to explain them; to believe in and trust God; the skill of nursing and healing; to do wonderful things for others; to know God and to help others to know him; to know the difference between right and wrong.

Week 4

Act of WorshipENERGYYear 3

“The wonder and power of the Holy Spirit!”

You might like to set up a Focal table with some of the following:Candle, Bible (if possible), a cross, a kite/picture of kite/windmill flame mobiles, brightly coloured balloons, any work on the topic “Energy”

Let us begin our prayer time together by lighting our candle to remind us of the “good news” we are called to share… that Jesus is risen…

Let us gather together In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

During this Easter season we specially remember especially that Jesus rose from the dead. After Jesus’ Resurrection, he told his friends, that they would not be left alone. He said, ‘You will receive the power of the Holy Spirit’.And so let us pray a special prayer to the Holy Spirit..Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and we shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth.

Each year at Pentecost, Christians remember and celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit and the new energy, the new power that he gives to the friends of Jesus.

Mary and the apostles were in Jerusalem living quietly together. They were uncertain as to what to do but wait.There were lots of people in the city at that time because it was the Jewish feast of Pentecost, that is thanksgiving for the harvest. This is what happened next…

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles

When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered together in one place. Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong and powerful wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.There were Jews living in Jerusalem, religious people who had come from every country in the world. When they heard this noise, a large crowd gathered. They were all excited, because all of them heard the believers talking in their own languages. In amazement and wonder they exclaimed,‘These people who are talking like this are Galileans! How is it, then, that all of us hear them speaking in our own native languages? We are from many different countries yet all of us hear them speaking in our own languages about the great things that God has done!’Amazed and confused, they kept asking one another,‘What does this mean?’ But others made fun of the believers, saying, ‘These people are drunk!’

GatheringTogether

The Word of God

Then Peter stood up with the other eleven apostles and in a loud voice began to speak to the crowd:‘Fellow-Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, listen to me and let me tell you what this means. These people are not drunk, they are filled with God’s Holy Spirit. Instead, this is what the prophet Joel spoke about: God says:‘I will pour out my Spirit on everyone and they will proclaim my message.’Awe and wonder came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles.

The Word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.

The Good News of God’s love and power spread like sparks from a fire and warmed the people’s hearts towards God and one another. The people who were watching were astonished when they saw how much the apostles loved one another. The Holy Spirit inspired a new way of living.

Your child may wish to share any work done in the topic, particularly on the gifts of the Holy Spirit

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to fill us too

The response to our litany is: Come Holy Spirit Come, Holy Spirit

Fill us with your life Come, Holy Spirit Fill us with your energy Come, Holy Spirit Fill us with your joy Come, Holy Spirit Fill us with your love Come, Holy Spirit Fill us with your peace Come, Holy Spirit..You may wish to add your own prayers

Think for a moment about which gift of the Holy Spirit you feel you need – wisdom, understanding, right judgement, courage, knowledge, reverence or awe and wonder in God’s presence…… Ask the Holy Spirit to help you use that gift this week. (Pause for silent prayer)

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Response to the Word

Going Forth