Pentecost During A Pandemic

As Eastertide begins to end, it leads to the next and last Holy Day before entering into Ordinary Times (which will be discussed in a different post): Pentecost.

This year, Pentecost is on Sunday May 31st. I assume that most will have some understanding of Pentecost, but if not, here is a brief summary of Pentecost.

Pentecost occurs fifty days after Easter, it's name derived from the Greek Πεντηκοστή (Pentēkostē), which means, "fiftieth." "Pentecost" during the Second Temple Period actually was (and still is) the Greek rendition for the Jewish festival of שבעות (Shavuot), which means, "weeks." Shavuot also occurred fifty days after Passover (you may notice the similarities between the Jewish and Christian holy days, with the Church "morphing" their meaning, for a lack of a better phrase). It's origins were based on the celebration of the early summer wheat harvest, but it later also celebrated the giving of the Torah (the Laws) to Moses on Mt. Sinai. It was a pilgrimage festival, meaning that they had to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem where God's Temple resided to celebrate it.

For the Church, Pentecost turned into the day when the Church commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit, who descended upon the Apostles and others who were with them as "tongues of fire." They begin to speak in different languages, confounding the pilgrims. Peter then began to preach the Gospel, that Jesus was crucified and then resurrected, and now is the Christ, the Messiah, the King. It was said that about 3,000 of these pilgrims changed their hearts, swore allegiance to Jesus, and was baptized. This event is seen as the beginning of the Christian Church.

Traditionally, Pentecost was a prime time for baptism in the early church. The liturgical color was red to symbolize the "tongues of fire."

So how does one celebrate Pentecost during the pandemic? Flo Oakes, a contributor for The Diocese Of Churches For The Sake Of Others (C4SO), provides five ways to celebrate:

1. Feast Together.

It is a feast day, after all! Pick out your favorite feast foods and break bread together. Use red napkins at the table. Afterward, put on your favorite music and hold a living room dance party. Maybe even wear red.

Ask: I wonder how the disciples felt when God gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit?

2. Listen Together.

Grab a blanket and sit outside on the grass. Close your eyes. Pay attention to the physical sensations of being outside. Do you hear any birdcalls? Is it windy outside? Can you hear the rustling of the grass in the breeze or feel the wind on your skin?

Ask: I wonder if there is anything about being outside that reminds you of God?

3. Read Together.

Light a candle and read the story of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-2) together as a family. Depending on the ages of your family members, you could read from a storybook Bible or straight from scripture (for older members, you could read Acts 2 in its entirety). You might even consider lighting a bonfire outdoors if you are able.

Ask: I wonder if the disciples were afraid of the fire?

4. Create Together.

We see the Holy Spirit represented at times as fire, wind, and even a dove. Younger children may enjoy making a pinwheel like this and seeing what happens on a breezy day. We can’t see the wind, but we can see what happens to a pinwheel when the wind turns it.

Ask: We can’t see wind, but we know it’s there—I wonder if that reminds you of anything else?

Very small children might like to make a dove craft like this using their hands:

Ask: I wonder why God sometimes used a dove to represent the Holy Spirit?

5. Sing Together.

God gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to the disciples on Pentecost—can you imagine how they had felt up to this point, waiting for this promised gift, wondering what in the world was going on after their world had been turned upside down? How they longed to hear from their friend, Jesus!

We are currently in a time of waiting as well. We long to hear from God in these strange and unprecedented days. “Spirit of the Living God,” by Audrey Assad, reminds us that God is the same God then and now. It’s God’s voice and breath that we have always longed for. Sometimes God’s voice is clear and sometimes we wonder where God is—or if God is even with us at all. Children feel all of these things, too. Consider learning/singing this song together as a family.

Ask: I wonder if there is a time you can remember when you heard from God, or when God felt close?

Pentecost is a day to commemorate the beginning of the Church, from a couple dozen to about three thousand people. It commemorates the beginning of the Church's mission to preach the Good News that Jesus is Lord and that the Kingdom of God is here and is coming.

We may be stuck inside, but mission doesn't stop, it continues no matter what, just in a different form at this time.

Reference:

Oakes, F. (2020, May 18). 5 Ways to Celebrate at Home. The Diocese Of Churches For The Sake Of Others. https://www.c4so.org/5-ways-to-celebrate-pentecost-at-home/