WAYS TO BEGIN: Greet each child. If your church is not planning a church-wide birthday party, plan to have one at the end of the class. Have the room decorated with red streamers. Tell the children that today we are celebrating the Church's birthday.

THE THEME: God sends the Holy Spirit to Jesus' friends and empowers them to begin the Church. They are able to tell the story of God in such a way that people of other languages can understand them.

THE STORY: For the youngest class I would use the story in Acts 2:1-11 rather than the Gospel in John. Read the account of Pentecost aloud.

SOME QUESTIONS TO TALK ABOUT:

1. What do you imagine the mighty wind was like? Could it have been like a tornado or a hurricane?
2. The story tells us that it was like each friend of Jesus had flames over his head. What do you imagine that must have been like? How do you think the friends of Jesus felt?
3. What do you think happens when the Spirit of God comes to us today? How might we know if God's Spirit is upon us if there is no mighty wind or burning flames?
4. Jesus' friends were able to rush out into the streets and tell everyone, even those who spoke different languages, about Jesus and God. How do we tell people about God today? What are some sentences you might use to tell someone about Jesus? What would you say? Role-play telling a friend about Jesus.
5. Jesus' friends, in telling others about Jesus, began the church. That is why we call this day the birthday of the church. How do you like to celebrate birthdays? How could we celebrate the Church's birthday?

AN ACTIVITY TO DO: Make pinwheels, flags or kites in celebration of Pentecost. Use red paper or material with designs in markers on it, dowel rods etc. MORE PRIME TIME

ACTIVITIES WITH KIDS by Donna Erickson, Augsburg Press has kite instructions. For pinwheel you will need a 5" square of paper. From each corner, cut straight to the center but without cutting all the way. Take the tips of each corner and fold towards the center securing with a pushpin stuck into a dowel rod. It's easier than it sounds! Cloth flags, after being decorated can be secured to dowel rods with a staple gun.

Or-celebrate the Birthday of the Church with cake with red candles, ice cream and the normal birthday games. You could even pin a flame on the head of a disciple rather than tail on a donkey! Whatever you do, wear red and have fun.