Opening Prayer Holy Spirit, fill our hearts and minds with your wisdom, so that we may have the courage to live like Jesus, Amen. Object talk The Holy Spirit Needed: six red balloons; one white balloon -Distribute Balloon handout Today we will learn about the Holy Spirit. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary through the Power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus at his Baptism and led him through the desert to his mission. Jesus public ministry did not begin until he received the Holy Spirit. Only after Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to his disciples were they able to begin the Church s work of preaching the Good news. Take out a deflated balloon and explain A person who is not filled with the Holy Spirit is sort of like this balloon, lifeless, limp and not very useful. Empty balloons are not much fun to play with, why is that? Of course, a balloon needs to be full of air to be useful and to be fun. The Holy Sprit is often represented in the Bible as wind, Jesus breathed on his disciples while saying receive the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit came to the Apostles on Pentecost there was a driving wind. (Say this while blowing up a balloon) Draw a face on the balloon. Have the children draw a face on the balloon on the balloon handout. (Write I on the board and have the children write I on the balloon handout next to the balloon.) A person needs to be filled too, but not with air. A person needs to be full of the Holy Spirit to have a well-rounded life, joy and love. You were filled with the Holy Spirit at your Baptism (Say this while blowing up another balloon) AM You will be filled with the Holy Spirit with even more gifts when you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. (Say this while blowing up another balloon) FILLED After you are Confirmed you will be Considered an Adult member of the Church, Ready to Spread the Good News of Jesus to Everyone (Say this while blowing up another balloon) WITH Another way the Holy Spirit is represented is fire, (I could bring in by blow torch to represent The Holy Spirit as fire, but it is against Fire Code Regulations) At Pentecost there was fire over the heads of each of the Apostles. This is why I chose Red for the color of the balloons. You should wear Red on Pentecost to show that you are on Fire with the Holy Spirit. (Say this while blowing up another balloon) THE Don t forget to pray to the Holy Spirit. (Say this while blowing up another balloon) HOLY Brian R. Bobrzynski Page 1 10/22/2017
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 will renew the face of the earth. You can ask him to help you make the right choices: Holy Spirit, Guide me to make the right choices today Amen. (Say this while blowing up another balloon) SPIRIT Then be still and clear your mind to listen to what he has to tell you. (Say this while blowing up another balloon) COLOR YOUR BALLOON RED Now these balloons are full of life, just like a person is alive in Christ when he or she is filled with the Holy Spirit. When you are full of the Holy Spirit, your life has more meaning, and you can do wonderful things for others. We will use these balloons later when we play a game. We Believe Chapter 4 Have a volunteer read a few sentences then reward the child with a piece of candy (in the pumpkin) and summarize the meaning of the text to the class. Repeat this until the page is complete. Page 44 Jesus Promises to send the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew that his followers would be afraid when he had to leave them. So he promised to send them a special Helper, the Holy Spirit, who would always be with them. Forty days after his Resurrection, Jesus met his Apostles in Galilee. It was their last meeting with him on earth. Jesus gave his Apostles a mission, or special job, to make disciples of all nations. The Apostles were to baptize people everywhere in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, Behold I am with you always, until the end of the age. Then Jesus ascended and returned to this Father in Heaven. This event is called the Ascension. After Jesus Ascension, his Apostles returned to Jerusalem. They did not know how they would ever be able to tell the whole world about Jesus. Mary, the mother of Jesus also returned to Jerusalem. She prayed with the Apostles and disciples as they waited for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Page 45 The Holy Spirit comes to the disciples. Inside a room where they had gathered, the disciples heard a noise that sounded like a great wind. They saw what seemed to be flames of fire that spread out and touched each one of them. Suddenly, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit. They were changed in a wonderful way. Brian R. Bobrzynski Page 2 10/22/2017
A large crowd was outside. The disciples came out of the room ad began to speak about Jesus with great courage. Then Peter, the leader of all of the disciples, spoke to the people. He told them that God had raised Jesus from the dead. Peter told them that this Jesus who had been crucified and rose is truly the Lord, Jesus Christ. When Peter spoke to the crowd, the people understood him in their different languages. They asked him what they should do. Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts of the Apostles 2:38) Many people accepted this message, and about three thousand people were baptized that day. The day on which the Holy Spirit came to the Apostles is called Pentecost. The Holy spirit comes to us, too. The Holy Spirit helps us to be brave followers of Jesus. Vocabulary word: Pentecost The feast of Pentecost celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit to all Christ s followers. Page 46 The Church begins on Pentecost. On Pentecost, the disciples shared their Good News about Jesus with the people gathered around them. Soon, many people were baptized and received the Holy Spirit. This was the beginning of the Church. The Church is the community of people who are baptized and follow Jesus Christ. The new believers listened to the teaching of the Apostles. They came together for prayer and for the breaking of the bread as Jesus and the Apostles did at the Last Supper. They shared everything they owned with one another. They cared for those among them who were poor or in need. They treated everyone with love and respect. Soon after the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles and other disciples began to travel. They preached the Good News of Jesus to people in other cities and countries. Communities of new believers grew everywhere. Those people who were baptized began to be called Christians, because they were followers of Jesus Christ. The Church celebrates Pentecost fifty days after Easter. This great feast celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus first disciples. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to share the good news of God s kingdom with everyone we meet. Pentecost is the beginning of the Church. The Holy Spirit continues to unify the Church today and make it holy. The Church is even united with all the Saints in Heaven. The Church is sometimes called the communion of saints. This means that the members of the Church on earth, in purgatory, and in heaven are all united. The Saints join you in worshiping the Father the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Brian R. Bobrzynski Page 3 10/22/2017
Page 47 The early Church grows. As the Church grew, people in power began to worry that too many people were becoming Christians. At that time the disciple Stephen preached about Jesus. Because of Stephen, many people became Christians. The enemies of the Church were very angry, and they had Stephen put to death. Acts of the Apostles 9:3-5 Saul of Tarsus was one of the men determined to stop those who believed in Jesus. One day Saul was traveling along a road and a bright light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? Saul wanted to know who was speaking to him. Then he heard, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Saul s life changed forever. Three days later he was baptized. Saul, also known as Paul, became one of the greatest followers of Jesus Christ in history. Paul made many trips to build up Christian communities throughout the world. His preaching and example encouraged many people to believe in Christ. His work and the work of many others helped the Church to grow. People of all races, languages and nationalities came to believe in Jesus Christ. Vocabulary Words Pentecost The Feast that celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit 50 days after Easter. Church The community of the people of God Gathered in the name of Jesus Christ. Vocabulary words from Previous Lessons: Pope The successor of Saint Peter and bishop of Rome. The highest teacher and guide in the Church. Peter This Apostle was the first Pope and Leader of the Church. Apostles The first twelve leaders called by Jesus. Minister someone who serves on behalf of the Church. People of God The members of the Church. Son of God Second Person of the Blessed Trinity; Jesus Christ the Redeemer Kingdom of God God s rule of Justice, Love and Peace. Brian R. Bobrzynski Page 4 10/22/2017
Trinity The three persons in one God. Prayer The prayer is on the vocabulary word sheet 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 will renew the face of the earth. Chapter 4 Test Review the Chapter 4 Test page with the class, providing them with the answers. Homework: Complete the Chapter 4 Project (page 48) and study this week s vocabulary word page. 10:45 Activity Listen Carefully (6 red balloons one white; blindfold.) Announcements: There will be a test next week. Brian R. Bobrzynski Page 5 10/22/2017