Pentecost C (May 23) ; Led by the Spirit/contagious Christianity

THERE IS AN UPDATED 2022 VERSION OF THIS BLOG ENTRY WITH MORE STUFF  - SEE MY ARCHIVE LIST AT LEFT.

Bible Readings: Acts 2:1-21, Genesis 11:1-9, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b, Romans 8:14-17, John 14:8-17, 25-27. About the Photos: Upper: This photo was taken by David Husted when he was taken hot air ballooning over Melbourne by his kids for his 60th birthday. Balloons have always been a symbol for me of the Holy Spirit. Just as a balloon filled with air shows great promise so do we when we are filled with God's Spirit. Hot air balloons, flames and all, over a city are a sign of promise and challenge. Please feel free to use this image for worship and related activities. Lower: This image is free and come from ImageBank (see their address in my Links section). Whole Service Idea: Spread it Around Found in Multi-Sensory Seasons by Wendy Raynor and Annie Slade, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1844271757, page 47 (pictured in an earlier blog). These ideas are based primarily on the Acts reading.

Listening Song: Hands and Feet By Audio Adenalin on WOW 2001 or their album, Underdog (pictured at right). This works well with the Romans reading.

Listening Song Holy Spirit By Third Day on their self titled album (pictured in an earlier blog). Listening Song:Burning like Fire. By Iona on their album Beyond these Shores (pictured in an earlier blog) Prayer: Feathers In Multi-Sensory Scripture by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2005, ISBN 1844271668, page 34. Based primarily on the Acts reading. Drama: Verbal Symphony for Pentecost By M Preugschat in Drama Resources 2 by Lutheran Publishing House, 2000, page 55 (pictured at left). Drama: But It's Only 9 O'clock. Found in Mega Drama 5 by Verena Johnson (Ed), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109194, page 109 (pictured at right). This drama is based on the Acts reading. Quote: Hitler Hitler used fear to drive his attack on Europe. He said "If the Jews did not exist we would have had to invent them" . Film: The Legend of Bagger Vance Show the clip where Bagger Vance teaches Junuh how to find his "one truly authentic swing" Discussion: The Legend of Bagger Vance 1. What do you think our "one truly authentic swing" could be? 2. If Bagger Vance represents the Holy Spirit, how does the Holy Spirit help us to find our "one truly authentic swing"? 3. Have you found your "one truly authentic swing"? (thanks to someone for this idea - unfortunately I can't remember who). Film: Dead Poets Society (pictured at right) Use your discretion as to how much you show of this clip depending on the age and emotional resilience of your congregation. Show the clip prior to the student's suicide when the student, who is a talented actor, is stopped from realising his dreams by his father who thinks that acting is a waste of time. The student tries to explain his fear of a future which does not include acting and which will therefore be devoid pf the things that he loves doing best. Discussion: What sort of things do we fear today? What sort of things do we fear for our church? What sort of things do we fear for ourselves? Story: Your Own Experience Display digitally or have with you some of the more fear evoking headlines which we often see today or relate an experience you have had recently where you came across actions taken by others as a result of fear. eg on our last trip to Tasmania we were intrigued by the official who wanted to look under the bonnet of our car as we waited to drive on to the ferry at Port Melbourne. We were quite amused when he told us he was looking for bombs.... until we realised he was fair dinkum. Story: The Big Rock Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties, 1994, ISBN 0310402611, page 36 (pictured in an earlier blog). Response Activity: Give everyone a sparkler. Light the front row and allow people to touch the ends to light others. Use them as a reminder of the first Pentecost (fire and wind) - they fire up best when they are waved about.