Living Together | Acts 2:42-47
Click Here to get suggested Faith Formation activities for your family for the month of June. Options for different age groups to do at home with your family as well as community events to attend in-person.
Children's Ministry of First Presbyterian Church
Children's Department
Living Together | Acts 2:42-47
Click Here to get suggested Faith Formation activities for your family for the month of June. Options for different age groups to do at home with your family as well as community events to attend in-person.
Pentecost: May 23, 2021
Acts 2: 1-42
Jesus asked the disciples to stay in Jerusalem until a helper came to them. On the Jewish festival of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came to the disciples. It appeared as the sound of a wind and looked like tongues of fire above the disciples. The Holy Spirit filled the disciples so that they could tell the Good News about Jesus’ death and resurrection to all the pilgrims gathered in Jerusalem. 3000 people were baptized that day, which is why we call this day the birthday of the church.
Things to note about Pentecost. The liturgical color for Pentecost is red. Pentecost comes from the Greek meaning 50 and was the Greek word for the Jewish Feast of Weeks which comes 50 days after Passover. The Jews would bring their harvest offering, the first fruits to the Temple.
Watch this reading of a wonderful explanation of Pentecost for all ages.
Each child received a bag with some fun things to use to celebrate Pentecost. We invite you to have some fun and celebrate the Church’s birthday!
Ascension:
Acts 1:4-14
Watch for a delivery to your home early next week with suggestions on ways to celebrate Jesus’ Ascension (May 16) and the Birthday of the Church on Pentecost (May 23).
The story of Jesus’ ascension is told by Matthew and includes what the church calls the Great Commission. Gospel writer Luke also tells of Jesus’ ascension in his second volume, Acts of the Apostles.
In each story, Jesus commands the disciples to DO something. The version in Acts tells the disciples that they will be Jesus’ witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. They are to remain in Jerusalem until they receive the Holy Spirit.
As Jesus finishes his command he is taken up into heaven. The disciples stand there dump-founded until 2 men in white robes appear to tell them It’s time to move on!
Children can be followers of Jesus’ command in the simple ways they include friends in their Sunday morning rituals and in the way they share their faith simply and openly. Helping your child find ways to spread the news of Jesus to their world is a wonderful challenge and honor.
Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen Indeed. Here are 5 stories of Jesus’s appearances after His resurrection to share with your family. The pdf below gives you a flow for your time together: Share the story using your own Bible reading or listening to one of the audio stories provided from Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible; discuss the story using wondering questions provided; choose 1 or more family activities to do together to help family members connect the story to their life.
Easter Surprises – Faith at home
Woman at the Tomb-Luke 24:1-12
Story version| Commentary on Luke 24
Memory and Surprise-Luke 24:13-35
story version| Commentary on Luke 24
Mary Finds her friend-John 20:11-18
Listen to the Story Here
In the Garden | Optical illusions for Kids
Commentary on passage
Thomas Wants to see-John 20:19-31
Music video | story by kids | commentary on passage
Jesus Gives Peter a Job-John 21:15-19
Listen to the story from Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible Password in the Thursday e-letter
Listen to the story from Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible Password in the Thursday e-letter
Listen to the story from Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible Password in the Thursday e-letter
Faith at Home Resources
Commentary | Recipe for kid friendly slime| Marvelous Mustard Seed
Listen to the story from Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible
Password is in Thursday e-letter
Commentary | Color your world with kindness |Who is my Neighbor?
Listen to the story from Growing in God’s Love: a Story Bible
We explore four unique healing stories of Jesus.
Friends Who Help
Luke 5:17-26
Commentary Link |Binkle’s Time to Fly |Friendship Soup
Jesus Heals a Woman and a Girl
Luke 8:40-56
Jesus Heals with Words
John 4:46-54
Commentary | God gave us Words
A Canaanite Woman Does not Give Up
Matthew 15:21-28
Advent – Week 1 (Nov. 29) | “How Can This Happen?” p. 186 & 187 | Listen to the story here
Advent – Week 2 (Dec. 6) | “A Prophet is Born” p. 188 & 189 | Listen to the story here
Advent – Week 3 (Dec. 13) | “A Baby is Born” p. 190-191 | Listen to the story here
Advent – Week 4 (Dec. 20) | “Surprise Visitors” p. 192-193 | Listen to the story here
Session 8: People Jesus Met – The Short Man
Luke 19:1-10 | Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible, p. 242
Listen to the story here
Connecting Links from pg. 0 in the Parent Guide:
Story Commentary | What Defines U.S. Poverty?
Session 9: People Jesus Met – The Thankful Woman
Luke 7:36–48 | Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible, p. 234
Listen to the story here
Connecting Links from pg. 0 in the Parent Guide:
Story Commentary | Gratitude & Giving Back
Session 10: People Jesus Met – The Thankful Man
Luke 17:36-48 | Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible, p. 244
Listen to the story here
Connecting Links from pg. 13 in the Parent Guide:
Story Commentary | Anti-Racism Resources
Session 4: How the Twins were Born
Genesis 25:19-28 | Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible, p. 30
Listen to the story here
Connecting Links from pg. 9 in the Parent Guide:
Jacob and Esau Commentary | Parenting Multiples | Grand-parenting Tips
Session 5: Jacob and Esau Both Want Their Share
Genesis 27:1-29 | Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible, p. 32
Listen to the story here
Connecting Links from pg. 17 in the Parent Guide:
Jacob & Esau Conflict Commentary | PCUSA Peacemaking Resources
Session 6: When Things Get Really Scary
Genesis 32:22–32 | Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible, p. 34
Listen to the story here
Connecting Links from pg. 27 in the Parent Guide:
Jacob Wrestles Commentary | United Nations Main Tasks | Prayers for Peace
Session 7: How Esau and Jacob Got Over It
Genesis 32-33 | Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible, p. 36
Listen to the story here
Session 1: How God Made Everything
Genesis 1:1-2:4a | Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible, p. 20
Listen to the story here | Purchase the Story Bible on Amazon here
Connecting Links from pg. 7 in the Parent Guide:
Genesis 1 Commentary | Earth-Care-Congregations
Session 2: We Were All Farmers Once
Genesis 2:4b-22 | Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible, p. 22
Listen to the story here
Connecting Links from pg. 21 in the Parent Guide:
Genesis 2 Commentary | Feeding America
Session 3: When the World Started Over Again
Genesis 6-9 | Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible, p. 24
Listen to the story here
Connecting Links from pg. 27 in the Parent Guide:
Flood Podcast | Flood Commentary | Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
For Parents: Go Deeper with Todd Jones
Check out Pastor Todd’s Lecture Series on Genesis Part 1 & 2
Click here for Lectures