The Church’s Birthday

🎉 Story Told:

In May, we celebrated Pentecost — the day the Church began and the Holy Spirit was poured out on Jesus’ followers. We called it what it truly is: the Church’s birthday! 🎉

The session began with the children acting out the moments following Jesus’ resurrection and His ascension into heaven. We talked about the beautiful promise Jesus made — that He was going to prepare a place for us, and that we wouldn’t be left alone. A helper, the Holy Spirit, would come.

👑 As Jesus ascended, the angels spoke to His friends and reassured them that He would return just as He had gone.
🔥 We then stepped into the Upper Room, where the children wore handmade flame headbands and acted out the coming of the Holy Spirit — represented by wind and fire. The room was filled with imagination and excitement as we talked about the disciples being filled with courage and the ability to speak in different languages so they could share Jesus with everyone around them.

💬Creative Prayer:

💬 Our Creative Prayer time reflected this theme of help and courage.
Each child wrote or drew something they wanted the Holy Spirit to help them with on flame-shaped paper cutouts. We strung all the flames together to represent how the Spirit is at work in all of us, helping and guiding us each day. We thanked God for sending us His Spirit and prayed over each child’s flame.

🎶 Song Session:

🎶 The songs brought celebration and joy:

• Sing Hosanna (Give Me Oil in My Lamp) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkKjRCNWubg
• Go Tell It on the Mountain
• There Is a Redeemer
• Jesus Loves Me

🎨 Crafts and food fun:

• Flame headbands made on arrival

• A giant birthday banner made with paint, glitter, and lots of messy joy

• Blueberry muffins decorated as birthday cakes — celebrating the birth of the Church!

Verse of the day:

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.” — John 14:26

Faith Takeaway:

The Holy Spirit is our Helper.
He gives us courage, reminds us of Jesus’ love, and helps us live out our faith every single day — just like the disciples did on the Church’s very first birthday.

Next Messy Church Session:

We’d love if you could join us for our next Messy Church Session. For details of when and where, please visit our events page: https://lovemessychurch.co.uk/events/list/ Can’t wait to meet you there!

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Session Blueprint (For Leaders & Volunteers)

• Theme: Pentecost – The Coming of the Holy Spirit
• Bible Focus: Acts 1–2 and John 14:26
• Key Verse: John 14:26

Songs:

• Sing Hosanna (Give Me Oil) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkKjRCNWubg
• Go Tell It on the Mountain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq35FUbwZl4
• There Is a Redeemer (1 verse + chorus) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrO1SI_dCv4
• Jesus Loves Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Sa-DxClTXw

Storytelling Format:

• Acted out the Ascension and promises of Jesus
• Re-enacted the Upper Room scene with flame headbands
• Shared about the Holy Spirit enabling the disciples to speak in new languages

Creative Prayer:

• Flame cutouts with children’s requests for help from the Holy Spirit
• Prayers of thanks and encouragement

Crafts:

• Flame headbands
• Painted and glittered birthday banner
• Decorated blueberry muffins as Church birthday cakes

Faith Focus:

• The Holy Spirit helps us and is always with us
• We can share the story of Jesus with others, just like the first disciples

Refreshments:

• Blueberry “birthday” muffins decorated by the children
• Hot Chocolate, Water, Juice.