Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2020 Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFusion Pentecost 1 • Year A 1

Prepare

Gathering

Worship

Gathering for All Ages: Pentecost • Year A

Gathering for All Ages: WelcomeGatherings for All Ages are suitable not just for people of all ages but also for people of any or no church background. These gatherings connect those inside the church with those who have little or no connection with regular Sunday wor-ship.

This outline includes activities, worship, and a meal. Choose the flow that suits your situation and time of gathering. For example, if your gathering will begin early evening, you might start with a meal. If you meet late afternoon, then you might begin with worship and conclude with a meal.

NOTE: All of these suggestions are mere starting points; adapt, delete, and add according to your local needs.❑❑ Set the stations as described in Times of Creativity.❑❑ Set a worship space: Place a table at the front or even

the centre of the gathering space with chairs facing it. Cover the table with green fabric (or fabric/tablecloths with green patterns). Arrange an open Bible, cross, and three pillar candles on the table. Place an empty basket or clear bowl on the table. On another table, set up the “activity” as outlined in the worship section.

❑❑ Arrange for three volunteers to light the candles at the beginning of worship (details below).

❑❑ Arrange for a storyteller to tell the Bible story “Jesus Teaches His Disciples.” (Option: You might ask two or three people to read different parts of the story for var-iety. Select a diverse group of readers, and, if possible,

“rehearse” the telling of the story before to the gather-ing, so transitions go smoothly.)

❑❑ For the song activity, bring green index cards or green construction paper or card stock cut into small 8 cm/3 in x 12 cm/5 in pieces, pens or markers.

❑❑ Bring songs: “Called by Earth and Sky”; “Be Still and Know”; As We Go Now.” (Seasons Songbook, vol. 6, #12, #7, #28 Seasons Music CD, vol. 6’ “All Are Welcome” (Seasons Songbook, vol. 9, #12 Seasons Music CD, vol. 9. Printed music and recordings are also available at Seasons MP3 Downloads, www.seasonsonline.ca).

❑❑ Arrange for volunteers to prepare the meal and help set it up for serving.

Recruit volunteers to initiate the clean up after the meal.

Welcome everyone to the gathering. Explain clearly (but briefly) what will be happening throughout the gather-ing. Ask a volunteer to lead the group in “Called by Earth

and Sky” (Seasons Songbook, vol. 6, #12 Seasons Music CD, vol. 6. printed music and recording also available at Sea-sons MP3 Downloads, www.seasonsonline.ca).

At the beginning of worship, have three volunteers light the pillar candles, speaking these words as they light a candle. One: A light to remind us we are heard.TwO: A light to remind us that we are known. Three: A light to remind us that we are loved.

Just like our calendar year, the church year has seasons that mark distinct times of the year when we celebrate different events in our faith lives. The Season of Pentecost is a time in the church year when we hope to grow as a community and individually in our relationship with God. During this time, we explore what it means to be the church and how we are called by God to live God’s love in the world today.

Our goal during this time is to become better disciples, better followers of Jesus’ way. Jesus’ disciples and followers were often asking Jesus questions about his teachings, wondering

about how they could – in the face of tension and challenges – live lives of true discipleship and devotion to God. Their struggles are familiar to us today.

We look at the world around us and wonder if we can make a difference and be a force for good. We are afraid of some of what we see happening around us, and perhaps our own experiences have made us doubt God’s presence. Jesus as-sures us that God is with us; God knows us.

Sing “Be Still and Know” (Seasons Songbook, vol. #7 on Seasons Music CD, vol. 6. Printed music and recording also available at Seasons MP3 Downloads, www.seasonsonline.ca)Bible story Have a volunteer tell the story “Jesus Teaches His Disciples,” or you might have two or three volunteers present it.

2 Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFusion Pentecost 1 • Year A Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2020

Time of Creativity

Gathering for All Ages: Pentecost • Year A

Jesus Teaches His Disciples(based on Matthew 10:24–42) Jesus was a teacher. Sometimes his classes were small – maybe only two, or three, or 12 in the case of the disciples. Other times Jesus would teach huge crowds of people packed into homes or gathered on a hillside. The lessons were not always easy to hear and sometimes led the disciples and others to ask more questions; we might still have questions about Jesus’ teachings today.

It’s important to remember that Jesus’ teachings were re-corded after his death – at a time when the early Christians were trying to figure out what it would mean to be “church.” At times there was division and disagreement among the first believers. They struggled with how to live out Jesus’ teachings in unsettling times.

Jesus’ message amid the division and disrupted peace is, “Do not fear. God is always with you.” God knows the number of hairs on your head. And when others turn against you, God is there.” How do we live as Jesus’ disciples? Jesus emphasizes one word in Matthew 10:40–42 – Welcome! It’s a word that we use when guests come to our homes, our offices, our schools, our churches. Jesus wants his disciples to be welcoming to all people, just as God has welcomed us. By receiving and giving God’s loving welcome to all God’s people – especially those marginalized by society today – you are welcoming the presence of God into your life.

Song activityMaterials green index cards or green construction paper or card stock cut into small 8 cm/3 in x 12 cm/5 in pieces, pens or markers Invite the people to come to the table and write down a question or questions of faith they wonder about, as they sing or listen to “All Are Welcome.” Encourage them to think about the disciples and their amazement and sometimes bewilderment at Jesus’ actions and teachings. Ask:

❑■ What questions do you imagine they had? ❑■ What questions about your faith or Jesus’ teachings do

you have today?

When they have finished, have them place their questions in the basket or bowl on the worship table. Say something like: Sometimes we wonder and have questions about our faith. God is always with us as we seek the answers and strive to live as Jesus’ disciples in the world today. Option You might ask your pastor or leadership team mem-bers to answer some of the questions at this Gathering for All Ages or in worship, in a newsletter segment called “Ques-tions of Faith,” or another gathering.

Sing or listen to “All Are Welcome” (Seasons Songbook, vol. 9, #12 Seasons Music CD, vol. 9)

Prayer Gather around the worship centre.God, thank you for your constant presence in our lives. You have welcomed us and received us – no matter where we are in our faith journey. May we live the life of welcome that Jesus taught. As we learn and grow in our own faith, may we be a sign to those around us of your presence and welcoming ways. Amen.

Suncatcher crossMaterials clear adhesive covering, a var-iety of different colours of tissue paper cut into 5 cm/ 2 in squares (approximately) – you can have extra sheets of tissue paper available in case you run out of squares, a few patterns for crosses (about 25 cm/10 inches high, 18 cm/7 in wide) cut out of card before the event (see Virtual Resource Booklet in the Library at www.seasonsonline.ca), pencils, hole punch, scissors, ruler, ribbon or string, copy of the directions dis-played where all can see

Directions1. Cut out two pieces of clear adhesive covering that are approximately the size

of copy paper.2. Lay one piece in front of you – sticky side up – and cover it with tissue paper

squares. Overlapping the squares is fine! Be sure to cover the entire sheet.3. Next, place the other sheet of clear adhesive covering – sticky side down – on

the tissue paper. 4. Using the pattern, trace the shape of a cross on the transparent adhesive cover-

ing and cut it out. (If you’d like, you could make smaller crosses or suncatchers of other shapes with the leftover clear covering/tissue paper.)

5. Punch a hole at the top of the cross and tie a ribbon on the suncatcher so you can hang it in your window.

Younger children Help younger children make a suncatcher, or other shapes, with the covering/tissue paper. Remind them that the cross is a symbol of Jesus’ love for all of us and a reminder that we should try to live like Jesus in our everyday lives.

Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2020 Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFusion Pentecost 1 • Year A 3

Gathering for All Ages: Pentecost • Year A

We are the churchMaterials recycled newspapers, news-print, or plastic tablecloths; paper plates; paper towels; knives; rectangular-shaped crackers/cookies/biscuits (whole and in the package); white icing (from the store or homemade from a simple recipe); small bowls; food colouring; craft sticks; pretzel sticks; and a variety of small candies/lol-lies/chocolates and cereal for decoration, such as gumdrops, chocolate-coated candies, gummi bears, liquorice, mini coloured marshmallows, and so on; dis-posable food preparation gloves, and/or hand sanitizer, copy of the directions displayed where all can see.

Directions1. Using crackers/cookies/biscuits and icing as mortar, assemble a “church”

structure on your paper plate. You can simply make two walls and a roof – and then decorate both the outside and the inside of the church. Or use a knife to cut pieces of biscuits/cookies to enclose the whole structure.

2. Use the food colouring to tint icing and the candies/lollies and cereals to decor-ate your church. Be creative! Use the pretzel sticks to make a cross to attach to your church. Think about how you will show the different people in your church community (maybe gumdrops or gummi bears?) and how you might show something your church does – worship, service to others, fellowship, or even gathering at an event like this one

3. When you have finished, put your churches on display in the space for everyone to see.

Younger children Help younger children assemble and decorate a biscuit/cookie/cracker church.

Being a discipleMaterials construction paper, coloured pencils and markers, card templates for footprints approximately 22 cm/9 in high (see template in the Virtual Resource Book-let at the Library at www.seasonsonline.ca), copy of the directions displayed where all can see

Directions1. Use the footprint pattern and trace a footprint on a piece of construction paper.

Label the footprint: “Being a Disciple.”2. Think about the Bible story Jesus Teachers His Disciples” and the lessons Jesus

taught. What are you learning about being a disciple? How might you follow Jesus’ ways in your own life? What behaviours would change?

3. Divide the footprint into five sections with horizontal lines and in each section, write down one way that you will be a disciple of Jesus this week.

Younger children Help younger children trace a footprint and ask them to draw a picture of how they can be one of Jesus’ disciples. What would they do to fol-low Jesus’ teachings?

Welcome signsMaterials colourful card stock or other heavy paper, cardboard, coloured pen-cils, markers, paints, paintbrushes, small cups of water, paper towels, newsprint or recycled newspaper, stencils for the alphabet, recycled magazines, stickers, ribbon, string, buttons, scraps of felt or fabric, scissors, glue, hole punch, copy of the directions displayed where all can see

Directions1. Using the materials on the table, create a hanging welcome sign. Use the card

stock/heavy paper (you might glue this to a heavier piece of cardboard) and stencils to write the word “welcome” or “hello” in large letters (or write free-hand).

2. Decorate your welcome sign using the other art supplies. 3. When your welcome sign in finished, punch holes in the top corners and feed

pieces of ribbon or string through the holes, tying it at the top to create a hanger.4. On the back of your name sign, jot down three ways you might practice Jesus’

call to welcome others.Younger children Help younger children create their hanging welcome signs. Help them write down ways they can show welcome to others – specifically at daycare, school, church, or on the playground.

4 Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFusion Pentecost 1 • Year A Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2020

Bible Story – Gathering for All Ages: Pentecost Day • Year A

Eating Together

Blessing

Plan a simple but enjoyable meal for all to share. The menu is not as important as the occasion. The occasion is not as important as those participating. This is a time for people to relax, chat, have fun, eat and drink, and enjoy one another’s company.

Try to plan the layout of the room so that it reflects the com-munal aspects of the gathering together, but be aware that

for some, eating in this way is a new and perhaps un-nerving situation. Ask volunteers to prepare the meal. Select a healthy and straightforward menu, preferably including locally grown fruits and vegetables that are in season and other locally made food items; e.g., raw vegetables/fruit with dip, salads, homemade soups or sandwiches. You might ask the cooks to share their recipes with the group.

Sing “As We Go Now” (Seasons Songbook, vol. 6, #28 Seasons Music CD, vol. 6.

Send the people out with these words: As you leave this gathering, know that God goes with you. Go out into the world to love and welcome the way the Jesus did and remember that the Holy Spirit is with you always – to guide you and accompany you as you lead faithful, love-filled lives. Amen.