Again, this week we had a story in which the children use their imagination to think about a Bible story. This week they were in the Upper Room with Mary and the disciples:

Close your eyes. The disciples had been up studying the scriptures all night. As dawn came they began praying together. Picture the room where the disciples are. The shutters on the window are closed against the night. The lamps are lit and the room is full of people Who can you see? Peter? John? Mary? Have a look round the room now. Where are you? Who is next to you?

(Allow a time of Silence)

Listen to the prayers.

Say your own prayer, along with the others.

(Silence)

Through the shutters the light of the growing dawn can be seen through the cracks. There is a sound of a breeze. It grows stronger. Flames appear above the heads of each disciple as they are touched by the wind. The Holy Spirit is here, just as Jesus had promised.

Look around you at the disciples. Look at their faces. Listen to their words.

What are they feeling? What are you feeling?

(Silence)

Suddenly, the people in the room get up. They can’t contain what they are feeling. Gather you anything you have with go. Follow them out into the street. They are telling everyone about Jesus, in many different languages.

Many people are gathering, to see what is going on. Where are you? Are you next to Peter? Or Mary? Are you in the crowd or with the disciples?

Peter is talking to the crowd. Listen to what he is saying.

“…Joel the prophet wrote about what is happening here today:” Peter says.
17 ‘God says: In the last days
I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
18 At that time I will pour out my Spirit
also on my male slaves and female slaves,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show miracles
in the sky and on the earth:
blood, fire, and thick smoke.
20 The sun will become dark,
the moon red as blood,
before the overwhelming and glorious day of the Lord will come.
21 Then anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.’ — Joel 2:28–32

22 “People of Israel,” Peter continues “listen to these words: Jesus from Nazareth was a very special man. God clearly showed this to you by the miracles, wonders, and signs he did through Jesus. You all know this, because it happened right here among you.23 Jesus was given to you, and with the help of those who don’t know the law, you put him to death by nailing him to a cross. But this was God’s plan which he had made long ago; he knew all this would happen.24 God raised Jesus from the dead and set him free from the pain of death, because death could not hold him”

In the silence now, look around at the crowd and the disciples. You might want to talk to someone or you might want to think about what you have seen, heard and felt.

(Silence)

When you are ready open you eyes and return here to the room.

The Holy Spirit is what makes us the Church. God’s presence is with us always, just like it was on the first Penetcost. God is with us when we pray and study the Bible, when we spend time together, when we take part in Mass, when we eat together, when we go to school, when we play, when we sleep. We are part of the ongoing story, begun when the Holy Spirit first came.