Something a little different

For the last few years I have done some kind of display in church to celebrate Pentecost. This year I set up some prayer stations on symbols and characteristics of the Holy Spirit. During the service people had an opportunity after the sermon to discuss with others some questions relating to the talk, express their thoughts through a creative station, or spend time reflecting in the prayer area where the stations were. I thought people would be very hesitant as this is something very different for our congregation, but everyone responded in some way and there was some positive feedback afterwards. Something to try again sometime.
Here are some pictures of the prayer focus area, together with some of the wording which went with them.

Flames settled over the disciples heads to symbolise the Holy Spirit Coming to them.

Fire can be transforming, cleansing, comforting and it produces light to guide.

Think of how the disciples must have felt and how the Holy Spirit made them brave to tell others about Jesus.

As you light a candle, pray that the Holy Spirit will make you brave and give you the words to tell others about Jesus.

The Holy Spirit hovered over the water at creation.

The Holy Spirit was present as Jesus was baptised in the River Jordan.

The Holy Spirit fills us and renews us like cool, refreshing water.

As we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we overflow with God’s love, bringing His grace to those around us.

As you hold a blue stone, pray that the Holy Spirit will refresh you, fill you and that you will overflow in love for others. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where and how to take his love into the world. Place the stone on the blue material as a sign of commitment to take God’s love into the world.

He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ This Jesus said about the Spirit which those who believed in him were to receive.                      John 7: 38 - 39

The wind can be powerful or it can be gentle. We cannot see the wind, but we can see its effects, the rustling of the trees, the blowing of a flag, a kite flying or the turning of a wind turbine.

Just like the wind, we cannot see the Holy Spirit, but we can see the effects the Spirit has on people.

Sometimes the wind moves things in new and different directions. The Holy Spirit also makes new things happen in people’s lives.

This can sometimes seem scary, but the Holy Spirit equips us to go where God wants us to be, to be who we are meant to be and to do his work.

Blow the bubbles gently and ask God to bless people through his Holy Spirit.

Write or draw a prayer on a piece of bunting and attach it the line.