God's Pentecost Pantry
Children's program
WHO - ME? DO A PROGRAM? Volume 2
Program Resources For Congregational Events
Leader's Helps
This program resource is designed to be used at a women's Pentecost breakfast but can be adapted to be used at another congregational function or fellowship meal. The place may be decorated according to a Pentecost theme: red candles, white doves, red placemats, white dove nametags with red yarn to hang around the neck. A sign can be displayed: Welcome to God's Pentecost Pantry; Seat yourself; Sinners will receive Service.
Participants involved are: Person from the audience, Narrator, Waitress (enters dressed in red apron, carrying large menu and pad, pencil behind ear, and chewing gum), and Alice the owner. One reader may read all seven passages or seven readers may be used. Order of scriptures to be read: Psalm 104:25--34, 1 Corinthians 3:1--3, Romans 12:1--8, John 3:3--8, 1 Corinthians 12:1--11, Ephesians 4:4--6, Galatians 5:16--25.
Design a menu for display and uncover each item as mentioned or attach it to menu board as read:
BEVERAGES:
Water - free
Milk - 1 Corinthians 3:1--3
APPETIZERS:
Romans 12:1--8
MAIN DISH:
John 3:3
BREADS:
Lite Popovers
Hearty Spirit--filled Muffins - 1 Corinthians 12:1--11
MORE SUBSTANTIAL ITEMS:
Body of Christ - Ephesians 4:4--6 and Ephesians 4:11--12
DESSERTS:
God's Fruit Salad - Galatians 5:17--25
ESSENTIALS:
Prayer
Study
Worship
Fellowship
Service
Program
God's Pentecost Pantry
Narrator: On Pentecost Sunday, the Church, in the Prayer for the Day, declares that God announces love to all nations through the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. It asks God to pour out the fire of his love upon the Church of Jesus Christ and the open hearts of the believers who make up that Church. Strengthened and empowered for service, the Church then sends forth its people as messengers of the Good News. What it receives from the Spirit, its people then witness to others, demonstrating the power of Christ's kingdom here on earth. Hear the psalm for that day.
Reader: Psalm 104:25--34
Narrator: Verse 30 states that when God sends forth his Spirit, things happen: created beings come forth, food is provided, and the living have plenty of good things. But when the Lord takes away his presence, God's creatures are dismayed. When God takes away their breath, they die. The Good News is that God's glory endures forever! We sing praises to God as the Spirit breathes life into us and brings about renewal. Today we have created an opportunity for that to occur. We have come together to be fed at our Pentecost breakfast - fed in body and in spirit. Who is the one feeding us? God's Holy Spirit. What is it we are being fed? Well, let's take a look at the menu God provides for us so that we, like the disciples gathered together in the Upper Room at Pentecost, can also learn about and release the power of God's Spirit in our lives. Let's look at the banquet set before each child of God as we enter "God's Pentecost Pantry."
Waitress: (enters carrying menu under her arm, pencil behind ear, pad in hand, and chewing gum) Good morning, ladies! Welcome to our restaurant. So nice to see you decided to make God's Pentecost Pantry your breakfast spot today. I need one of you to sit right up here at our table as a representative of this body. Let's just grab this person here. (Takes one lady from the group to sit at a table.) Now what'll you have? Come, come, now. I'm sure as a Christian, you're hungry and want to be fed. (Pause.) But you seem a little confused about what's available to you. Oh, of course, you don't have a menu! Here, let me help you. (Whips out menu.) Lands sakes, you just have to excuse my absent--mindedness! I assumed that since you are baptized you already know what God has provided for you as a Christian. Here, let me fill your water glass as I explain what we find under our beverage heading. (Fills a glass half--full and then points to menu on wall or prop board before the group.) First off, this item is free - water that comes to us in the form of the Rite of Holy Baptism. Just so that it is made plain, I'm going to have someone else explain it to you. Alice, oh, Alice! Alice owns this restaurant, so I'm going to have Alice tell you more about this menu selection.
Alice: (enters) Good morning, ladies. What a fine day it is to be exploring the work of God's Spirit in our lives. You - each one of you - were liberated from sin and death at your baptism. That was when God joined you to the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. You know, ladies, I'm sure this won't surprise any of you, but you were born children of a "fallen humanity." That wasn't the way it was supposed to be. In fact, in the beginning, you know, God's Spirit moved into that dark and empty void and swept over the face of the water. That psalm you heard, you know, Psalm 104 ... well ... God did his thing - created life. Out of the waters of creation, God made the earth from which we came. He breathed life into us. But that life, which was supposed to live in harmony with its creator, chose to disobey him. As a result sin entered the world, and all those born since Adam and Eve became children of that fallen couple. But there is Good News! And I'll let your waitress share it with you.
Waitress: Yes, the Good News comes to us in this water. (Pours more water into the glass.) In the waters of baptism, we are reborn children of God and inheritors of eternal life. By water and the Holy Spirit we are made members of the Church, which is the body of Christ. As we live with him and with his people, we grow in faith, love, and obedience to the will of God.
Narrator: Thank you, ladies. (Alice leaves.) What you've served to us already has been most revealing and has not cost us anything except to receive and believe. The Spirit of God was present, moving over the waters and bringing forth life. The Spirit of God was there when God had to destroy life with the flood because it had become so wicked. Yet God did not stop all life. He chose Israel to be his nation and led them out of slavery through the waters of the Red Sea into the Promised Land. God surely uses water for his divine purposes, doesn't he? And the Spirit of God didn't leave his people. In fact, God's Holy Spirit descended upon Christ as he was baptized by John in the Jordan River. That is where Jesus received his anointing for service. God has made water a sign of the kingdom and of cleansing and rebirth. When we were baptized into Christ Jesus, we were cleansed from sin and born of the water. As we daily go to our baptismal waters, confessing Jesus Christ as Lord, we experience new life. As we open our hearts to the one who loves us, we give the Holy Spirit, whom we received at baptism, the opportunity to kindle in us the fire of God's love. Loving God, being empowered by his Spirit, we will then be able to go out and experience God's Pentecost in our lives and to be of service to him in his kingdom.
Waitress: But we cannot live by water - or our baptism - alone. Baptism is just the beginning, just like me filling your glass of water. You need something more.
Narrator: And what is that something more that God supplies to us from his holy menu?
Waitress: Saint Paul tells us that Christians need to grow up. In addressing the Corinthians he states the following:
Reader: 1 Corinthians 3:1--3
Waitress: The people Paul was writing to had had their initial faith experiences. They had come to know Jesus Christ, been baptized into the faith, and yet, they were still babies, able only to drink milk. That's under the beverage section right here, ladies. (Points to beverage/milk.) Alice, oh, Alice! Come, tell them about this one.
Alice: (enters carrying a glass of milk and sets it down on table) Oh my, yes. I don't mind you all just sitting here drinking water and milk, but I do have more. And God doesn't mind you being baptized, going to Sunday school, confirmation, and worshipping when it's convenient, but he has more. He has real meat to give you followers of Christ. He has Pentecost Porridge to feed you in the morning, Power Pot Roast for lunch, Holiness Rolls as a side dish, and Plum Perfect Obedience Cake for dessert.
Waitress: Yes, what gifts he presents to those who want to be of service to him. We find them listed under appetizers right here on our menu. (Points to appetizers/Romans 12:1--8.)
Reader: Romans 12:1--8
Alice: It is only God's Spirit who enables one to be transformed. Nicodemus found this out when he asked Christ what needed to happen in order for one to enter the kingdom of God. That's our main dish right here. (Points to main course/John 3:3.) I'll let our reader take over, if you'll excuse me. I have something in the oven. (Leaves.)
Reader: John 3:3--8
Waitress: (pours more water) Born of the water and the spirit. We are not popover people. They're listed here under breads. (Points to Lite Popovers listed under breads.) Popovers are filled with air - empty of any fullness. Those who don't grow in their baptismal grace sometimes become like these lite dishes - hollow and empty on the inside. Mature Christians have been filling their lungs with a different type of air - God's Spirit. This daily filling gives us substance so that we can manifest the gifts needed to build up the church. Hear what those gifts are and try some of our Hearty Spirit--filled Muffins listed here on our menu. (Points to Hearty Spirit--filled Muffins.)
Reader: 1 Corinthians 12:1--11
Alice: (enters) I'm back! It's bad to overbake muffins, but God never overdoes anything. Just like adding those spiritual gifts to the Pentecost mixture. These ingredients are important to the body of the baptized believers. Through a manifestation of these gifts within the church, we can maintain that Pentecost spirit in a world that does not receive the Spirit of God very well.
Waitress: Yes, and under the more substantial offerings we have listed on our menu we find the following.
Reader: Ephesians 4:4--6
Waitress: A little farther in this same passage, Saint Paul lists specific offices of service the Holy Spirit might call one to: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, people called to prepare God's people for works of service. This is the way the body of Christ is built up. As we mature in our Christian walk, we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves of life, blown here and there by every false wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of others' deceitful scheming.
Alice: That's when we can eat from this dessert section right here: God's Fruit Salad.
Reader: Galatians 5:16--25
Narrator: Our lives continue to experience God's Pentecost power as we plant in the field of the Spirit, reaping a harvest of his blessings in our lives.
Alice: I hope that you found a variety of good things to eat from our menu here at God's Pentecost Pantry. It is God's hope and desire that you eat to your fullest. Don't diet with him. You'll never become overweight with what he provides. His food is healthy for body and spirit alike. His food is essential for your daily maintenance. Make sure you feed your spirit on mega--amounts of prayer and study. Worship as many times as you can, privately and corporately. Fellowship with one another as you are doing now. And top that all off by responding with service to God and those he calls you to love.
Waitress: And your bill? That's the best part. All it takes is a surrendered life. God has already picked up the tab. (Tear off a sheet and rip it up.) Jesus paid the price for you to have this abundant Spirit--filled life. My tip? Here it is: Since this has all been provided for you, why not feast to your hearts' content so that, filled with God's love, you can go forth to share that love and lead others to his table? And do enjoy the spread, ladies. You all come back again, real soon. Please, do!
Narrator: And so we pray to our God, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit" (Psalm 51:10--12). Thanks for coming today. And I invite you to return daily to God's Pentecost Pantry and be fed by his Holy Spirit so that your spirit can be renewed and find joy. Go in God's power and promise. Amen.
This program resource is designed to be used at a women's Pentecost breakfast but can be adapted to be used at another congregational function or fellowship meal. The place may be decorated according to a Pentecost theme: red candles, white doves, red placemats, white dove nametags with red yarn to hang around the neck. A sign can be displayed: Welcome to God's Pentecost Pantry; Seat yourself; Sinners will receive Service.
Participants involved are: Person from the audience, Narrator, Waitress (enters dressed in red apron, carrying large menu and pad, pencil behind ear, and chewing gum), and Alice the owner. One reader may read all seven passages or seven readers may be used. Order of scriptures to be read: Psalm 104:25--34, 1 Corinthians 3:1--3, Romans 12:1--8, John 3:3--8, 1 Corinthians 12:1--11, Ephesians 4:4--6, Galatians 5:16--25.
Design a menu for display and uncover each item as mentioned or attach it to menu board as read:
BEVERAGES:
Water - free
Milk - 1 Corinthians 3:1--3
APPETIZERS:
Romans 12:1--8
MAIN DISH:
John 3:3
BREADS:
Lite Popovers
Hearty Spirit--filled Muffins - 1 Corinthians 12:1--11
MORE SUBSTANTIAL ITEMS:
Body of Christ - Ephesians 4:4--6 and Ephesians 4:11--12
DESSERTS:
God's Fruit Salad - Galatians 5:17--25
ESSENTIALS:
Prayer
Study
Worship
Fellowship
Service
Program
God's Pentecost Pantry
Narrator: On Pentecost Sunday, the Church, in the Prayer for the Day, declares that God announces love to all nations through the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. It asks God to pour out the fire of his love upon the Church of Jesus Christ and the open hearts of the believers who make up that Church. Strengthened and empowered for service, the Church then sends forth its people as messengers of the Good News. What it receives from the Spirit, its people then witness to others, demonstrating the power of Christ's kingdom here on earth. Hear the psalm for that day.
Reader: Psalm 104:25--34
Narrator: Verse 30 states that when God sends forth his Spirit, things happen: created beings come forth, food is provided, and the living have plenty of good things. But when the Lord takes away his presence, God's creatures are dismayed. When God takes away their breath, they die. The Good News is that God's glory endures forever! We sing praises to God as the Spirit breathes life into us and brings about renewal. Today we have created an opportunity for that to occur. We have come together to be fed at our Pentecost breakfast - fed in body and in spirit. Who is the one feeding us? God's Holy Spirit. What is it we are being fed? Well, let's take a look at the menu God provides for us so that we, like the disciples gathered together in the Upper Room at Pentecost, can also learn about and release the power of God's Spirit in our lives. Let's look at the banquet set before each child of God as we enter "God's Pentecost Pantry."
Waitress: (enters carrying menu under her arm, pencil behind ear, pad in hand, and chewing gum) Good morning, ladies! Welcome to our restaurant. So nice to see you decided to make God's Pentecost Pantry your breakfast spot today. I need one of you to sit right up here at our table as a representative of this body. Let's just grab this person here. (Takes one lady from the group to sit at a table.) Now what'll you have? Come, come, now. I'm sure as a Christian, you're hungry and want to be fed. (Pause.) But you seem a little confused about what's available to you. Oh, of course, you don't have a menu! Here, let me help you. (Whips out menu.) Lands sakes, you just have to excuse my absent--mindedness! I assumed that since you are baptized you already know what God has provided for you as a Christian. Here, let me fill your water glass as I explain what we find under our beverage heading. (Fills a glass half--full and then points to menu on wall or prop board before the group.) First off, this item is free - water that comes to us in the form of the Rite of Holy Baptism. Just so that it is made plain, I'm going to have someone else explain it to you. Alice, oh, Alice! Alice owns this restaurant, so I'm going to have Alice tell you more about this menu selection.
Alice: (enters) Good morning, ladies. What a fine day it is to be exploring the work of God's Spirit in our lives. You - each one of you - were liberated from sin and death at your baptism. That was when God joined you to the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. You know, ladies, I'm sure this won't surprise any of you, but you were born children of a "fallen humanity." That wasn't the way it was supposed to be. In fact, in the beginning, you know, God's Spirit moved into that dark and empty void and swept over the face of the water. That psalm you heard, you know, Psalm 104 ... well ... God did his thing - created life. Out of the waters of creation, God made the earth from which we came. He breathed life into us. But that life, which was supposed to live in harmony with its creator, chose to disobey him. As a result sin entered the world, and all those born since Adam and Eve became children of that fallen couple. But there is Good News! And I'll let your waitress share it with you.
Waitress: Yes, the Good News comes to us in this water. (Pours more water into the glass.) In the waters of baptism, we are reborn children of God and inheritors of eternal life. By water and the Holy Spirit we are made members of the Church, which is the body of Christ. As we live with him and with his people, we grow in faith, love, and obedience to the will of God.
Narrator: Thank you, ladies. (Alice leaves.) What you've served to us already has been most revealing and has not cost us anything except to receive and believe. The Spirit of God was present, moving over the waters and bringing forth life. The Spirit of God was there when God had to destroy life with the flood because it had become so wicked. Yet God did not stop all life. He chose Israel to be his nation and led them out of slavery through the waters of the Red Sea into the Promised Land. God surely uses water for his divine purposes, doesn't he? And the Spirit of God didn't leave his people. In fact, God's Holy Spirit descended upon Christ as he was baptized by John in the Jordan River. That is where Jesus received his anointing for service. God has made water a sign of the kingdom and of cleansing and rebirth. When we were baptized into Christ Jesus, we were cleansed from sin and born of the water. As we daily go to our baptismal waters, confessing Jesus Christ as Lord, we experience new life. As we open our hearts to the one who loves us, we give the Holy Spirit, whom we received at baptism, the opportunity to kindle in us the fire of God's love. Loving God, being empowered by his Spirit, we will then be able to go out and experience God's Pentecost in our lives and to be of service to him in his kingdom.
Waitress: But we cannot live by water - or our baptism - alone. Baptism is just the beginning, just like me filling your glass of water. You need something more.
Narrator: And what is that something more that God supplies to us from his holy menu?
Waitress: Saint Paul tells us that Christians need to grow up. In addressing the Corinthians he states the following:
Reader: 1 Corinthians 3:1--3
Waitress: The people Paul was writing to had had their initial faith experiences. They had come to know Jesus Christ, been baptized into the faith, and yet, they were still babies, able only to drink milk. That's under the beverage section right here, ladies. (Points to beverage/milk.) Alice, oh, Alice! Come, tell them about this one.
Alice: (enters carrying a glass of milk and sets it down on table) Oh my, yes. I don't mind you all just sitting here drinking water and milk, but I do have more. And God doesn't mind you being baptized, going to Sunday school, confirmation, and worshipping when it's convenient, but he has more. He has real meat to give you followers of Christ. He has Pentecost Porridge to feed you in the morning, Power Pot Roast for lunch, Holiness Rolls as a side dish, and Plum Perfect Obedience Cake for dessert.
Waitress: Yes, what gifts he presents to those who want to be of service to him. We find them listed under appetizers right here on our menu. (Points to appetizers/Romans 12:1--8.)
Reader: Romans 12:1--8
Alice: It is only God's Spirit who enables one to be transformed. Nicodemus found this out when he asked Christ what needed to happen in order for one to enter the kingdom of God. That's our main dish right here. (Points to main course/John 3:3.) I'll let our reader take over, if you'll excuse me. I have something in the oven. (Leaves.)
Reader: John 3:3--8
Waitress: (pours more water) Born of the water and the spirit. We are not popover people. They're listed here under breads. (Points to Lite Popovers listed under breads.) Popovers are filled with air - empty of any fullness. Those who don't grow in their baptismal grace sometimes become like these lite dishes - hollow and empty on the inside. Mature Christians have been filling their lungs with a different type of air - God's Spirit. This daily filling gives us substance so that we can manifest the gifts needed to build up the church. Hear what those gifts are and try some of our Hearty Spirit--filled Muffins listed here on our menu. (Points to Hearty Spirit--filled Muffins.)
Reader: 1 Corinthians 12:1--11
Alice: (enters) I'm back! It's bad to overbake muffins, but God never overdoes anything. Just like adding those spiritual gifts to the Pentecost mixture. These ingredients are important to the body of the baptized believers. Through a manifestation of these gifts within the church, we can maintain that Pentecost spirit in a world that does not receive the Spirit of God very well.
Waitress: Yes, and under the more substantial offerings we have listed on our menu we find the following.
Reader: Ephesians 4:4--6
Waitress: A little farther in this same passage, Saint Paul lists specific offices of service the Holy Spirit might call one to: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, people called to prepare God's people for works of service. This is the way the body of Christ is built up. As we mature in our Christian walk, we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves of life, blown here and there by every false wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of others' deceitful scheming.
Alice: That's when we can eat from this dessert section right here: God's Fruit Salad.
Reader: Galatians 5:16--25
Narrator: Our lives continue to experience God's Pentecost power as we plant in the field of the Spirit, reaping a harvest of his blessings in our lives.
Alice: I hope that you found a variety of good things to eat from our menu here at God's Pentecost Pantry. It is God's hope and desire that you eat to your fullest. Don't diet with him. You'll never become overweight with what he provides. His food is healthy for body and spirit alike. His food is essential for your daily maintenance. Make sure you feed your spirit on mega--amounts of prayer and study. Worship as many times as you can, privately and corporately. Fellowship with one another as you are doing now. And top that all off by responding with service to God and those he calls you to love.
Waitress: And your bill? That's the best part. All it takes is a surrendered life. God has already picked up the tab. (Tear off a sheet and rip it up.) Jesus paid the price for you to have this abundant Spirit--filled life. My tip? Here it is: Since this has all been provided for you, why not feast to your hearts' content so that, filled with God's love, you can go forth to share that love and lead others to his table? And do enjoy the spread, ladies. You all come back again, real soon. Please, do!
Narrator: And so we pray to our God, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit" (Psalm 51:10--12). Thanks for coming today. And I invite you to return daily to God's Pentecost Pantry and be fed by his Holy Spirit so that your spirit can be renewed and find joy. Go in God's power and promise. Amen.
