Pentecost, Year C Intergenerational Lesson Plan
Scripture: Acts 2:1-21
The focal scripture for Pentecost is Acts 2:1-21. Jesus had told the disciples to wait until the advocate appeared. They were quite puzzled about what to expect in this advocate, but they trusted Jesus, and they waited. The disciples had learned that there was empowerment in their spending time together, praying, and sharing their concerns.
They were probably together to celebrate Shavu’ot which was also called Pentecost because it occurred 50 days after Passover. Passover had brought physical freedom; at Shavu’ot people gratefully brought branches of their very first harvest and celebrated the “giving” of the Torah (the first five books found in our Bible), which brought freedom from idolatry.
On the Feast of Pentecost, the disciples experienced the Holy Spirit. We can probably identify with Luke’s (the author of Acts) reaching for the right words to describe what happened: “It was like . . .” Yes. Well, like wind. Like . . . well, fire. Suddenly, the disciples were not just speaking — they were communicating. Each person listening to them understood what they were saying. Now the disciples were ready to do the work they had been given to do.