Sunday 12 May 2013

Messy Pentecost talk and prayer: The Holy Spirit helps us

It only seems fitting to use fire at Pentecost so how could we not?!

After we had told the Pentecost story, our talk at Messy Church was about the Holy Spirit helping us to do things we might not be able to do by ourselves.  Here's a copy of the talk and prayer response with pictures.  You will need a dove pan to do this.  It might seem quite expensive but the amazement of the congregation when you use it (adults and children alike) is well worth it!  I've used mine about 10 times already in assemblies etc.

Photos by David Duncan :-)

Talk
On the day of Pentecost 3000 people became Christians.  It was like the church’s birthday!  The Holy Spirit came to the disciples with wind and fire and helped them to do things they’d never been able to do before like speak other languages and have the courage to speak in front of crowds of people!

Sometimes we feel like we can’t do things or we’d like to change but it’s really hard and we can’t do it ourselves.  God sends the Holy Spirit to help us!

(Show empty dove pan) 

God can use us to do things we never thought we could do, if we trust him to help us.
 
When we make a cake we need ingredients: sprinkle some flour and salt in the pan. 

We then need to cook the cake and make it into something really special!  The cake can’t cook itself- it needs some help! 



(Set fire and open pan to reveal cake)
God can use us to do something really special too.  We have the ingredients inside us that He can use, we just need to let him use His power to help us!

Prayer response:

Here are some birthday cake candles.  Take a candle and come and put it on the cake. (When all the candles are on the cake, move the children back and light the candles).  Let’s remember the day of Pentecost and think of something we’d like The Holy Spirit to help us to do.  (Give a moment) Let’s say a big ‘Amen’ and then everybody blow as hard as you can from where you’re sitting.  (Say amen and blow out the candles).

10 comments:

  1. Ok, but how does the cake get there?

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    1. I can't reveal the mechanics of the trick! Suffice it to say that if you have a dove pan (see link above) you put something in the bottom pan, pour on lighter fluid and set fire to it and then put the lid on. When you take the lid off, the fire is out and a cake has replaced it! It requires no skill, just a little advance preparation of the special pan :-)x

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  2. Hi Mina,

    i have purchased my dove pan and look forward to seeing the reaction at our Pentecost Messy Church this Saturday - thanks for the ideas!

    Lauren, St Marks Battersea Rise

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    1. Yay!! It is the best piece of equipment I have ever bought. Everyone always wants to borrow it too! Have fun, and let me know how it goes!

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  3. Are you lighting the flour on fire? Does it burn easily?

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    1. As long as you have used lighter fluid it burns quite easily! You just need to remember to put the dove pan lid on quickly so everything keeps under control :-) It is a great trick and well worth it!

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    2. I realise that the post isn't too clear- you put lighter fluid on the flour, set fire to it, quickly put the dove pan lid on and then when you take the lid off it has been replaced by a cake :-)

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    3. Thanks! My Dove Pan should be delivered tomorrow and I look forward to trying this!!

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    4. Lighter fluid didn't work for me, but epsom salts with rubbing alcohol proved to be the perfect combination for us! Thanks so much! The kids were amazed!!

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    5. Great! Best piece of equipment I ever bought!

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