Prepare: Set up for a Birthday party – so that can be lots of different things!  Maybe some streamers and party hats, or maybe cupcakes if you can manage that.  Even noise makers depending on you tolerance for noise!

 As the children gather greet them all with “Happy Birthday!”  Keep it up even if they tell you it’s not their birthday!  Once they have all gathered, ask them to shout “Happy Birthday!” with you.

 Alright, maybe it’s not anyone’s birthday who is sitting here, but it is our birthday today!  Today is the day we celebrate Pentecost, and Pentecost is the Birthday of the Christian church.  Since the church is made up of all the people who worship together, then today is our Birthday!

Pentecost is a festival day kind of like Christmas or Easter.  We celebrate one of the big, important events that happened in the early church.  Christmas is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus, Easter is the day we celebrate the resurrection, and Pentecost is the day we celebrate the beginning of people spreading the word about Jesus and his good news.

Would you help me celebrate?  (This is where you do your party.  Use whatever you brought to throw a quick party.  Sing Happy Birthday, or a song like “We Are the Church.”  You might even go on a parade around the sanctuary or around your church building! Be creative and have fun!)

 Loving and helping God, we thank you for the chance to be your church in the world.  Lead us to do good works, to live with kindness and mercy, to share in abundance and to love each other the way you love us. Amen.

 The Holy Spirit is with you always.

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 Easy worship station today!  Just invite the whole congregation to your party!