Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. John 16:7-11 (ESV).

As always, we would direct you to the extensive repository of information to be found at Full Homely Divinity. We thought we would also highlight a few ideas.

Pentecost Litany

Here is a printable of a Litany of the Holy Ghost, provided by our priest Fr. Wayne McNamara:

Litany of Holy Ghost

Barefoot on Pentecost: When researching this day, we learned that one Pentecost tradition is to go outside barefoot on Sunday morning and walk around in the dew. This originated from a verse in the sequence hymn “Come, Thou Holy Spirit, Come.”

Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour thy dew;
     Wash the stains of guilt away:
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
     Guide the steps that go astray.

What a lovely and simple tradition– one that could form beautiful associations in our children’s imagination and memories.

Doves and Fire: Pentecost Crafts and Other Sundry Items: Bley also compiled a Pentecost Pinterest Board for your perusal. This includes  various craft ideas that incorporate the Pentecost symbols of doves and/or fire. The dove derives not from the story of Pentecost in Acts 2, but from the Baptism of Jesus.

From the Full Homely Divinity Whitsunday page:

[The dove’s] use in the liturgy of Pentecost makes a visual connection between two important stories about baptism, the Baptism of Jesus and the baptism on the first Christian Pentecost of some three thousand converts to the faith. The baptismal motif is the source of the traditional English name of the feast. On Whitsunday, literally “White Sunday,” those who had  been baptized on Easter Day once again put on the white clothing which they had worn for the first time on the day they were baptized, thus ending the feast as they had begun it and reminding the whole congregation of their own baptisms. Traditionally, Whitsunday had a Vigil much like the Great Vigil of Easter. The Whitsun Vigil also celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, gathering into the membership of the Church those children who were born during the Great Fifty Days and those adult catechumens who may not have been ready for baptism at the beginning of Easter.

Lastly, don’t forget to wear red to church on Sunday!

May our Pentecost celebrations be blessed as we rejoice in the reality of new life in the Holy Spirit.