Like a Rush of Wind (Pentecost 2)

Here is the lesson on wind.

Things to know about this lesson:

• You may want to consider making a pinwheel in advance both for your own practice and to serve as an example.

Like a Rush of Wind

Materials

• copies of the pinwheel template
• drawing paper
• crayons/markers/pencil crayons
• scissors
• pushpins
• new, unsharpened pencils.

Open with prayer. (see tip sheet)

Introduce the Story

Who remembers what the last holiday we celebrated was? (Easter)

And what happens at Easter? (Jesus dies and is raised)

After Jesus is raised, he tells his disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit to come. The Holy Spirit would give them the power they need to go into the world and tell everyone about Jesus and the things he taught them about God and the right way to live.

Fifty days after Easter, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came to the disciples. Our story today is about that day.

Read the Story

On the day of Pentecost, all of Jesus’ disciples were together in Jerusalem. All of a sudden a sound like the rush of a huge wind came from heaven and filled the whole house. Tongues of fire appeared and a flame rested on each of them. Everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit and the Spirit gave them the ability to speak in other languages – languages they didn’t know before!

Now there were faithful Jews from every country in the world living in Jerusalem. When they heard the noise, a crowd gathered. Everyone was confused, because each person heard the disciples speaking in their own language. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Aren’t all these people from Galilee? They don’t speak our language. And we all speak different languages from each other. How can we all hear them speaking in our own native language, telling us about God’s powerful works?”

(Acts 2:1-11)

Discussion

Three things happened when the Spirit came to the disciples. Can you tell me what they were? (wind, fire, languages)

Today, I want to focus on the wind.

Where was the wind that the disciples heard? (in a house)

How do you think the disciples felt? (surprised, scared, confused)

Have you ever been in a really strong wind? How did it make you feel?

Have you ever been in a really gentle wind? How did that make you feel?

Can you see wind? (no)

Then how can you tell when there is a wind? (feel it, hear it, see it move things)

The Holy Spirit is like the wind. You can’t see it but you can see signs of it. You can’t control it and it can be wild and scary or gentle and refreshing.

Introduce the Activity

We’re going to make pinwheels. Pinwheels spin even in a gentle wind, giving us a sign that the wind is blowing. They can remind us to pay attention to the signs of the Spirit.

Making Pinwheels

Distribute pinwheel templates, scissors, and crayons/markers/pencil crayons, and new pencils. Invite the students to cut out the square and decorate it on both sides. Once it is decorated, cut down the four lines towards the centre. Bend down (don’t fold) every other corner and pin the tips together in the centre. Spin the pin in its hole a few times to help the pinwheel spin more freely. Finally, stick the pin into a pencil eraser.

Blow on the front of the pinwheel and watch it spin!

Regrouping

Admire everyone’s pinwheels. Ask if anyone wants to explain the drawings they made or colours they chose for their pinwheel. Finish with a synchronized pinwheel spin.

Closing Prayer

Dear God, thank you for the wind. Help us notice the signs of the Spirit blowing in our lives. Amen.