Children's Liturgy Guide

Pentecost Sunday

Year C · Easter

The Holy Spirit Comes Like Wind and Fire

Reading: Acts 2:1-11

Leader Prep

Don't worry about doing this perfectly. If the children hear one good idea about God, Jesus, prayer, kindness, forgiveness, or the Gospel, this time has been worthwhile.

Summary

On Pentecost, the friends of Jesus were all together when suddenly a big wind filled the house and little flames like fire rested on each of them. The Holy Spirit gave them power to speak so that people from everywhere could understand the good news about Jesus.

Key Points

  • The Holy Spirit came to the apostles with signs of wind and fire
  • The Spirit gave the apostles the ability to speak in different languages
  • People from many different places could all understand the message about Jesus
  • Pentecost is the birthday of the Church, when the apostles began their mission
  • The Holy Spirit still comes to help us share God's love today

Background

Acts 2:1-11 recounts the fulfillment of Jesus' promise to send the Holy Spirit. The signs of rushing wind and tongues of fire symbolize the Spirit's power and purifying presence. The miracle of tongues reverses the confusion of Babel: now the diverse nations hear the Gospel in their own languages, signifying the universal mission of the Church. Theologically, Pentecost marks the public inauguration of the Church's mission and the indwelling of the Spirit in the community of believers. For children, emphasize the concrete images of wind and fire as signs that God's helper, the Holy Spirit, came to be with the apostles and gave them courage to tell everyone about Jesus. Set aside the complexity of glossolalia versus xenoglossy and the ecclesiological dimensions of Pentecost.

Session Flow

Opening Prayer

Invite the children to pray with you, then read the opening prayer below. If many don't know the sign of the cross, teach the whole group.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Dear God, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to be our helper and friend. Please open our hearts today so we can learn how the Spirit came to the apostles and how the Spirit is with us too. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Warm-up

Ask the warm-up question before the reading. There are no wrong answers; this is just to help the children connect today's reading to their own lives.

Have you ever felt a really strong wind blowing outside? What did it feel like and what did it do?

Example: One time the wind blew so hard it pushed me backwards and it made all the leaves fly everywhere like they were dancing in the sky.

Bridge to the reading: Wind is so powerful that we can really feel it even though we cannot see it. In today's reading, we will hear about a time when a sound like a huge rushing wind filled the whole house where Jesus' friends were waiting, and something amazing happened.

Read the Scripture

Read the day's selected passage aloud. The full Scripture text is not included here. Use a Children's Lectionary if your parish has one available. A children's Bible may also be helpful for younger children. Otherwise, read from a standard lectionary, Bible, or USCCB.org. Read slowly, with short pauses.

Reading Questions

Ask the questions conversationally. You do not need to use every question if time is short. The example answers are for leader preparation, not scripts or required answers.

  1. Where were the friends of Jesus when the Holy Spirit came to them?

    Example: They were all together in one place, like a room or a house, and they were waiting together for something special to happen.

  2. What two things did the apostles see and hear when the Holy Spirit arrived?

    Example: They heard a sound like a big strong wind blowing through the house, and they saw something that looked like little flames of fire.

  3. What happened to the little flames of fire?

    Example: The flames came down and rested on top of each person there, like one little flame sitting gently on each of their heads.

  4. Why do you think it was important that people from many different places could understand what the apostles were saying?

    Example: Because God wanted everyone in the whole world to hear the good news about Jesus, not just people who spoke one language.

Application Questions

Use these questions to help the children connect the reading to their own lives this week. Simple, concrete answers are best.

  1. How do you think the apostles felt when they saw the fire and heard the wind, and then found out they could speak new languages?

    Example: I think they felt really surprised at first and maybe a little scared, but then they felt brave and excited because God was helping them.

  2. The Holy Spirit helped the apostles tell others about Jesus. What is one way you could tell a friend something good about Jesus?

    Example: I could tell my friend that Jesus loves them very much and that he wants to be their friend forever and ever.

  3. This week at home, how could you ask the Holy Spirit to help you when something feels hard or scary?

    Example: I could close my eyes and say a little prayer asking the Holy Spirit to make me brave and help me know what to do.

Recap

Today we heard how the Holy Spirit came to the apostles on Pentecost with a sound like a rushing wind and flames like fire that rested on each of them. The Spirit gave them the power to speak so everyone could understand the good news about Jesus. The same Holy Spirit is with us too, helping us to be brave and share God's love.

Prayer of the Faithful

Before returning to the assembly, invite the children to share their own prayer intentions. Their prayers may be serious, simple, funny, or very specific. After each child's prayer, the group may respond: "Lord, hear our prayer." Lastly, include the suggested prayer below.

For all the children who feel shy or afraid to talk about Jesus, that the Holy Spirit will fill them with courage, we pray to the Lord.

Mass Connection

If time allows, point out this connection just before returning to Mass. This helps children see that Children's Liturgy is still part of the Mass.

After the priest says 'The peace of the Lord be with you always,' we share a sign of peace. In today's reading, the Holy Spirit filled the apostles so they could share good news with everyone. When we share peace at Mass, we are sharing the love the Holy Spirit puts in our hearts.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Loving God, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to be with us always. Help us to feel the Spirit's presence like the apostles did, and give us courage to share your love with everyone we meet. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

ChildrensLiturgy.org

The Holy Spirit Comes Like Wind and Fire

Acts 2:1-11

Word Search

Optional activity: use the word search after the discussion if you have time, or send it home with the children. The words relate to today's Children's Liturgy Scripture passage.

D O Y G O E J B B Z H U G T I
V S H C R U H C W I G F U T I
B E S U S E J G A J T B T G X
G L M F M Q D F J S I O H J R
G T Z A U L L X O M E Y E X S
S S Q C K A Z C G O R F N D P
O O F I M S E U C F I J B D I
E P X E A T J Y A D F B W V R
C A I M N I A P R A Y E R G I
L S I E E R O K V K J L T D T
N T P J L A N G U A G E S F B
L D Y E G A R U O C L E X V E
P H Y U L W R H X P Q Z R O G
B B C F M H V S W I N D O T Z
P T O N G U E S B C W K U R Z

Words to find

  • Pentecost
  • Spirit
  • wind
  • fire
  • tongues
  • apostles
  • languages
  • courage
  • prayer
  • Jesus
  • Church
  • flame

ChildrensLiturgy.org