Pentecost

To use a remote-controlled car or helicopter to illustrate the power of the Holy Spirit.

by The Revd John Challis

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To use a remote-controlled car or helicopter to illustrate the power of the Holy Spirit.

Preparation and materials

• A remote-controlled car or helicopter.
• If you can’t get hold of either of these, then adapt the assembly, using a mobile phone ringing instead.

Assembly

1. Say something along the lines of, ‘Today, I want to show you something about the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came to the disciples in the form of wind and fire.’
   
   As you talk, start to operate the remote-controlled car or helicopter, which could be left somewhere in the hall. The children will be clamouring to see what's making the noise. Allow them some time just to play with it a little and invite someone to come and control the car or helicopter.

2. Ask, ‘How does it work?’ Expect answers such as by battery power and so on. Someone should say 'radio waves'. Then, play a little dumb and say, ‘I can't see any radio waves. Where are they?’ Expect some interesting answers.

3. End by saying, ‘Radio waves have been around since the creation of the world. Although we can’t see them, we can see the effects of them – just like this (car or helicopter), which is working without wires. We discovered radio waves and learnt how to use them.’
4. Continue, ‘Similarly, Christians know of the Holy Spirit. We cannot see the Holy Spirit, but we know that he is there. We can see the effect that the Holy Spirit had on the lives of the disciples and on many people today.’
5. End with, ‘As with radio waves, just because we can’t see the Holy Spirit doesn't mean it isn't there.’
   
   Operate the remote-controlled car or helicopter again.

Time for reflection

Think for a few moments about the radio waves that make the (car or helicopter) work.

There are so many things we can’t see that our lives sometimes depend on . . . Think of a few of those things now.

Prayer
Dear Lord,
thank you for all the things we use in life that are invisible. Help us to remember that love and joy and peace are there for us, too, even though we can’t see them.
Amen.

Song/music

’Spirit of God as strong as the wind’ (Come and Praise, 63)