SUNDAY, jUNE 15, 2025 - GOD SPARKS
June 15, 2025
Roni Beharry & Deborah Laforet
“God Sparks”
Let us pray. May the words from my lips and the meditations of my heart be guided by your
Spirit and be words of wisdom for this day. Amen.
Deborah: Roni, I am so glad you could join us today. Roni and I worked together years ago on children
and youth ministry, supporting each other’s camp programs. Then she was ordained and move to North
Bay, and, by chance, we happened to meet at Life Labs one morning this spring. We both think the
Spirit was at work that day, brining us together! So, it feels appropriate that you and I would be here
together on Pentecost. Roni, I know you have some thoughts around Pentecost and its beginnings.
Would you share them with us?
Roni: I have always been fascinated by the Pentecost experience, as told in Luke-Acts, I have been
swept up by the awe of the moment, the wind and the flames filling the room, something like tongues of
flames resting on each disciple and then these Galileans receive the ability to share the good news of
God’s love revealed in Jesus in languages that were not their native tongue. The Spirit gave them the
ability to share the gospel of Jesus Christ?
I love Pentecost. I love celebrating the birthday of the church but I never understood what
Pentecost had to do with me? What does Pentecost have to do with me? How is the Pentecost
experience, my experience in 2025?
Let’s dive in a bit deeper. You might have wondered why Jews from the entire diverse kingdom
or diaspora gathered at Pentecost? Pentecost happens fifty days after Passover, the Jewish diaspora
didn’t gather to wait for the Holy Spirit. They gathered to remember and celebrate the giving of the laws
of God, which happened on Mount Horeb. God gave the laws to Moses on Mount Horeb. God’s
presence at Horeb was revealed in fire. Fire was associated with the presence of God, we can read about
this in Deuteronomy 5 “God spoke to the people out of the fire at Horeb”. Wind also symbolizes God’s
presence. In Psalm 104 verses 3-4 we hear “ God makes the clouds his chariots , and rides on the wings
of the wind. He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.” God appeared in a pillar of
fire, before them when the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness. God also sent a great wind to part
the Red Sea.
For Jesus’ disciples and the crowds, what happened on Pentecost was astounding, but it was not
outside of the realm of their religious experience. They were familiar with the Old Testament. They had
more context for what they experienced than you or me. The winds and flames were clear signs of God’s
incredible presence. God was doing something. Three of the four elements of creation are brought
together in this story: earth (because we are formed of stardust /elemental particles), fire and wind.
Following Peter’s sermon, we are told that three thousand people become baptized so water is also
engaged.
God’s presence is all over this story. The sparks are flying and they are still flying. The followers
of Jesus on that day, over two thousand years ago, receive that ability to proclaim the gospel to a diverse
group of people gathered.
Deborah: You asked earlier what Pentecost has to do with you today, with your own experiences. How
do you experience God’s Spirit, or God’s fire and wind in your life, Roni?
Roni: The sparks of God rest on us, our passions are God’s sparks. Our passion for healing and
reconciliation with Canada’s indigenous peoples is God’s spark.
June 21st is National Indigenous Day. When I lived in North Bay (home of Nippising First
Nation), I felt called by God to visit the Indigenous Friendship Centre in North Bay, to spend the day
listening to stories, learning how to make dream catchers, listening to spirit songs and ceremonial
drumming. I have a passion for knowing my indigenous neighbours as a step toward healing and
reconciliation.
Since coming back to Southern Ontario, I have visited the Woodland Cultural Centre in
Brantford ON, and attended Orange Shirt Day activities on the site of the Mohawk Institute Residential
School. It is on my heart to accompany a church group to this site.
I am feeling a bit of a God spark right now. I am tempted to attend a traditional powwow this
summer. As you may know, traditional powwows are open to indigenous and non-indigenous persons.
They are a wonderful opportunity to experience indigenous culture and spirituality: through indigenous
drumming, songs, regalia, dances etc. They happen throughout the summer months. Powwows have a bit
of a Pentecost vibe; the gatherings spill out and draw the attention of onlookers. Our indigenous people
exercise their voice and share their culture and we are given an opportunity to listen and ask questions.
Eric Law, an intercultural educator, says that two gifts were given at Pentecost: the spiritual gift of
speaking in different languages and the gift of listening (the hearers heard their own language spoken,
with a Galilean accent). The capacity to use our voice and the capacity to listen, are essential in
knowing each other.
What is God-sparking in your heart Deborah?
Deborah: This story of disciples hiding in a room and then being pushed out by the Spirit is a spark for
me. It reminds me of what we are striving to do here, at St. Paul’s. This community came together in
the 1950’s, and began worshipping in this space in the 1960’s. It has become a home, the people have
become a family. There are wonderful, cherished memories, as well as difficult ones, but this place, this
space has been well cared for, and there has been a lot of love experienced within these walls.
But the Spirit has pushed us outside our walls, outside of our comfort zone. This community
made the difficult decision to sell its building and is now having to figure out what comes next. Like
Peter’s words to this crowd, my hope is that the Spirit will fall on us and partners in our community, and
that our daughters and sons will prophesy, our young people will see visions, and our elders will dream
dreams, that the Spirit will inspire us to find a way to continue our worship and community while also
meeting the needs of this community with justice and compassion.
Every time I talk to someone about what we’re doing here at St. Paul’s, there is a spark. They
are interested and I think even inspired by what we’re doing here. I think those sparks will lead the way
and help guide us into our next adventure. But the work can feel exhausting at times. We are paving
new roads and pushing past the usual efforts and expectations and it’s hard work. There is sometimes a
fear that our big dreams will not be achievable, so work like this takes a lot of trust.
Roni: Sometimes I feel like my efforts don’t bear fruit. I feel like no action is happening. As a
community we can help to ignite and activate each one of us to get lively, the spirit wants to move
through us, but we need to be willing, we need each other in the way of Jesus. Sometimes, we need each
other to light up God’s world. A hug from an Indigenous woman, after I became emotional after
watching the movie “Indian Horse”, which captures the attempts at cultural genocide and trauma that
happened at residential schools, opened up my heart to the call to know each other, to listen, to learn, to
make space for healing and she consoled me. I told her ‘I was so sorry that this happened” and she told
me that it was not my people’s fault. I told her we can get to know each other and work for healing and
reconciliation.
Roni: The spirit prompts us by asking questions. Can we be a catalyst for reconciliation with Canada’s
Indigenous Peoples?
Deborah: Can we make a difference in our community? Can the Spirit guide us towards a new way
of being church?
Roni: Can one spark ignite a fire? God wants to ignite the spark of the Holy Spirit within us.
Roni: Joyce Rupp, a spiritual writer, says it poetically. As we wrap up these thoughts, I invite you to
join with me:
Both: “Spark of God! Spirit of life!
All: We remember and celebrate your dwelling within us.
D: Divine Fire, you never waver in your faithful presence.
Amid the seasons of life, you are our illumination.
All: Ever-present light, the spark of your
inspiration is with me every moment.
Eternal joy, the dancing flames of your joy
are reflected in our happiness.
and in the many ways we find delight in life.
R: Spirit of God, your fiery presence gives passion for life and mission.
All: Blazing love, the radiant glow of your compassion, fills our hearts
with kindness and understanding.
D: Purifying Flame, your refining fire transforms us as we experience
life’s sorrows, pain and discouragement.
All: Radiant Presence, your steady flame of unconditional love
kindles faithful and enduring relationships.
R: Luminous One, you breathe love into our birthing
All: and your love will be with us as we breathe our last.”
Roni: The Spirit longs to partner with us. Our human gifts and initiatives are needed, to get that spark
going. Will you join with us and step out? Will you join us and risk? Will you join us and trust? Holy
Spirit, come rest on us! The sparks are within us and all around us. With God, we can get a Holy Fire
going!
Deborah: “Spark of God! Spirit of life! Let’s get this fire going!
Both: Thanks be to God!
Acts 2:1-21
(Introduce yourself. - Do not move or tap microphone.)
Because we were at Glen Abbey last week, we missed hearing the Pentecost story, so
Abby and I will read it for you today. We are reading from the book called the Acts of the
Apostles, chapter two, the first 21 verses, from the Inclusive Bible. Deborah has skipped
verses 9, 10, and 11, because it’s Father’s Day and she didn’t want me to have to struggle
through the difficult words. Just know that there were many people from many different
places.
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they all met in one room. 2 Suddenly they
heard what sounded like a violent, rushing wind from heaven; the noise filled the
entire house in which they were sitting. 3 Something happened to them that
seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of
each one. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other
languages, as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were devout people living in Jerusalem from every nation under
heaven, 6 and at this sound they all assembled. But they were bewildered to
hear their native tongues being spoken. 7 They were amazed and astonished:
“Surely all of these people speaking are Galileans? 8 How does it happen that
each of us hear these words in our own native tongue?... we hear them
preaching each in our own language, about the marvels of God!” 12 All were
amazed and disturbed. They asked each other, “What does this mean?” 13 But
others said mockingly, “They’ve drunk too much new wine.”
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed the crowd: “Women and
men of Judea, and all you who live in Jerusalem! Listen to what I have to say!
15 These people are not drunk as you think - it’s only nine o’clock in the
morning! 16 No, it’s what Joel the prophet spoke of:
17 ‘In the days to come,’ it is our God who speaks,
‘I will pour out my Spirit on all humankind,
and your daughters and sons will prophesy,
your young people will see visions,
and your elders will dream dreams.
18 Even on the most insignificant of my people,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 And I will display wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, fire, and billowing smoke.
20 The sun will be turned into darkness
and the moon will become blood,
before the coming of the great and sublime day of our God.
21 And all who call upon the name of our God will be saved.’
May the Spirit guide our understanding of this sacred scripture.