Filled with the Spirit

Meditation on Acts 2:1–21

First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY

Rev. Dr. Karen Crawford

Pentecost

June 8, 2025

        Today, on Pentecost, we recognize the Sunday School students’ enthusiastic participation and give thanks for their families who faithfully brought them to church and nurtured the faith and love of the Lord at home. And we show our appreciation for their teachers, who have served for decades, and for many others who labor behind the scenes and in the classroom for the children’s sake.

    When I consider how the move of the Spirit is evident in our congregation, I don’t have to look further than our ministry with children and youth. We may not have a LARGE program.

But there is a sweet Spirit blowing through our multigenerational church. We are a family! The children and youth are precious to us, and we know we are stronger and more joyful as a congregation when they in our midst!

   In October 2023, we had the opportunity to add to our music ministry for young children. Session approved hiring Joanna Huang as our “children’s music ministry leader” and more formally “church musician,” after years of sharing her musical gifts on the violin with the congregation as a volunteer/intern with Dr. Pablo Lavandera. Creating a position for Joanna and adding her to our music staff happened quickly—in a matter of days, through phone calls and emails with Session. Looking back, I believe that it was the Spirit stirring us to enlarge our ministry. We were convinced that the Lord was leading us to do this specifically because of the gifts that she possesses, including a heart to serve.

When I recommended Joanna for a PEO STAR scholarship last October, I spoke of her maturity, sensitivity, humility, and passion for music. She is creative, conscientious, and hardworking, arriving early to practice. For her Confirmation, she wrote a new verse to a hymn, and we sang it as she played her violin. Her greatest challenge is keeping up with her busy schedule as she is 100% committed to everything she does. Though she is busy, she doesn’t often say no to requests on her time when it comes to serving the church.

When asked to talk about her qualities that I believe will carry her into her future, I said, “She is a peacemaker, team player, and cheerful, gentle leader, with excellent problem-solving skills.” “She sets high standards for herself and is an eager learner, as well as a natural-born teacher…. She enjoys playing with others and encourages them so they can be their best. She is never nervous. Her playing is reliable and predictable, and her manner is always warm and professional.” I added at the end of my letter, “I have never met anyone quite like Joanna in my years of ministry—so trustworthy, giving, cheerful, and hardworking. The fact that we created a position for her on our staff, when we have a tiny staff, speaks volumes about her character and gifts. The church loves her. …We believe in her and want to help make her dreams come true. She’s going to go far in this world, with the right support, and we will miss her so much when she goes away to college. The worship service won’t be the same without her, not just for her music, but for the way her music builds community.”

On the Day of Pentecost, it isn’t the first time the Spirit has come. The Spirit was, in fact,

present at Creation. Genesis 1:1 says, “When God began to create the heavens and the earth,the earth was complete chaos and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.”  The Spirit was in the breath that the Lord breathed into the first human being. The Spirit led Moses –appearing as a cloud by day and fire by night—to guide the Israelites on their wilderness journey. John the Baptist was filled with the Spirit and foretold in Luke 3:16-17 how the One who was coming, who was more powerful than he, would baptize with Spirit or wind and fire. When John baptizes Jesus, the Spirit comes down on him like a dove.

On Pentecost, the Spirit comes in a new and powerful way, with a new purpose. This is what Christ had promised, an Advocate, Helper, and Comforter to enable his followers to take his gospel out to the world—first to the Jews from many nations who had gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks. Pentakostos, theGreek word for 50th, fell on the 50^th day after the presentation of the first sheaf to be reaped of the barley harvest or 50 days from the first Sunday after Passover. The Spirit teaches uneducated men from Galilee, Christ’s first apostles, to communicate the good news of the Risen Christ and His redemption to the Jewish people living in the diaspora, speaking many languages and dialects, and then to the Gentiles—all the nations, every part of the world.

But the Spirit isn’t just a great cosmic translator. The Spirit stirs the disciples to speak the exact words that each hearer needs to hear so they are persuaded to believe. For God knows the hearts and minds of human beings. When the Spirit comes, people are astonished and amazed! Others are cynical and skeptical (which is easy to believe) and accuse the disciples of being drunk. Peter is moved to stand and preach his first sermon to this crowd, and like many seasoned preachers, starts his message with a joke, saying how they couldn’t possibly be drunk because it was only 9 o’clock in the morning.

It’s fascinating to me that the Pentecost lectionary readings pairs the Acts passage with the passage in Genesis 11 about the Tower of Babel. The assumption is that when God created the world, people were united in one language. When they fell into sin, they became united for an evil, selfish purpose. They wanted to be as powerful as God. They wanted to be gods. They thought they could reach the heavens if they all worked together in this building project. The Lord saw this and confused their languages so they could no longer understand one another and work together. Then God scattered them so they would live all over the earth and not come together to do any more evil. Of course, they find a way.

When the Spirit comes on Pentecost, it’s a new start for the world. The evil intent in the hearts of human beings is undone by the compassion and mercy of God revealed in Jesus Christ. A new, diverse community is created. Any obstacles or divisions of language, culture, skin color, and age; gender, generation, and geography; history, economics, education, and lack thereof, slave or free, are overcome by the Spirit of the Lord on the day the Church is born. And it’s a God thing. This Church is not a human organization. It’s not a denomination. It isn’t Protestant or Catholic. It truly is the Body of Jesus Christ.

When we look at the world around us, we can’t help but see how confused and chaotic it is. Have you noticed that people can be attracted to one another and certain groups for the wrong reasons—looking to attain power, wealth, and glory for themselves? It reminds me of the big Tower builders in Genesis 11.

But I don’t want you to look around and focus on what is wrong. Let us just remember the Church has a different purpose. We who embrace Christ’s forgiveness and calling to follow  are connected by our love for God and one another, our worship and our compassionate service.

Today on Pentecost, let us be reminded that our power doesn’t come from ourselves alone. We can wear ourselves out with all the good that we try to do on our own, but then we aren’t really serving the Lord if we leave the Spirit out. I need the Spirit’s help every day. I need to remember to pray.

Today on Pentecost, we who are powered by the Spirit can be known by our fruits. Paul in Galatians 5:22-23 says the evidence of the Spirit’s work in our lives and our church are easy to see. Look for the presence of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control and you will find the Spirit of the Living God. You will find the children of God.

Today on Pentecost, don’t be intimidated and discouraged by big Tower builders, those who hunger for power. Ultimately, big tower builders fail and are frustrated, never satisfied. Christ has already won the victory over sin and death. We don’t have to be afraid. The Spirit has made a permanent home in our hearts. 1 John 4:4 encourages us, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them (the world), because he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Today, on Pentecost, stay focused on Christ and the beloved community. Allow the Spirit that lives in you to lead you step by step. If you want to be energized and inspired, spend more time with children and youth. You know, they have as much to teach us as we have to teach them. After all, we share the same Spirit!

Joanna shares her future goals in an application for a church-sponsored scholarship. “Music has always felt like a conversation,” she says, “one that lets me listen, guide, and connect. As a violinist and pianist, I’ve learned that teaching and performing go hand in hand. This fall, I’ll begin studying violin performance at the University of Michigan, with plans to further my studies in graduate school. My goal is to perform in professional ensembles and later teach at the collegiate level, where I can support and inspire the next generation of musicians. I’ve taught younger students privately and through the Tri-M Music Honor Society, and I help lead music at the First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown each week. Watching children light up when they sing or hear the violin reminds me why I love this work. Moments like a student’s quiet thank-you after Sunday School will always stay with me after I leave for college. They push me to grow not just as a musician, but as a mentor.”

Will you pray with me?

Holy Triune God, thank you for sending your Spirit on Pentecost and for empowering ordinary people, such as the first disciples and us, to form and grow your Church here in Smithtown and beyond. Come, Holy Spirit, once again, so that we may be refreshed, encouraged, and united in your Son’s loving, healing purposes. Then give us courage to go out and speak the right words that will bring Christ’s light and peace and the Spirit of truth to places of darkness, division, and confusion. In the name of the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer we pray. Amen.