22nd Sunday after Pentecost, November 10, 2019, 2019 - Job 19:23-27a, Luke 20:27-38 - The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - Those familiar with the Book of Job, and the distressing story it conveys to people of faith confronting faith-challenging situations, are equally familiar with the words he voices in his cry for justice: “I… Continue reading Seeing God Beyond the Borders, in the Flesh
Sermons Archive
The Stewardship of Showing Up
21st Sunday after Pentecost, November 3, 2019, 2019 - Luke 6:20-31, Ephesians 1:11-23 - The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the church in Ephesus, said, “I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and… Continue reading The Stewardship of Showing Up
Selah: Stop, Pause for Reflection and Praise
Reformation Sunday, October 27, 2019 - Jeremiah 31:31-34, Psalm 46, John 8:31-36 - The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - "Selah." We’re not quite sure what it means, but it appears most often in the Psalms, and three times in the Book of Habakkuk. Our best guess is that the word Selah is a musical… Continue reading Selah: Stop, Pause for Reflection and Praise
When God Shows Up, We Wake Up
18th Sunday after Pentecost, October 13, 2019 - Kings 5:1-15, Luke 17:11-19 - The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - Naaman was a great general in the Assyrian army that conquered the northern tribes of Israel and vanquished them to other parts the empire. Naaman’s conquest of Israel is said to have been caused by… Continue reading When God Shows Up, We Wake Up
Lord, Make Me an Instrument of My Pets
Blessing of The Animals, October 5, 2019 - Genesis 1:20-25 - The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - Note: On this occasion, Pastor Arnold was invited to conduct a Blessing Service for family pets at Calvary Episcopal Church in Jericho, Vermont. There’s nothing that will make a minister shorten a sermon faster than knowing that… Continue reading Lord, Make Me an Instrument of My Pets
A Great Chasm Between Us
16th Sunday after Pentecost, September 29, 2019 - Luke 16:19-31 - The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - The story Jesus tells concerning a rich man and Lazarus comes at the end of a series of stories about wealthy people, including the story about a rich person who attends a banquet and sits in the… Continue reading A Great Chasm Between Us
You Can’t Serve Two Masters
15th Sunday after Pentecost, September 22, 2019 - Luke 16:1-13 - The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - In a speech he delivered on “honesty,” Mark Twain said, “When I was a boy I was walking along a street and spied a cart full of watermelons. I was fond of watermelons,” he said, “so I… Continue reading You Can’t Serve Two Masters
Keep Your Head Down and Go Unnoticed
14th Sunday after Pentecost, September 15, 2019 - Luke 15:1-10 - The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - The story is told of a mother who called her daughter, but her grandson, Jimmy, answered the phone whispering “Hello.” “Hi, Jimmy, this is grandma. Is your mom home?” Still whispering he replied, “Yes, but she’s very… Continue reading Keep Your Head Down and Go Unnoticed
What Is Your Calling?
13th Sunday after Pentecost, September 08, 2019 - Luke 14:25-33 - The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - I’ve always found it fascinating that the reference to the spirit or breath of God in Hebrew js feminine While God is often referred to in the masculine, it might be more accurate to reference God in… Continue reading What Is Your Calling?
Your Place at the Table
12th Sunday after Pentecost, September 01, 2019 - Hebrews 13:1-8, Luke 14:1, 7-14 - The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - One of the first things that greets you when you log onto our website are these words. “Welcome home! Good Shepherd Lutheran Church believes that God’s love is freely given to all regardless of… Continue reading Your Place at the Table
