2nd Sunday of Christmas, January 5, 2020- John 1:1-18, Jeremiah 31:7-14- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - There’s a tendency on the part of Christians to view the New Testament as the better portion of the biblical narrative over the Old Testament. Even the reference to one section of the Bible as Old and… Continue reading Making Sense of God through Law and Grace
Sermons Archive
When God Becomes Like One of Us
1st Sunday of Christmas, December 29, 2019- Matthew 2:13-23, Hebrews 2:10-18- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - In the heightened commercialism of Christmas these days, there are few occasions we experience that celebrate the true spirit of Christmas. The emphasis seems to be on what we might give those who already have more than… Continue reading When God Becomes Like One of Us
Immanuel, God Is with Us
4th Sunday of Advent, December 22, 2019- Isaiah 7:10-16, Matthew 1:18-25- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - When the prophet Isaiah, speaking in God’s behalf, urged Ahaz, king of Judah to: “Ask a sign of the Lord your God,” the king said, “I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord.” Now at… Continue reading Immanuel, God Is with Us
Are You the One?
3rd Sunday of Advent, December 15, 2019- Matthew 11:2-11, Isaiah 35:1-10- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - When Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been imprisoned, he left his hometown of Nazareth and made his new home in another Galilean town called Capernaum in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali which, like other… Continue reading Are You the One?
Can Anything Good Come Out of Nazareth?
2nd Sunday of Advent, December 8, 2019- John 1:43-46, Isaiah 11:1-10- 20th Anniversary Celebration of Janet McKenzie’s “Jesus of the People”- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - Jesus of the People - by Janet McKenzie Heads up (bounce balls)! By bouncing these balls, I wish to prove an age-old law of gravity: what goes… Continue reading Can Anything Good Come Out of Nazareth?
The Coming Realm of God Is Here
1st Sunday of Advent, December 1, 2019 - Matthew 24:36-44, Isaiah 2:1-5 - The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - A couple of years ago, I mentioned that Advent offers occasions for me to hum tunes appropriate for the season, one of my favorites being an Alfred Burt carol: Come, dear children, don't be dallying,All… Continue reading The Coming Realm of God Is Here
The Lord Is Our Righteousness
24nd Sunday after Pentecost, November 24, 2019 - Jeremiah 23:1-6, Luke 33:23-43 - The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - On this Sunday, when we celebrate the reign of Christ over our lives, I’m reminded of how much I appreciate the symbol of our church. Good Shepherd. It is that of an orb divided into… Continue reading The Lord Is Our Righteousness
The Intersection of Satan and Saint
23nd Sunday after Pentecost, November 17, 2019, 2019 - Luke 21:5-19 - The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - Not long ago, confirmands and their parents joined me in watching the Disney movie Maleficent, Mistress of Evil, the latest in a series of Sleeping Beauty sagas. But unlike stories of old that pitted unredeemable forces… Continue reading The Intersection of Satan and Saint
Seeing God Beyond the Borders, in the Flesh
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
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
