The Rev. Jonathan R Thomas December 24, 2015 (Year C) Is. 9:2-7 & Lk 2:1-20 Let Us God and See the Child “Do not be afraid.” Those are the opening words from the Angel of the Lord. They begin the gospel proclamation of good news to all people. What a counterintuitive way to…
I have always loved living in the rhythms of our liturgical calendar and corresponding lectionary, and now after a few years in ministry, I have found that sermons take me back to where I was at this time in other years. As I looked back this week, I remembered that four years ago, I preached…
Rev. Jonathan R Thomas December 13, 2015, Advent 3(C) Phil. 4:4-7 & Lk 3:7-18 Advent Preparations There’s nothing to put you in the Christmas spirit quite like a good lecture from John the Baptist. “You brood of vipers. Who warned to you flee from the wrath to come?” Just fills me with warm fuzzies…
Rev. Jonathan R Thomas November 29, 2015 (Advent 1C) Jer. 33:14-16 & Lk. 21:25-36 Reach for the Light This past summer Jenny and I took a vacation down to the northwest corner of Georgia to visit her family. We were meeting her family down there at a lake house in the mountains. Having…
The Rev. Jonathan R Thomas November 15, 2015 (Proper 28B) Heb. 10:11-25 & Mk. 13:1-8 The Beginnings of Birth Pangs The incredible winds this week past kept me up one night. I’m sure I’m not unique in that. We have the big tree whose limbs I was afraid was going to fall on…
Four years after being ordained, I have learned to expect that at some point during a party where I am meeting new people, I am going to get asked the question. “So why did you become a priest?” I dread it because it is often asked in a big group, or in passing conversation, and…