Sermons by Jim Arnold
Privileged to Worship the God of Love
Photo by Ian Schneider @ unpslash.com Acts 16:9-15 Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 John 14:23-29 Psalm 67 One of Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry’s ‘Way of Love’ practices for a Jesus-Centered Life is “Worship.” We at St. Benedict’s, myself included, are very privileged to have this time together each week to worship God in the beauty of Holiness and to be nourished by God’s Holy Spirit. And speaking of privilege, I must say, it is a privilege to be privileged. As a white-male,…
Blessed are we…
Photo by Xavier Coiffic @unsplash.com Blessed are we who come in the name of the Lord! Blessed are we who have a King whose idea of a triumphant entry into His Kingdom is on the foal of a donkey. Blessed are we who have a King who allows Himself to be condemned for our sins. Blessed are we who have the Good News of the Light and Life of the Resurrection which the darkness of the cross could not subdue.…
Turning the Other Cheek
Genesis 45:3-11, 15 1 Corinthians 15:35-38,42-50 Luke 6:27-38 Psalm 37:1-12, 41-42 Many of you probably remember the day you got your first driver’s license-I know I do. I remember the feeling of being empowered to be independently behind the wheel without the need to have a licensed passenger in the vehicle with me, as was the case when I only possessed what they called in those days-a Learner’s Permit. Little did I know the learning was really just about to…
John the Deacon
Photo by Cristian Palmer on unsplash.com Isaiah 43:1-7 Acts 8:14-17 Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 I remember being a young lad in elementary school and having to have my parents help me occasionally with the difficult parts of my homework assignments. The memory that stands out for me is the fact that I was not gifted with a natural propensity toward an aptitude in mathematics in those days and my dear mother took on the challenge of helping me with that portion of…
We can, with God’s help
Photo by Jordan Rowland on Unsplash Mark 12:38-44 God of all Goodness, may we daily perceive the joy and wonder of your abiding presence, and offer our lives in gratitude for our redemption. Amen. Let me just take this opportunity to say that it’s great to be back here with all of you again for my second and final year of field education and my final year at the School for Deacons. You are a loving community of faithful, compassionate…
The Light of Hope
Each day on my way to work I get to have alone time with God. And, one of my daily prayers is a verse from Psalm 51, which reads: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Today’s gospel story is Mark’s account of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry following His baptism in the River Jordan. Immediately preceding the story, Jesus has just called Peter, Andrew, James and John from their boats to…
All Saints Day
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” I sometimes wonder what it means to be proud. Am I proud of who I am? Is that okay? And why? Did I have anything to do with it? What have I done to take pride in? Upon pondering these things I find myself thinking that I’m proud to be a child of God, but I can’t take credit for that. I can say I’m proud…