Tag: Presence

Joy is Not Made to be a Crumb

Published on by Adam ThomasLeave a comment
Sermon for Sunday, April 5, 2026 || Easter Day A || Matthew 28:1-10

Dear friends, welcome to St. Mark’s on this special feast of the Resurrection that we call Easter Sunday. Every Sunday is technically a feast of the Resurrection, but this one is extra special because it comes on the heels of our week of walking with Jesus during the difficult days of his Passion: his arrest, trial, condemnation, walk to the cross, crucifixion, and death. And now, three days later, we celebrate his rising in the power of the promise that nothing, not even death, can ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This fundamental truth of Creation is worth celebrating every single day, this truth that nothing can separate us from God’s love. We sing “Alleluia” today for the living and for the dead and for generations yet to come, all of whom God loves in the eternal NOW of God’s presence. We praise God today – for that is what “Alleluia” means – because God is faithful and fulfills the promise to be with us always.

Continue reading “Joy is Not Made to be a Crumb” →

30 Minute Rap

Published on by Adam ThomasLeave a comment

No sermon this week, as the intern at St. Mark’s had the reins for First Sunday of Advent. So I thought I’d share something I wrote a few weeks ago at a youth revival/retreat weekend. After hearing a talk given by one of the teens, we had about half an hour to compose a rap in response. This is the text of the one I shared with the group.

Continue reading “30 Minute Rap” →

God’s Abiding Presence

Published on by Adam Thomas4 Comments
Sermon for Sunday, April 22, 2018 || Easter 5B || John 15:1-18

My family moved around a lot when I was a kid. Before the age of twelve I had lived in eight different houses in five states. When we arrived in Alabama right after Christmas in 1994, my parents promised my sister and me that we wouldn’t move again until I finished high school seven years on. I smiled and nodded, but the whole time I was thinking, “Yeah, right. I’ll believe that when I see it.”

I simply had no frame of reference for remaining in one place more than three years, which was my previous best. I wasn’t great at making friends because my experience told me I would be leaving them soon, so what was the point. I had to adapt to numerous new cultures and speaking patterns. Notably, when I moved to Alabama I had to amend every statement with the words “sir” or “ma’am.” If I had said either in my prior home of Rhode Island, adults would have thought I was sassing them. It was very confusing. Continue reading “God’s Abiding Presence” →