"Baptism & Transformation” 6th Sunday in Easter C - May 26, 2019 Baptisms for Valencio David Symons and Nayru Elizabeth Symons Acts 16:9-15 During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them. We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to

“A New Word of God” 5th Sunday in Easter, C - May 19, 2019 By Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda Acts 11:1-18 Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?" Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a v

“Tabitha: A True Disciple” 4th Sunday in Easter C Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda - St. Matthew’s, Savannah Acts 9:36-43 Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Please come to us

Why Am I A Christian? Easter Day (Year C) - April 21, 2019 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 (CEB) 19 If we have a hope in Christ only in this life, then we deserve to be pitied more than anyone else. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead. He’s the first crop of the harvest[a] of those who have died. 21 Since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came through one too. 22 In the same way that everyone dies in Adam, so also everyone will be given li

“The Good News According to Luke” Palm Sunday / Sunday of the Passion (Year C) By Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda Luke 19:28-40; 22:14-23:56 Holy Week is the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem for the last time, journeying from the gates of the city to the cross to the grave to the empty tomb on Easter morning. The way Luke tells it, the Cross is the climax of the story. Here, Jesus finally fulfills his mission statement. Do you remember what Jesus said was his mission statement? We

“Identity & Confidence in the Flesh” 5th Sunday in Lent - April 7, 2019 Christ Church Savannah By the Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda Philippians 3:4b-14 (NRSV) If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. Yet whatever gains I had

“Grace to Love My Brother” 4th Sunday in Lent - March 31, 2019 Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." So Jesus told them this parable: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between th

Fire & Idols 3rd Sunday in Lent (Year C) - March 24, 2019 Exodus 3:1-15 Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” Whe

“Holly’s Bravery” 2nd Sunday in Lent C - March 17, 2019 James Theodore Holly, remembered as the first black bishop in history of The Episcopal Church, should also be remembered for his courage, perseverance, and magnificent facial hair. Philippians 3:17-4:1 Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with t

“Earning the Title” 1st Sunday in Lent, C - March 10, 2019 Head Coach Herman Boone (Denzel Washington, right) and Defensive Coordinator Bill Yoast (Will Patton, left) celebrate a victory for the T.C. Williams Senior High School Titans. Luke 4:1-13 After his baptism, Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were o

"We We Have Lent" Ash Wednesday - March 6, 2019 Isaiah 58:1-12 Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God. "Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble

"Listening for Lent" Last Sunday After the Epiphany C (March 3, 2019) Luke 9:28-43a Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed dow

“Fishing Advice from a Carpenter” 5th Sunday after the Epiphany - February 10, 2019 Luke 5:1-11 (NRSV) Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught

“The Unexpected Revival” 4th Sunday After the Epiphany, C - February 3, 2019 By Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda Jeremiah 1:4-10 The word of the Lord came to me saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a boy'; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, a

Fully Empowered and Authorized A Celebration of New Ministry with the Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda By the Rev. Canon Frank Logue Joshua 1:7-9 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may b

The Bible Can Change Your Life 3rd Sunday After Epiphany, C - January 27, 2019 Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 All the people of Israel gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it

“The Conscience We Rejected” The Commemoration of Martin Luther King, Jr. (transferred) - January 21, 2019 By Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda Luke 6:27–36 ‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away

“Jesus, the Light of the World” Christmas Eve (RCL I) - December 24, 2018 By Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda Isaiah 9:2-7 (CEB) The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. On those living in a pitch-dark land, light has dawned. You have made the nation great; you have increased its joy. They rejoiced before you as with joy at the harvest, as those who divide plunder rejoice. As on the day of Midian, you’ve shattered the yoke that burdened them, the staff on their should

“The Light of Jesus’ Face” 4th Sunday in Advent, Year C - December 23, 2018 By Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda Psalm 80:1-7 1 Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; * shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim. 2 In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, * stir up your strength and come to help us. 3 Restore us, O God of hosts; * show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. 4 O Lord God of hosts, * how long will you be ang

“Children of Abraham” By Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda Luke 3:7-18 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit i