First Presbyterian Church Palo Alto

Our vision is to grow towards becoming an intergenerational, multi-ethnic, anti-racist, geographically and economically diverse Christian community gathered together and sustained by creative worship, biblically-inspired learning, empathetic ministry, nonviolently disrupting injustice in the world.

Sermons by Rev. Tom Harris

Living Resistance: Resisting Empire as a Way of Life

Today Pastor Tom begins a 10 week sermon series entitled, “Living Resistance: Resisting Empire as a Way of Life.” He begins with an introduction of the practice of each person developing a “rule of life,” in the spirit of monastic rules such as St. Benedict’s. How can we resist the empire in the everyday habits…

caring for, honoring, and loving immigrants

August 17, 2025
Rev. Tom Harris
Immigration

In today’s sermon, Pastor Tom surveys biblical passages calling us to care for, honor, and love immigrants. This value is elevated to the highest possible degree in Matthew 25, claiming even that our faith itself depends on our practice of hospitality and caring for the vulnerable.

Revelation (part 6)

August 10, 2025
Rev. Tom Harris

In today’s sermon Pastor Tom finishes the six week series on Revelation by reflecting on Revelation 21:1-4. In particular, explores what the idea of “no more death” might mean. Perhaps, like the rest of Revelation, it is not a prediction of the future but an invitation for seeing this life in a new way. He…

Revelation (Part 5)

August 3, 2025
Rev. Tom Harris

In today’s sermon Pastor Tom offers five principles for discerning where we stand on Israel’s violence against the Palestinians and how we might respond. He also uses Revelation 7 to reflect theologically on where we find God in all this and how we can stand on God’s side.