Welcome to Sermons from First Presbyterian Church Palo Alto. Each week we share a recording of the Sunday sermon, offering theologically progressive, social justice–oriented reflections grounded in Scripture and what’s happening in our lives and in the world. Most weeks the sermon is preached by our pastor, the Rev. Tom Harris, and from time to time we’re joined by guest preachers.
The following sermon is from the 10 a.m. service on April 12th, 2026, the second Sunday of Easter. Rev. Harris reflects on the story of John 20 in which Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to the disciples. Some see this as John’s version of the Pentecost story. Rev. Harris shares some theological background about the Holy Spirit and then explores the ways John emphasized the Spirit’s work on our lives today.