Tom Murphy
@tommurphe.bsky.social
Episcopal priest in Baltimore suburbs / Jersey City forever / Baptismal Covenant / My saints include Dorothy Day, Alfred Delp, Francis of Assisi, Thomas Merton, Sam Shoemaker / community organizing / poetry / Orioles
tommurphe.blogspot.com
tommurphe.blogspot.com
The Work of Christmas
When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
(1/2)
When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
(1/2)
January 6, 2026 at 9:46 AM
The Work of Christmas
When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
(1/2)
When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
(1/2)
"The Christian mysteries are an indivisible whole. If we become immersed in one, we are led to all the others. Thus the way from Bethlehem leads inevitably to Golgotha, from the crib to the cross."
- Edith Stein, (1891-1942)
- Edith Stein, (1891-1942)
January 5, 2026 at 9:46 AM
"The Christian mysteries are an indivisible whole. If we become immersed in one, we are led to all the others. Thus the way from Bethlehem leads inevitably to Golgotha, from the crib to the cross."
- Edith Stein, (1891-1942)
- Edith Stein, (1891-1942)
My homily for the Second Sunday after Christmas:
#christmas #episcopal #owingsmills #baltimorecounty #baltimore
#christmas #episcopal #owingsmills #baltimorecounty #baltimore
The Unsentimental Story of God With Us
St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Owings Mills MD January 4, 2026 The Second Sunday after Christmas (5:00 pm) Jeremiah 31:7-14 Psalm 84 Ephesian...
tommurphe.blogspot.com
January 4, 2026 at 8:44 PM
My homily for the Second Sunday after Christmas:
#christmas #episcopal #owingsmills #baltimorecounty #baltimore
#christmas #episcopal #owingsmills #baltimorecounty #baltimore
"For the miracle of God comes not only from above; it also comes through us; it is also dwelling in us.
(1/2)
(1/2)
January 3, 2026 at 10:47 AM
"For the miracle of God comes not only from above; it also comes through us; it is also dwelling in us.
(1/2)
(1/2)
"The time is being fulfilled and the light shall shine, perhaps just when it seems to us that the darkness is impenetrable."
- Eberhard Arnold, (1883-1935)
- Eberhard Arnold, (1883-1935)
January 2, 2026 at 11:13 AM
"The time is being fulfilled and the light shall shine, perhaps just when it seems to us that the darkness is impenetrable."
- Eberhard Arnold, (1883-1935)
- Eberhard Arnold, (1883-1935)
On the Feast of the Holy Name and New Year's Day:
Most gracious and merciful God, you have reconciled us to yourself through Jesus Christ your Son, and called us to new life in him:
(1/2)
Most gracious and merciful God, you have reconciled us to yourself through Jesus Christ your Son, and called us to new life in him:
(1/2)
January 1, 2026 at 10:11 AM
On the Feast of the Holy Name and New Year's Day:
Most gracious and merciful God, you have reconciled us to yourself through Jesus Christ your Son, and called us to new life in him:
(1/2)
Most gracious and merciful God, you have reconciled us to yourself through Jesus Christ your Son, and called us to new life in him:
(1/2)
So teach us to number our days
that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
(Psalm 90:12)
that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
(Psalm 90:12)
December 31, 2025 at 10:03 AM
So teach us to number our days
that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
(Psalm 90:12)
that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
(Psalm 90:12)
"The way that Christ took was the low way. His way is abandonment. He not only descended from the presence of God, but he came as a baby in the poorest condition.
(1/2)
(1/2)
December 30, 2025 at 9:55 AM
"The way that Christ took was the low way. His way is abandonment. He not only descended from the presence of God, but he came as a baby in the poorest condition.
(1/2)
(1/2)
On the Feast of the Holy Innocents:
Loving God, Jesus gathered your little ones in his arms and blessed them. Have mercy on those who mourn for innocent children slaughtered by the violence of a fallen world.
(1/2)
Loving God, Jesus gathered your little ones in his arms and blessed them. Have mercy on those who mourn for innocent children slaughtered by the violence of a fallen world.
(1/2)
December 29, 2025 at 9:38 AM
On the Feast of the Holy Innocents:
Loving God, Jesus gathered your little ones in his arms and blessed them. Have mercy on those who mourn for innocent children slaughtered by the violence of a fallen world.
(1/2)
Loving God, Jesus gathered your little ones in his arms and blessed them. Have mercy on those who mourn for innocent children slaughtered by the violence of a fallen world.
(1/2)
My sermon for the First Sunday after Christmas:
God's Subtle Light
St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Owings Mills MD December 28, 2025 The First Sunday after Christmas Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Psalm 147:13-21 Galatians...
tommurphe.blogspot.com
December 28, 2025 at 6:26 PM
My sermon for the First Sunday after Christmas:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.
(1/2)
(1/2)
December 27, 2025 at 10:24 AM
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.
(1/2)
(1/2)
I Will Light Candles This Christmas
Candles of joy, despite all sadness.
Candles of hope where despair keeps watch.
Candles of courage for fears ever present.
Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,
(1/2)
Candles of joy, despite all sadness.
Candles of hope where despair keeps watch.
Candles of courage for fears ever present.
Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,
(1/2)
December 25, 2025 at 11:02 AM
I Will Light Candles This Christmas
Candles of joy, despite all sadness.
Candles of hope where despair keeps watch.
Candles of courage for fears ever present.
Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,
(1/2)
Candles of joy, despite all sadness.
Candles of hope where despair keeps watch.
Candles of courage for fears ever present.
Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,
(1/2)
My Christmas Eve sermon:
God Goes "All In"
God Goes "All In"
God Goes "All In"
St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Owings Mills MD December 24, 2025 Christmas Eve Isaiah 9:2-7 Psalm 96 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-20 God Goes "All ...
tommurphe.blogspot.com
December 25, 2025 at 2:25 AM
My Christmas Eve sermon:
God Goes "All In"
God Goes "All In"
"Christmas is believing that the salvation of the world is God’s work and not mine. Things will never look just right or feel just right. If they did, someone would be lying . . .
(1/2)
(1/2)
December 24, 2025 at 10:51 AM
"Christmas is believing that the salvation of the world is God’s work and not mine. Things will never look just right or feel just right. If they did, someone would be lying . . .
(1/2)
(1/2)
"We can only really wait if what we are waiting for has already begun for us. So waiting is never a movement from nothing to something. It is always a movement from something to something more."
- Henri Nouwen, (1932-1996)
- Henri Nouwen, (1932-1996)
December 23, 2025 at 10:17 AM
"We can only really wait if what we are waiting for has already begun for us. So waiting is never a movement from nothing to something. It is always a movement from something to something more."
- Henri Nouwen, (1932-1996)
- Henri Nouwen, (1932-1996)
“Who among us will celebrate Christmas correctly? Whoever finally lays down all power, all honor, all reputation, all vanity, all arrogance, all individualism beside the manger;
(1/2)
(1/2)
December 22, 2025 at 10:09 AM
“Who among us will celebrate Christmas correctly? Whoever finally lays down all power, all honor, all reputation, all vanity, all arrogance, all individualism beside the manger;
(1/2)
(1/2)
The Fourth Sunday of Advent - and the Winter Solstice!
December 21, 2025 at 12:04 PM
The Fourth Sunday of Advent - and the Winter Solstice!
"It is no use to say that we are born two thousand years too late to give room to Christ. Nor will those who live at the end of the world have been born too late. Christ is always with us, always asking for room in our hearts.
(1/3)
(1/3)
December 20, 2025 at 10:20 AM
"It is no use to say that we are born two thousand years too late to give room to Christ. Nor will those who live at the end of the world have been born too late. Christ is always with us, always asking for room in our hearts.
(1/3)
(1/3)
"Into this world, this demented inn, in which there is absolutely no room for him at all, Christ has come uninvited. But because he cannot be at home in it, because he is out of place in it, and yet he must be in it, his place is with those others for whom there is no room.
(1/2)
(1/2)
December 19, 2025 at 10:39 AM
"Into this world, this demented inn, in which there is absolutely no room for him at all, Christ has come uninvited. But because he cannot be at home in it, because he is out of place in it, and yet he must be in it, his place is with those others for whom there is no room.
(1/2)
(1/2)
“The birth of Christ in our souls is for a purpose beyond ourselves: it is because his manifestation in the world must be through us.
(1/2)
(1/2)
December 18, 2025 at 10:41 AM
“The birth of Christ in our souls is for a purpose beyond ourselves: it is because his manifestation in the world must be through us.
(1/2)
(1/2)
“For whatever reason God chose to make man as he is— limited and suffering and subject to sorrows and death—He had the honesty and the courage to take His own medicine. Whatever game He is playing with His creation, He has kept His own rules and played fair.
(1/3)
(1/3)
December 17, 2025 at 10:33 AM
“For whatever reason God chose to make man as he is— limited and suffering and subject to sorrows and death—He had the honesty and the courage to take His own medicine. Whatever game He is playing with His creation, He has kept His own rules and played fair.
(1/3)
(1/3)
God of hope and joy,
open our hearts in welcome,
that your Son Jesus Christ at his coming
may find in us a dwelling prepared for himself;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.
Amen.
- "A New Zealand Prayer Book"
#advent #christmas
open our hearts in welcome,
that your Son Jesus Christ at his coming
may find in us a dwelling prepared for himself;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.
Amen.
- "A New Zealand Prayer Book"
#advent #christmas
December 16, 2025 at 10:17 AM
God of hope and joy,
open our hearts in welcome,
that your Son Jesus Christ at his coming
may find in us a dwelling prepared for himself;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.
Amen.
- "A New Zealand Prayer Book"
#advent #christmas
open our hearts in welcome,
that your Son Jesus Christ at his coming
may find in us a dwelling prepared for himself;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.
Amen.
- "A New Zealand Prayer Book"
#advent #christmas
Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day.
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
(1/2)
We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day.
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
(1/2)
December 15, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day.
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
(1/2)
We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day.
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
(1/2)
My sermon for the Third Sunday of Advent:
Poignant Questions
St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Owings Mills MD December 14, 2025 Year A: The Third Sunday of Advent Isaiah 35:1-10 Psalm 146:4-9 James 5:7-10...
tommurphe.blogspot.com
December 14, 2025 at 7:18 PM
My sermon for the Third Sunday of Advent: