Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Jesus' last act of devotion was directed at us. How well have we acknowledged God's love for us as shown by Christ? We should always echo those words from Revelation, "Come, Lord Jesus! Amen."

The Scripture references are Acts 16:25-34 and Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20-21. The Gospel reference is John 17:20-26.

The Reverend Bill Lenters, chaplain of the Rosecrance Health Network, shares with us the dance between faith and doubt, trust and skepticism. If we believe only what we can see, we will never see the truth of God's love for us. Because we believe, we can see all that we need to see.

The Gospel reference is John 14:8-14.

When singer/songwriter Paul Thorn wrote those words he nailed the seldom discussed truth that liking someone and loving them are not the same thing. We see in John's Gospel Jesus' command to "love one another as I have loved you" taken in a new context; to love those we know, to love those who make it hard to be loved, who vex us and test us. We are commanded to love each other as Jesus loved all His disciples, Judas and Peter included. Jesus thinks we have it in us to commit ourselves to love - let's prove Him right.

The Gospel reference is John 13:31-35.

The Reverend Jim Roberts, pastor of Rockford's Emmanuel Lutheran Church for thirty-six years, helps us to remember that God is always and everywhere around us. He is not just in our churches or in our prayers, but is present throughout all His Creation. Opening our ears and our hearts to His presence reminds us that we are bound together and to all his creatures.

As sincerely as we might pursue Christian charity and outreach, good intentions alone are often not enough. Some programs with the best intentions actually can hurt those they are meant most to help. But "top down" charity can be transformed into something that brings dignity and value, blurring the demarcation of donor and recipient. Our love for Christ is shown in how we feed in ways that actually nourish, clothe with dignity as well as garments, and give not only of our resources but of ourselves.

The Gospel reference is John 21:1-19.

The familiar story of Doubting Thomas takes on an entirely different meaning when viewed through John's eyes rather than our 21st century lens. The absent Thomas asked only for the same opportunity as the other apostles; in John's time the words for belief meant giving one's heart and trusting fully, not just intellectual belief. Through John's eyes we recognize the core beliefs that guide and sustain us; in them we find God and where the Risen Christ appears in our lives.

The Gospel reference is John 20:19-31.

As we celebrate Christ's Resurrection, we know that by his triumph we are no longer prisoners to sin and death. He has created a bridge from Death to Eternal Life, and released us from captivity; we need no longer fear death. We can walk out into the world with freedom and possibility, and see the power of the Resurrection all around. We are free to live deeply, love boldly, and choose the way of love as our new life.

The Gospel reference is Luke 14:1-12.

Sin always has repercussions, if not for the sinner then for the innocents damaged by the sin. In his Good Friday homily, Fr. Tom Rosa reminds us that through Jesus' surrender to a death on the cross for our sins, we are made whole once again, our own sins forgiven.

The Palm Sunday reading of the Passion story of Jesus' Last Supper, betrayal, arrest and crucifixion as presented by the parishioners of Emmanuel.

Just as some in the crowd in Jerusalem that first Palm Sunday were seeing Jesus for the first time, we can choose to enter Holy Week with fresh eyes, allowing the story to change us. Many of those in the crowd were listening to the part of themselves that was ready for new life, the new way that Jesus represented. Let us listen with our hearts to His message as well.

The Gospel reference is Luke 19:28-40.

The Reverend John Crist enlightens us on the terrible waste of food in the world today. Fully one-third of the world's food production goes to waste, enough to feed two billion people! As Christians, and as stewards of God's bounty, there are many ways we can reduce this waste in our daily lives, so that those who are hungry may have food to eat.

The Gospel reference is John 12:1-8.

When viewed through the eyes of Jesus' first century audience, we see just how many societal taboos were broken in the familiar parable of the Prodigal Son. The father's actions in the parable, with both the returned prodigal and the son who remained at home, were completely contrary to those that would be most expected. Just like that father, God has done the unthinkable on our behalf by taking on the shame and humiliation of the cross, lifting us up and making us worthy.

The Gospel reference is Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32.

When we are are troubled, oppressed, and in pain, God knows and shares in our suffering. God calls on human beings to effect the liberating change that will alleviate the injustices and suffering of this world. We must remember always that it is God who is with us, working through us. The question is not "who are we?" but "who is our God?", and it is He who can do all things.

The Old Testament reference is Exodus 3:1-15; the Gospel reference is Luke 13:1-9.

Like a loving mother, Jesus was willing to say to those listening in Jerusalem the hard truths that would make them better people, with stronger faith. He knew that it is necessary for us to hear those things that, while they may be uncomfortable to acknowledge, are so important for us as we grow in our love of God and for each other. The best place to start this conversation is with ourselves.

The Gospel reading is Luke 13:31-35.

We learn from Jesus' temptation in the wilderness that we are faced with Sin not when we are at our best, but most often when we are weary, compromised, and distracted. Decent people often fall into Sin when consumed with a shortsighted desire to have a human need satisfied, but without considering how it affects those we care most about. We all need to be honestly aware of our weaknesses, always remembering that God's forgiveness is greater than any of our failings.

The Gospel reference is Luke 4:1-13.

Jesus calls us to live a life true to ourselves before God, focusing on those things that truly matter. Through the vision that Jesus gives, we see the world through the lens of eternity.

The Gospel reference is Matthew 6:1-6,16-21.

At the Transfiguration, some of the disciples witness Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah and receive Jesus' true identity as the Son of God. From that day onward, God is not remote from us on a mountaintop but with us always. We also become transfigured when we obey the mountaintop command and listen to Jesus, and hear the voice of God.

The Gospel reference is Luke 9:28-36.

At the combined service before the parish Annual Meeting, Pastor Andria shares with us a look back at what Emmanuel has accomplished in the past year and what we can look forward to in the year to come.

Sarah Parker-Scanlon, Interim Executive Director of Shelter Care Ministries, shares how faith and trust in each day transforms not only the lives of the clients, but of the staff and volunteers also.

The Gospel reference is Luke 4:14-21.

At the wedding in Cana Jesus used everyday things and everyday people to give a sign that a new age had come to the world, and that God was in our midst. The waters of obligation became a drink of celebration, a sign that God truly does transform a new life out of the old. Jesus tells us not to worry: that there is more than enough of the best wine, of God's love, for everyone.


The Gospel reference is John 2:1-11.