Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Camp Chicago and the Way of Love: The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
| The Rev. William Nesbit
Camp Chicago and the Way of Love: The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
A week at Camp with youth from around the Diocese teaching them the way of love has given me hope for the future of the world. I just have to share!!
The Scripture references are Amos 8:1-12, Psalm 15, and Colossians 1:15-28. The Gospel reference is Luke 10:38-42.
"Who Is My Neighbor?": The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
| Dawn DiVenti
"Who Is My Neighbor?": The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
We Are the Seventy: The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
| The Rev. William Nesbit
We Are the Seventy: The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
The Cost of Discipleship: The Third Sunday after Pentecost
| The Rev. William Nesbit
The Cost of Discipleship: The Third Sunday after Pentecost
To be a disciple of Jesus is not a position of power, it is a position of grace. One of the hardest parts about being a follower of Jesus is remembering that truth. And acting that way.
The Scripture references are 2 Kings 2:1-2,6-14, Psalm 77:1-2,11-14, and Galatians 5:1,13-25. The Gospel reference is Luke 9:51-62.
Witnesses to Baptism: The Second Sunday after Pentecost
| The Very Reverend Thomas Rosa
Witnesses to Baptism: The Second Sunday after Pentecost
God's Being: The First Sunday after Pentecost - Trinity Sunday
| The Rev. Douglas Rogers
God's Being: The First Sunday after Pentecost - Trinity Sunday
Following the Holy Spirit is Not for the Faint of Heart: The Day of Pentecost
| The Rev. William Nesbit
Following the Holy Spirit is Not for the Faint of Heart: The Day of Pentecost
The Scripture references are Acts 2:1-21, Psalm104:25-35,37, and Romans 8:14-17. The Gospel reference is John 14:8-17.
Athanasius to the Rescue! The Seventh Sunday of Easter
| The Rev. William Nesbit
Athanasius to the Rescue! The Seventh Sunday of Easter
The Scripture references are Acts 16:16-34, Psalm 93, and Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20-21. The Gospel reference is John 17:20-26.
The Times They are a Changin'! The Sixth Sunday of Easter
| The Rev. William Nesbit
The Times They are a Changin'! The Sixth Sunday of Easter
The Scripture references are Acts 16:9-15, Psalm 67, and Revelation 21:10,22 - 22:5. The Gospel reference is John 14:23-29.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want." The Fourth Sunday in Easter
| The Rev. William Nesbit
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want." The Fourth Sunday in Easter
What does it mean to follow the Good Shepherd? How is a life with God lived out? Well, it's complicated, and it's simple.
The Scripture references are Acts 9:36-43, Psalm 23, and Revelation5:11-14. The Gospel reference is John 21:1-19.
The Trouble with Blindness: The Third Sunday of Easter
| The Rev. William Nesbit
The Trouble with Blindness: The Third Sunday of Easter
One of the hard parts of the life of faith is blindness. A look at the characters of Saul, Ananias, and Peter help us to see the blind spots that hover around us as we struggle to see with the eyes of Christ.
The Scripture references are Acts 9:1-20, Psalm 30:1-6,12-13, and Revelation 5:11-14. The Gospel reference is John 21:1-19.
Hear, And Believe: The Second Sunday of Easter
| The Very Reverend Thomas Rosa
Hear, And Believe: The Second Sunday of Easter
The apostle who came to be known as "Doubting Thomas" gets an unfair reputation for insisting on proof of Jesus' resurrection. All the other disciples also had doubts until Jesus appeared to them. Thomas only asked for the same thing the others had already received. He reminds us that doubt is not the opposite of faith, but rather the thing that helps us to reexamine, better know, and ultimately share our own faith.
The Scripture references are Acts 5:27-32, Psalm 150, and Revelation 1:4-8. The Gospel reference is John 20:19-31.
Welcome to the Mystery of an Empty Tomb - Easter Day
| The Rev. William Nesbit
Welcome to the Mystery of an Empty Tomb - Easter Day
People come to church on Easter for a lot of reasons, some of them not the best. It really doesn't matter. We all come to the resurrection with a sense of disbelief, amazement, and faith in varying amounts. If you want all the answers, you might try somewhere else, but if you want to wrestle over great questions in search of wisdom, well this might be your new/old home!
The Scripture references are Isaiah 65:17-25, Psalm 118:1-12,14-24, and Acts 10:34-43.
Easter's Greatest Hit! - The Great Vigil of Easter
| The Rev. William Nesbit
Easter's Greatest Hit! - The Great Vigil of Easter
Sixteen hundred years ago, John Chrysostom wrote the greatest Easter sermon ever! The Orthodox Christians hear this sermon EVERY year on Easter. Now you will know why!
The Vigil Readings are The Story of Creation, Genesis 1:1-2:4a; The Flood, Genesis 7:1-5,11-18, 8:6-18, and 9:8-13; Israel's Deliverance at the Red Sea, Exodus 14:10-31, 15:20-21; and The Valley of Dry Bones, Ezekiel 37:1-14. The additional Scripture reference is Romans 6:3-11. The Gospel reference is Luke 24:1-12.
What Are We to Make of the Cross? - Good Friday
| The Rev. William Nesbit
What Are We to Make of the Cross? - Good Friday
Today the cross stands before us in all it's terrible glory. Bad theology has made it a "cross to bear" for the church long enough. In the words of Jesus, "It is Finished!" God's love wins, even on Good Friday.
The Scripture references are Isaiah 42:13-53:12, Psalm 40:1-14, and Hebrews 10:16-25. The Gospel is The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to John, John 19:1-37.
Good News, Bad News: Short Sermon, but Homework! Palm Sunday
| The Rev. William Nesbit
Good News, Bad News: Short Sermon, but Homework! Palm Sunday
We have heard the Passion hundreds of times; so many times, in fact, that often we stop listening. And we shouldn't! Here are a number of things to ponder as we enter the darkness of Holy Week, and remember two things. God does some of his best work in the dark, and the light will come!
The Scripture references are Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 118:19-26, and Philippians 2:5-11. The Gospel references are Luke 19:28-40 and the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
The Return of Jesus, and His Snarky Sense of Humor: The Fifth Sunday in Lent
| The Rev. William Nesbit
The Return of Jesus, and His Snarky Sense of Humor: The Fifth Sunday in Lent
Jesus returns to the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus for a little R & R, but Judas whines about expenses. With a vintage comeback, Jesus both puts him in his place and reminds him, and us, of the importance of the poor. If we are paying attention!
The Scripture references are Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalm 126, and Philippians 3:4b-14. The Gospel reference is John 12:1-8
The Parable of the Loving Father: The Fourth Sunday in Lent
| The Rev. William Nesbit
The Parable of the Loving Father: The Fourth Sunday in Lent
We know this parable more commonly as the Parable of the Prodigal Son, but if you read and pay attention to the story, both sons are in need of redemption. The focus of the story is really the Father, and his irrational irrepressible love for both of his self-absorbed sons. Gee, I wonder who the Father represents?!?
The Scripture references are Joshua 5:9-12, Psalm 32:1-7, and 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. The Gospel reference is Luke 15:1-3,11b-32.
One-Who-Stands-Before-His-People: The Third Sunday in Lent
| The Rev. William Nesbit
One-Who-Stands-Before-His-People: The Third Sunday in Lent
Moses was a special person in the life of the Jewish people. He was special to God as well. At least, God spoke to him. What if God speaks to people all the time, and the problem is that we don't listen. An imaginary look at Moses through the lens of the life of Enmegahbowh, the first Native American ordained to the priesthood.
The Scripture references are Exodus 3:1-15, Psalm 63:1-8, and 1 Corinthians 10:1-13. The Gospel reference is Luke 13:1-9.