Nov. 3 is the day we have all been waiting for or waiting to be done with! The presidential election has never had more importance in decades. The good news is that all of the controversy and angst around the political season has resulted in a huge uptick in voter participation and engagement.
Emmanuel Church, at the corner of East Ridgewood Avenue and Hope Street, dedicated a Peace Garden given in loving memory of William “Bill” Jamros by his family. In addition to the Peace Garden dedication, five benches given in memory of Merlin Brockway, Jean Emerizy, Stephanie Demytrk, Bill Jamros, and Bill Wilkins/Louise and Frank Sjaardema were also dedicated. The […]
Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” Someone else once said, “A society based on the pursuit of personal happiness cannot survive, only one based on freedom and truth is sustainable…” In a fascinating recent New York Times article: “A Revolution in Happiness”, (7/2/19) the author posits a […]
The Tao De Ching is a classic 6th Century Chinese book of wisdom and one of the most translated texts in literature. It a brief and brilliant series of chapters of how to live from the mind of the Chinese sage Laozi. Stephen Mitchell has written a beautiful translation of this little book, which I […]
Anyone who has watched a childbirth knows there’s no easy way to be born. There’s also no easy way to be reborn, especially for churches. As odd as it sounds, religious institutions seem to be inherently resistant to change and transformation. About five years ago, Emmanuel initiated a strategic, long range planning process and, simultaneously, […]
Chapters 14-17 of John’s gospel are some of the most important in the New Testament. These are the last teachings and instructions of Jesus to his disciples before his death. The Gospel of John is unique. It shares little in common in terms of structure and content compared to the other three “Synoptic” gospels, Matthew, […]
Any authentic religion always issues in personal transformation. This is exactly the message of the Easter season, the transformation from “death” into new life, from despair, hopelessness, egocentricity and hatred into joy, abundance and self-giving love. March 6 is Ash Wednesday. Thus begins the start of a season of reflection and introspection leading to Easter […]
Matthew 9:16, 17 NIV 16 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins […]
It is true, time seems to pass exponentially faster as we age. The weeks run into months, the months turn into years and the years blend into decades. It now takes me several months into the new year before I actually begin writing the correct date for the new year! I will have served at […]
The Advent Season has come again when we are invited to make our journey to Bethlehem to see the lovingkindness of the Lord revealed in the baby Jesus in the manger. This season we rejoice, for Jesus’ coming brings us “good news of great joy.” It brings us peace and hope and light in our […]