Avoiding the Pharisees' attempt to entrap Him, Jesus simply replies "Give to the emperor those things that are his, and give to God those things that are God's." Of course, all of creation is God's, so how can we give Him that which is already His? We can do it by giving Him that which was created in His image, our hearts, our souls, and our very being. Inviting God into every part of our lives, bringing our joys and our problems to God, recognizing that God's claim to us is above all others, in doing this we give God the one thing that is truly ours to give, our selves.

The Scripture references are Isaiah 45:1-7, Psalm 96:1-4,6-7, and Thessalonians1:1-10. The Gospel reference is Matthew 22:15-22.

To us, one of the more confusing of Jesus' parables is that of the wedding feast of the king's son. A man attending the feast is found without a wedding robe, and the king has him bound and thrown out of the feast into "the outer darkness". In this parable, we are called again and again to come to God's feast; first by the prophets, then by Jesus, and lastly by the apostles. The lack of a wedding robe represents our refusal of God's welcome and hospitality. God is mighty like the king of the parable, but unlike him God does not does not answer our refusal with wrath, but rather with mercy. God makes all us fit to attend his banquet and sit at His table. Will you come?

The Scripture references are Isaiah 25:1-9 and Philippians 4:1-9. The Gospel reference is Matthew 22:1-14.

On this Saint Francis Sunday we come together with our beloved pets, knowing that we all are part of God's creation. God cares about all that he has created, and as we are made in His image we must strive always to protect our planet and its environment, and to care for all those other creatures beloved of God with whom we share it. There are practical actions we can take every day, and remember that creation care is about giving our hearts and hands to the relationship that God has in mind for us.

The Scripture references are Isaiah 5:1-7, Psalm148:7-14, and Philippians 3:4b-14. The Gospel reference is Matthew 21:33-46.

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, estimates that one in five Americans will experience some form of mental illness in their lifetime. As Mental Health Week begins remember that all of us know of or care for a person who is dealing with mental illness. It is unfortunate, and ultimately unhelpful and unhealthy, to stigmatize anyone who does deal with mental illness every day; there is no sin here, no punishment for things done or undone. Mental illness is every bit a disease as cancer, emphysema, or any other, and any stigma only serves to divide us when we need to come together most. As Jesus showed us by so many examples, illness of any kind including mental illness is not what defines a person. We are all children of God, worthy of all the compassion, support, and understanding we can share.

The Scripture references are Ezekiel 18:1-4,25-32, Psalm 25:3-6, and Philippians 2:1-13. The Gospel reference is Matthew 21:23-32.

Long time Emmanuel Sunday school teacher Maryanne Theyerl shares with us one of the lessons in the Godly Play curriculum used in our Sunday school classes. The joy of discovery and learning and the growth in faith the lessons provide isn't just for the little children, as we discover that the lessons resonate with our older parishioners as well.

The Scripture references are Jonah 3:10-4:11, Psalm 145: 1-4,7,8, and Philippians 1:21, 27-30. The Gospel reference is Luke 4:16-30.

As Peter learns when he asks Jesus how many times he must forgive someone who has wronged him, there is no limit to forgiveness in God's eyes. Just as the parable's merciful king forgave a debt impossible to repay, so has God forgiven each and everyone of us an impossible debt as well. Being created in the image of God, that great mercy lives in us all. Forgiveness is easier when we acknowledge all that we have been given and forgiven; the prison into which the slave in the parable is cast is one of his own making, he is tortured not for his unforgiving but by it. Real forgiveness, forgiving from the heart, means to not focus on our ability to forgive but to act based on what we have been forgiven and to release the offender from the sentence of our judgement. In real forgiveness we release ourselves from the prison of the other person's sin; in releasing them we are ourselves released.

Influential Source: "Absolution: Forgiveness," sermon by Pastor Kurt Kroon, 06-17-17 Cascade Church, Portland, Oregon.The Scripture references are Genesis 50:15-21, Psalm 103:(1-7),8-13, and Romans 14:1-12. The Gospel reference is Matthew 18:21-35.

The story of Joseph and his brothers as found in Genesis underscores the fact that poor communication, missed opportunities for understanding, and avoiding conflict were as common then as they are today. How could a relationship among family get so bad that thinking of killing became a reasonable idea? Perhaps it is that in asking the difficult honest questions and preparing for the inevitable honest answers we are all put in a vulnerable place, and we avoid it at too great a cost. In Matthew's gospel, Jesus gives good practical advice when we deal with difficult relationships, singly and with the help of others. His final advice is to treat everyone with love, as He loves us. And as He has promised, where we are He will be also.

The Scripture references are Genesis 37:1-11, Psalm 119:33-38, and Romans 13:8-14. The Gospel reference is Matthew 18:15-20.

Emmanuel parishioner Barrie Gibby reminds us that the events of our daily lives, large and small or good and bad, can serve as "wake up calls" from God. They give us opportunities to deplore hatred, uphold justice, and render aid to those who need it. And, just as Moses found out when questioned God in the burning bush, God's plans are greater than our own, and He will give us the strength, wisdom, and help to carry them out.

The Scripture references are Exodus 3:1-15, Psalm 26:1-8, and Romans 12:9-21. The Gospel reference is Matthew 16:21-28

In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus and His disciples are confronted by a Canaanite woman who is seeking healing for her daughter. At first her pleas are ignored, as she is not of Israel and her people are considered an inferior race by the Israelites. Her dedication and love for her daughter lead her to challenge Jesus' refusal to help, turning His own arguments back on Him. Impressed by her faith, Jesus heals her daughter and seems to have shown that He is capable of reexamining His own heart and adapting how He sees the world. Her appeal to God's mercy should resonate in all of us, especially in the light of the events of Charlottesville and elsewhere. We must remind ourselves constantly that God'd plan for us is not to be right, but to constantly seek the right. Confronted by those who would exclude others from God's love, let us be like the Canaanite woman and stand firm in our conviction - to never stop believing that a world can exist where all are equal and loved in God's eyes.

The Scripture references are Isaiah 56:1,6-8, Psalm 67, and Romans 11:1-2a,29-32. The Gospel reference is Matthew 15:21-28.

For those who wish only to hear the Gospel and the sermon, please enjoy this segment of our Garden service.

The Scripture references are Isaiah 61:10-11, Psalm34:1-9, and Galatians 4:4-7. The Gospel reference is Luke 1:46-55.