The author of the letter of James was right when he wrote of the power of our words. We need God's grace to bring about a change in our hearts to make sure that what we say, and how we say it, is directed to the larger goal of speaking words of truth to others and to ourselves.

The Reverend Peter Lane, rector of St Paul & The Redeemer, Hyde Park, preaches at the installation of the Reverend Andria Skornik as rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Rockford. In our secular age where religion is often a matter of personal choice, we are encouraged to continue our regular worship, our outreach, and our good works for Rockford to the glory of God in Heaven.

As we think about how we welcome people, let's remember that there can be great benefit in examining and expanding our boundaries. Jesus' message of inclusiveness is that there is always "room for a few more" at God's Table.

Through Communion we can know what it means to live life in the fullest sense. Communion calls us back to God and to our neighbor; living a life of Communion isn't merely an ideal, but something that is available to us all. It was God's intention for us all along.

Celebrating the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we are asked "What does it mean to be blessed?" Being blessed is about knowing that God is with us in all times and in all places. God is with each of us and blesses us with the resources we need for our journey: inner strength, love, generosity, and hope.

Emmanuel parishioner and 2015 Golden Apple recipient Becky Pelley shares her efforts to bring life giving and transformational experiences to students through over four decades of teaching and mentoring in Rockford high schools.

Jesus offered the crowd by the Sea of Galilee the true bread, the Bread of Life. He offers it to us, too.

The story of David & Bathsheba helps us see our own brokenness and look at other people’s brokenness with compassion.

The Reverend Bill Beers, Episcopal priest and preacher with Food For The Poor, shares with us the vital work being done by this interdenominational in the Caribbean and Latin America.

A sermon on the Beheading of John the Baptist.