Welcome

Hospitality is a core Christian commitment.  Inviting people into the community of faith and helping them feel a sense of belonging to a congregation is essential for a vital Christian ministry.

Emanuel has a Welcome Mission Team whose focus is to move us past our normal levels of easy friendliness to a deliberate and passionate inclusion of everyone who wishes to become part of our ministry.

These values are based on the radical welcome extended by Jesus to his own disciples and to many others who lived on the margins of society.  We understand that our own participation in his fellowship is based on his willingness to offer us divine hospitality well beyond anything we could expect or deserve.

We are also aware that different people experience hospitality in different ways.  For example, one family may love to be asked to stand and introduce themselves the first time they visit a church, while another may feel awkward and embarrassed.  Some may be grateful to be invited to a small group at a coffee hour, while others are quick to leave after worship until they feel more familiar with the mood and rhythm of a congregation.

It is our intention to offer all our visitors and newer members a level of welcome that is most comfortable for them.  If you choose to visit us, either for worship or some other event, we hope you will feel free to let us know what will be the most helpful ways to connect you to our members and ministries.  If you would like to come for a while and mostly observe, that is fine.  If you would rather jump right in and get to know several families and programs, that would be very good too.  We do not want to push you into high levels of involvement before you are ready, nor do we want to ignore you if you are waiting to be invited to participate.   And if you do visit us and decide, for any reason at all, that you’d be more comfortable at another type of church, we would be happy to assist you in finding the style of Christian community you seek.  We know we cannot be everything for everyone.  If we can be your family of faith, we would be very pleased.  If we can help you find a connection to another congregation, we will gladly do so.

In any case, please know that we would be honored and delighted if you decide to be part of any of our activities at any time.  As Christ has welcomed us, so we intend to welcome you.