Re-imagining Formation
Formation is where worship, service, fellowship, and education meet. Christian formation happens when we work together, intentionally linking our ministries in a way where we are learning and growing and serving the Lord together. Emmanuel has looked with fresh eyes at some of our most beloved events and traditions and found new ways we can work together. We strive to be family-oriented, multi-generational, and inclusive.
Blessing of the Animals
Our annual Blessing of the Animals service is a great example of formation here at Emmanuel.
- Worship – planning and leadership for our outdoor service
- Service – pet supply drive for local shelters
- Fellowship – treats for furry and two-legged friends alike
- Education – craft projects teaching us about creation
– an Emmanuel parishioner
Education and Small Groups
Emmanuel offers opportunities throughout the year, including:
- Book Group – The Emmanuel Book Group Bibliophiles, or EBGB’s, meet every other month for discussion and fellowship. Remaining titles in 2022 include When Life Gives You Pears, The Lincoln Highway, and Cold Sassy Tree and more. Join us!
- Youth Ministry – Emmanuel works with our neighboring churches in the North Richmond Region to offer a Youth Program using the Journey to Adulthood (J2A) program. Journey to Adulthood is a youth ministry program for the spiritual formation for 6th-12th grades. It centers on inclusive, relational ministry and uses Bible study, prayer, rites of passage, and service projects. The lessons are arranged within three categories of Self, Society, and Spirituality. Journeying to Christian adulthood is not about a stand-alone faith experience. Together, we will learn more about the Christian faith and our calling to love God, love others, and love ourselves as Christ loves us. Gatherings take place from 6-7:30pm at St. James the Less in Ashland on most Sunday evenings with carpooling available from the Emmanuel parking lot, meeting at 5:30 and back at 8. Please contact us for more information.
- Sacred Ground – Emmanuel offers educational opportunities in partnership with the Episcopal Church. Sacred Ground is a film-based dialogue series on race and faith. It is part of Becoming Beloved Community, the Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society. Learn more about the series at: episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground.
Welcome to Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Emmanuel is a vibrant Christian community steeped in tradition with an eye to the future. As a parish we celebrate our faith by providing worship services and programs that feed our Christian spirit. We are committed to preparing each other, our children and youth to be followers of Christ, and seek to serve Christ faithfully through service to our community.
Service Times
8:00 AM – Holy Eucharist, Rite I
10:00 AM – Holy Eucharist, Rite II
(with Choir)
What to Expect
Our worship service typically lasts about an hour. The Book of Common Prayer is a liturgical guide used in the Episcopal church. Our service encourages all to participate with responses, lessons, prayers, and hymns throughout our service. Each week, we prepare a full service bulletin, so that all may join in with meditation and prayer, even if our liturgy is new to you.
What We Believe
Emmanuel is an Episcopal Church and as such is deeply rooted in a tradition of prayer, theological exploration, joyful and affirming worship and service. Episcopalians believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe in following the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the world. We believe in love. We have a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being.
We believe that God loves you – no exceptions.
