About Us


VISION STATEMENT 

By the year 2015, the historic Emanuel Lutheran Church, founded in 1874, will reach a new level of Christian fellowship and spiritual engagement based upon our faith-committed congregation, inspiring pastoral leadership and worship experience, through a strong multi-genterational church family and a tradition of outreach to others. 

Our shared vision will have resulted in:

  • a strenthened youth program, one expanded to include our pre-teens and our teenagers    
  • more opportunites to build relationships with Christ and fellow believers through spiritual and social activities throughout the week
  • expanded worship opportunities designed to meet the needs and desires for an alternative time and style of worship
  • even greater concern for the maintenance and accessibility of church property
  • a more united body of faith and presence among the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) parishes in Mason county.

Dedicated commitment to achieving our shared vision will have caused our church to grow because of a renewed emphases on music, maintaining current members, reaching out to attract both young and new families and those who are seeking a loving Chirstian community of faith.  With many parishioners providing leadership in a participatory organizational culture, we will have become, by God’s full grace and mercy, what Emanuel is intended to be.

A WORD ABOUT OUR SERVICE

In 1997, our denomination, (the ELCA) officially adopted for the guidance and practice of her local congregations, a statement regarding the worship service.  In this document entitled, ‘The Use of the Means of Grace’, the following statement is made regarding weekly communion. “According to the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Lutheran congregations celebrate the Holy Communion every Sunday and Festival Day.  This confession remains the norm for our practice.” –Principle 35   Thus, our Sunday morning worship service is a service of Word and Sacrament.
Additionally, we also believe that “at the table of our Lord Jesus Christ, God nourishes faith, forgives sin, and calls us to be witnesses to the gospel.” –Principle 31   Therefore, we welcome other Christians from other Christian communities to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion at our table.  Adults and children who do not receive the Sacrament may come forward for a blessing.  And finally, we follow the historic method in Lutheranism and in worldwide Christianity of serving wine at the table.  However, if you wish to receive grape juice instead of the sacramental wine, simply ask the communion assistant for juice.  The pastor and ushers will direct you in how to approach the altar.

CORE VALUES

We believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and the sanctity of the Word and Sacrament and the Triune God as reflected in the Augsburg Confession.We encourage Christian learning for both young people and adults.

With God’s guidance, we seek to serve God and share God’s love and salvation with others in the congregation, community, and the world. We seek to meet peoples’ spiritual and physical needs.

We financially and spiritually support our congregation, our synod, The Evangelical Lutheran church in America, and our missions.

We respect the history of our congregation and are steward’s of God’s House.  We share both with the community.

We strive to be a welcoming, hospitable, friendly congregation open to all, fostering a family atmosphere of acceptance, forgiveness, love and support.