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OUR MISSION

Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church is a welcoming Christian community that cultivates Disciples:

To study and live out the Word of God
To celebrate the Gospel through worship with a variety of musical expressions
To love and serve our neighbors, both locally and worldwide
To learn at all stages of life what it means to be a follower of Christ
To connect faith experiences across generations and stages of life
To discern and utilize the spiritual gifts of each member
To seek others to grow with us as a community

WHAT WE BELIEVE (printable version)

Lutherans are a part of the “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church”. As such, we accept the classic teachings of Christianity about a loving God known to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Human beings are God’s good creation, but our captivity to sin requires a gracious intervention by God.

In Jesus of Nazareth, the very Word of God takes on our flesh to enter our world, end our bondage, and make a place for us in God’s eternal kingdom. The traditional titles for Jesus—Son of Man, Son of God, Lamb of God, Christ, and Lord express our confidence that in Him, God has acted in a way that is absolutely unique and fully sufficient for our salvation.

The Scriptures are the inspired written record of God’s dealing with humanity. They contain God’s Law which leads us to confess our need for forgiveness. The Bible also points us to Christ, in whom we receive the promise of full pardon for all transgressions. Lutherans call this promise “the Gospel”.

Jesus Christ, crucified and resurrected is our living Lord—the focus of our faith and life. Because of Him, we are “justified by Grace through Faith.”

For more in-depth information, go to the ELCA web site, www.elca.org.

OUR CALLING (printable version)

...to be “Little Christs” to Our Neighbors

Lutherans base their ethics, attitude, and actions on their neighbors’ needs. As Jesus gave himself freely for us, so we now give ourselves freely for the sake of others.

Some of the signs of our desire to serve are:

Hospitality and welcome to visitors

Frequent special offerings to agencies that help others, both secular and church-related

Service at the local MACC Shelter

Partnership through our church body, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America to get aid to victims of disaster, hunger or other dire needs

Participation in state councils of churches to address wider social ills in our society

Compassion for those in grief or sorrow

Advocacy for justice wherever it is needed

Praying for our enemies

Increasing our own understanding of social issues

Generous offerings to support the overall mission and ministry of the Church

OUR PARTNERSHIP (printable version)

The Evangelical Lutheran Church is large and strong, but we cannot be true to Christ unless we foster relationships between all Christians.

Our founding Lutheran document, the Augsburg Confession of 150 says “…we shall not omit doing anything…that may serve the cause of Christian unity.”

We are connected to other Lutherans though the Lutheran World Federation which has a membership of 66 million from 140 church bodies in 78 countries.

Through the World Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches, state councils of churches and other similar bodies, the ELCA promotes Christian unity in faith and work.

Following a long series of dialogues, we have developed stronger relationships with many Christian bodies, signing formal agreements of various kinds with:

Presbyterians
Reformed Church in America
United Church of Christ
Episcopalians
Roman Catholics
Moravians
Methodists

Emanuel is part of the Greater Hartford Conference of the New England Synod.

www.nesynod.org

HOW WE WORSHIP (printable version)

Lutheran worship is a modern version of the ancient liturgical tradition of the Church. It is Christ-centered, and proclaims God’s love and grace in both Word and Sacrament.

Lutherans love music, and sing or chant many parts of the service.

Our Sunday worship normally includes:

Confession of sin and assurance of forgiveness

Hymns, both old and new

Substantial readings from the Bible

Prayers for ourselves and our neighbors

A sermon helping the people see the connection between the Bible and their lives

A celebration of the Lord’s Supper (also known as Communion, Eucharist, and the Sacrament of the Altar)

We teach that Christ is truly present for us “in, with and under the elements of Bread and wine”: which we offer to all the baptized at the Lord’s Supper.

We baptize infants as a sign of the unmerited grace of God which is offered to all humanity.