About Immanuel
At Immanuel, we serve as a church with a progressive theology and a traditional worship service.
All aspects of congregational participation are printed each week in our bulletin. Even if you haven't been to church in ages (or never before), it's an easy service to follow.
The service begins at 10:30. We have a few folks who always come in late, so if you're running behind, we'll feel like you're family. We're not big, but that doesn’t limit the meaning and mission we share. If you visit, some folks will want to shake your hand and have a short chat. We won't make you stand up or make you feel weird!
The first Sunday of the month is Communion Sunday. Because communion is a sacrament that embodies God's grace to all of God's children, all people are welcome to participate. Children are encouraged to receive communion as well because they are integral as part of the body of Christ. Kids intuitively understand what love is and being able to share Holy Communion helps them see what God’s love looks like.
On the second and fourth Sundays of each month, we pass the peace of Christ with everyone. This interactive element in our worship is a time when we circulate in the middle aisle and greet each other while a song plays softly in the background. If you are not comfortable with doing that just stand and folks will drop by to meet you.
In 2001 Immanuel intentionally went through a discernment process concerning the congregation's views on homosexuality and the church. As a result of this experience, IUCC voted to become an open and affirming congregation. The open and affirming designation means that we fully support gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people as equal brothers and sisters in Christ without hesitation or restriction. We seek to embody this commitment in a variety of ways including overt inclusion in our worship and in all aspects of the life of our church.
IUCC is a place where heart and mind can be engaged in worship. It's not a place that subtly mandates a specific creed or political affiliation. Nor are we uncritical of all things Christian. We're a place where your views and opinions are deeply respected and taken seriously.
The reception of members into this fellowship coheres with the basic requirements of the United Church of Christ. If you are already baptized, you may join the congregation through confirmation, profession of faith, or letter of transfer. If you seek baptism or have questions about baptism, please contact the pastor. She will be glad to schedule a service for the sacrament of baptism or to help you if you are considering being baptized.
If you wish to join our congregation, please contact the pastor.
We have some folks who attend Immanuel for years before they join. Then we have others who decide to attend IUCC only for a few months before they join. Still others stay for years and years without ever becoming a member.
We have two forms of membership. 1.) Full membership in which your church membership is exclusively here. 2.) Associate membership in which you maintain ties with another church while also becoming a member here. Most often this is used by students, seniors who moved to the area but want to keep their ties to their hometown, or other clergy who serve elsewhere.
Members have two privileges that non-members do. 1.) You can vote in official church meetings. (As a non-member you can attend and participate in all meetings. You just can’t vote.) 2.) You may serve on consistory, the governing body of the church. (See committees.)