LuAnn Langford, Congregation Council Liaison
The mission of the Witness Ministry is to empower each other to live and share our faith through fellowship opportunities.
From gathering people for coffee and conversation after Sunday worship to making sure we keep in contact with members who are not able to attend church, through the many activities listed below, this ministry helps us be community together.
Weekly Fellowship Opportunity
Coffee Hour: Every week after worship we gather together in the Fellowship Hall to enjoy coffee and a few treats and connect with each other. This is a joyful time of connection and relationship. We do this year-round, which means we are always welcoming of new people to help provide this vital service to our community! It’s pretty easy—if you’re willing to help, we’ll match you with an Emmaus kitchen veteran and they’ll show you the ropes!
Monthly Fellowship Opportunities:
Zircle (Zoom Circle) is held on the second Tuesday of the Month at 1:00 pm on Zoom and is an opportunity for Emmaus members and alumni to connect. Contact Melinda for the link or see News & Notes.
2345: This is an opportunity for folks in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s to get together, typically once a month on a Saturday evening, for community and connection. Kids are welcome! Ask Melinda in the office for more info.
6789: This is an opportunity for folks in their 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s to get together for a Friday potluck luncheon once a month. They often hear from a speaker during lunch, and have had guests share on a wide range of topics of interest.
Yearly Fellowship Activities:
January: Birthday Bash
Every January, we celebrate everyone’s birthday on one Sunday after church, from our esteemed eldest to the tiniest ones among us. We always have cake and we always have a good time.
February: Valentine’s Day Dinner
On or around February 14, we gather at a local restaurant (typically DickieJo’s Burgers) as we share fun, food, and friendship together. Come alone or with a date.
March: Lenten Soup Dinners
During the season of Lent, we gather to enjoy potluck soups and conversation before a brief worship service. Got a favorite soup recipe? Come share it with us!
St. Patrick’s Day Bunco Night
This is a much-beloved multigenerational event. We enjoy green food potluck-style and fun prizes while playing a crazy dice game!
April: Easter Brunch
The only thing better than Easter worship is Easter worship plus brunch! We enjoy a lovely potluck meal prepared by our members to mark this special Sunday.
May: New Member Welcome
We welcome new members twice a year (typically on Reformation Sunday in October and in May). Each time we do, we like to celebrate them! We like to spend time together to celebrate the joyful growth of our community.
June: Quilts for High School Graduates
Near graduation, we honor our graduates as we gift them quilts lovingly stitched by the Emmaus Quilting Group.
August: Church Picnic
When the weather is hot, we like to have a multigenerational meal with fellowship, games, and ice cream for all! This is a great time to celebrate summer and connect with our church family.
September: God’s Work, Our Hands
As a part of our annual kickoff to the program year, we engage in a day of service, God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday, which inaugurates our year-round practice of service to our neighbors. We make hearty snacks to fuel our volunteers before we begin special projects in and around the Emmaus community.
October: Trunk or Treat
Each year around Halloween, we have a great time with our fun-for-all-ages event, Trunk or Treat. We fill our parking lots with “spooky” open-trunks and kids make their way around and stock up on candy. We often have a big pot of chili for when it gets chilly.
Advent: Advent Soup Dinners
Gather with us to enjoy various warm soups and conversation prior to a brief service
December: Christmas Caroling
In Christmas cheer, we walk around the neighborhood and sing carols to unsuspecting neighbors; that, or we’ll head to a nursing home to spread some holiday warmth and joy.
Care & Concerns
The Mission of the Care & Concerns Committee is to provide care and accompaniment for our homebound and older members and others who need temporary assistance. The services provided include communion for the homebound, a card ministry, prayer shawls, a prayer chain, transportation, visits, and phone calls.
The Knitting-Crocheting Group
Knitting-Crocheting meets, either in the fellowship hall or the library (check news and notes for the location as it can change) on the first Thursday of the month from 10:30 AM to noon. It’s fun and fascinating to see what everyone is working on. All levels, from beginner to experienced, are very welcome. Sharing our interest in this handwork is fun and there’s help, if a person gets stuck. The conversation is encouraging and lively. Come and share and learn and have some fun. There’s room for everyone 🤗.
Prayer Shawl Pattern Links: