Welcome to Emmanuel Presbyterian Church
We're a warm Bible-based family church in Pretoria East, South Africa. We have an emphasis on clear, practical teaching and we worship in a warm contemporary style that brings together the old and the new.
Our Mission Statement is:
We are committed:
to be a family of God's People
learning to follow Jesus every day
and making a difference in our neighbourhood.
KEY INFORMATION
Due to the long-term impact of the Corona Virus and the introduction of an online service, we have reduced our services and activities.
Online Services
17th August 2025
Hi there! 🤗 Welcome to our Service of Worship. Today we get to the 3rd of our “Building blocks of the Faith” – God’s choice of Abram as both Covenant and Call. Watch how God takes us from Israel to the Messiah to the Church. God bless and Love, Theo
10th August 2025
Dear Church Family, On Sunday 3 August we started an exciting new series: The Gospel: God’s Plan to Save the World What if the Gospel is more than just a set of beliefs? What if it’s a story — a true story — about a world created in love, broken by sin, […]
3rd August 2025
Hi there! Dear Church Family, You’re warmly invited to join in our new series, starting on Sunday 3 August: The Gospel: God’s Plan to Save the World What if the Gospel is more than just a set of beliefs? What if it’s a story — a true story — about a world […]
27th July 2025
Hi there! You are WARMLY invited to join us on Week 4 of our winter school as we finalise our unpacking of the book of Jonah. Today we look at a Prophet Pouting, God Patiently Teaching and Showing Mercy. Please feel free to join us in worship at https://youtu.be/jS4PowOxB3k GodBless and Love, […]
20th July 2025
Hi there! You are WARMLY invited to join us on Week 3 of our winter school as we unpack the amazing book of Jonah. Today we look at a Reluctant Prophet, a Weak Sermon, an Amazing Revival and a Sovereign God who goes ahead of us. Please feel free to join us […]
13th July 2025
Hi There! You’re warmly invited to part two of our Winter School Series as we unpack the book of Jonah. Our series is called “Swallowed by Grace” and today we look at ch.2 – “Pious Words – Unchanged Heart .” You can join us at https://youtu.be/BUbc0MK99_8 GodBless and Love, Theo
6th July 2025
Hi There You’re warmly invited to the start of our Winter School Series. This year we’ll be unpacking the book of Jonah. Our series is called “Swallowed by Grace” and today we look at ch.1 – “A Reluctant Prophet and a Gracious God.” The service also contains snippets of our General Assembly […]
28th June 2025
Hi there You are warmly invited to our Sunday Service. It’s from a live recording about the relevance of Resurrection and the lessons we can learn from John’s accounts. We pray it will be a great blessing to you! Go to https://youtu.be/NQbKqVfpoME GodBless and Love, Theo
22nd June 2025
Hi There You’re warmly invited to our worship service where we explore the de-escalating power of kindness through a story from the life of David. You can click here: https://youtu.be/eu8pTsNjOnc GodBless and Love, Theo
15th June 2025
Hi There You are warmly invited to join us for our Trinity Sunday and Father’s Day service. We’ll be looking at the longest sentence in the Bible and Paul’s beautiful description of our salvation accomplished by our Triune God. Please join us at https://youtu.be/1w3FKzs7-no GodBless and Love, Theo
8th June 2025
Hi There! It’s Pentecost Sunday and you are warmly invited to join us as we reflect on the image of the Holy Spirit as God’s breath in us. Please join us at https://youtu.be/PsP05g62SN4 GodBless and Love, Theo PS: Remember to pray for Cameron and Francois who are running the Comrades Marathon
1st June 2025
Hi You are warmly invited to join us for our Ascension Sunday Communion Service where we’ll be looking at Jesus – the “King of Glory” from Ps.24. You can connect to the service at https://youtu.be/z6K0nhk3TX8 GodBless and Love, Theo
29th May 2025
Hi there You are warmly invited to share in our Ascension Day Service. https://youtu.be/zOwi6BufmOI GodBless and Much Love, Theo
25th May 2025
Hi there! Today we get to the third and final installment of our series on the Resurrection in the Epistles and you are warmly invited to join us in our service of worship as we explore the Victory of the Resurrection. Click on the service link to join us. https://youtu.be/QUwEyg8QffA GodBless and […]
18th May 2025
Hi There! You’re warmly invited to our worship service. We’re continuing our theme on Resurrection in the Epistles and will be looking at Resurrection as the power for a new life. You can watch the service here: https://youtu.be/CRJygDfZpbY GodBless and Love, Theo
11th May 2025
Hi there! You are warmly invited to our worship service. We are starting a three part series about the Resurrection in the Epistles. Today we look at the centrality of the Resurrection in the Early Church. There is great comfort and power in knowing Christ is Risen. Sundays are all about the […]
3rd May 2025
Hi there… You are warmly invited to join us for our service of Worship and Communion where we examine two storms: One in Elijah and the other on the Sea of Galilee. We believe this service will be a blessing to you. Join us at: https://youtu.be/iKK2ddUVyWk GodBless and Love, Theo
26th April 2025
Hi there! You are warmly invited to our church service. Today we’ll be re-visiting a message from two years ago about Job and Suffering. It’s an important reflection on the journey of this often misunderstood character. We pray that the message will be a great blessing to you. Join us at https://youtu.be/6Ay290TmSiI […]
20th April 2025
Hi there. The Lord is Risen – He is risen indeed! HALLELUJAH! You are very warmly invited to our Resurrection Sunday Service. We will be concluding our Lent Series and reflecting on the raw and honest resurrection account Mark gives us and recognise the transforming power of the Resurrected Christ. You can […]
18th April 2025
Hi It’s Good Friday and you are warmly invited to our special Good Friday service. Join us at https://youtu.be/QTtTPfg9Q-o as we explore Mark’s take on the Crucifixion. GodBless and Love, Theo
You can find more sermons HERE.
Events: Upcoming and Past
25th June 2022
Hi there. 😁 Here’s a short greeting recorded on Thursday afternoon. (Click HERE….) With covid regulations lifted we want to warmly invite you to join us in church. ⛪ You may still wear a mask if you’d like, but it’s not compulsory. We will no longer be doing sign up sheets, you […]
20th May 2022
Dear Teens and Parents, We will be starting our Teen Confirmation process on Sunday the 29th of May 2022, and we would like to invite you to be part of this experience. Over the years we have developed a great confirmation process – it covers a review of the traditional creeds, core-doctrinal […]
15th April 2022
Hi there! Here’s a link to the Easter playlist. I’ve listed the songs below with a few comments… Click HERE for the songs. Do you have any songs you would suggest I add? Send me the YouTube links. Have a GOOD Friday and a blessed weekend. God bless and Love, Theo PROLOGUE: […]
10th April 2022
Hi Everyone. Here’s a synchronised Palm Sunday reading…. and a parallel Palm Sunday Reading… GodBless and Much Love, Theo
8th April 2022
Good Evening Everyone 🤗 Here’s a ten minute check-in talking about our Easter Programme and I also talk briefly about the Health Amendment Bill. Please take a moment to watch. Blessings and Love, Theo https://youtu.be/3xuGjyPBx9g
11th March 2022
Hi Everyone🤗. It’s Friday 🎶🎊🎉! Here’s a quick seven minute check-in where I talk a bit about the current craziness and prayers for the Ukraine. https://youtu.be/Tawvtx5yQag Please take a moment to watch, I think it will be encouraging and helpful. God bless and Much Love, Theo
2nd March 2022
Hi Everyone. Here’s a short (6 minute) Ash Wednesday Devotion. https://youtu.be/gqaJxAU8RwU Blessings and Love, Theo
2nd March 2022
Hi Everyone Here’s my Lent Letter for 2022. Why not take a moment to read through it thoughtfully tonight? Just click HERE. God bless, Theo
1st March 2022
Good Morning Everyone. Today is Shrove Tuesday and I have put together a chapter-a-day Bible reading challenge for Lent and will be doing email devotions on Tues-Friday each week. You can click on the link below to see the devotion and get the list of chapters. There’s also a link to subscribe […]
10th February 2022
Good Evening Everyone, Thursday was State of the Nation, but it had me thinking of our State of Heart/Soul. Here’s a quick check-in talking about that, but also highlighting some of the great books we have in our library… https://youtu.be/pkhl15CNLK4 Blessings and Love, Theo
21st January 2022
Hi there! I’m a bit out of practice with doing check-ins and I had to contend with wind and aeroplanes, but here’s our first check-in for 2022. It’s a bit of a catch up and a reflection on consecration. You can watch it at https://youtu.be/vRwAFHPisEc . God bless and Love, Theo
31st December 2021
Hi Everyone. I got hold of Jackie and we recorded a chat in which we reflected on the year gone by and the year ahead. We share the verses and thoughts that have sustained us and that will guide us. We hope it will be meaningful to you… We used Zoom to […]
24th December 2021
Christmas Weekend Programme: FRI 24 Carol Service at the Church. Fri 24 Dec 19h00-20h15. Bring: Camping chair💺, picnic blanket, or use church chairs; Tea/Coffee & Mince Pies ☕ ; A praise-filled heart… ❤️🩹🙌. Being outside increases safety, and all C19 protocols will be observed. Please sign-up online as this reduces queues… https://forms.gle/ux14y7r8RqNeLZ2a9 […]
18th December 2021
Hi Everyone. You are warmly invited to our open-air video presentation of Andrew Peterson’s concert: “Behold the Lamb of God”. DETAILS: – Sun 19th Dec – 19h15 for 19h30 – Duration 1 hour BRING: – Warm Jacket – Flask of Coffee – Camping chair You can see a teaser for the concert […]
18th December 2021
Hi Everyone. Here’s a quick check-in with a details of our Christmas programme and especially a very special open-air concert we’ll be showing this Sunday night… Please watch the check-in – it’s only 8 minutes – and please plan to come on Sunday night… I think it’s going to be very special!!! […]
5th December 2021
We got people to count their blessings. Here’s the beautiful result: https://youtu.be/s6UPX_fnZhs God bless, Theo
You can find more events HERE.
Our Vision
We have a dream for our Congregation!
The name Emmanuel means God is with us. This is not just a philosophical concept. The One who carried this name actually walked amongst human beings bringing hope and love and healing with hands, feet and a body of flesh and blood. He truly was (and still is!) God with us.
There is a story of a woman who was very ill, but too afraid to approach Jesus directly. She reached out to touch the hem of His robe as He passed by, because she was convinced that this was enough to bring her into contact with His loving healing goodness. She was right. And she found more healing and love than she could have hoped for.
When Jesus ascended into heaven, He promised that He would live in those who followed Him. But how can people get to see Him and come to know Him? It is up to us who know Him to be examples of His love and to help people get to know Him.
We have a dream of a community - a welcoming family that will help people to come into contact with our God who loves us, is with us, and in us. We dream to be the hem of Jesus’ robe to the world.
Our Doctrinal Position
(This is our own summary of Scriptural Doctrine with regard to the Church)
We believe in the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- that Jesus was (and is) fully human and fully God
- that a personal life-changing relationship with God through Christ is the only way to salvation
- that the Holy Spirit equips us for the work God has prepared for us to do.
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are:
- inspired by God
- reliable in revealing God’s plan and purpose to us
- the key to growth in our relationship with God
We believe that the Church is called to:
- proclaim Christ as Lord and Saviour
- to reach out to the world in a balanced (physical, spiritual, mental, and social) way in God’s love
- to teach the Word of God in a practical and meaningful way
We believe that worship
- must be sincere and truthful
- can take any form, whether “Contemporary” or “Traditional” or other
- must reveal the love and majesty of God
- must be orderly
We believe that:
- bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit is more important than the gifts of the Spirit and that the gifts must be exercised in an orderly manner.
- the Holy Spirit moves in love and unity
- guidance from the Holy Spirit is confirmed by Scripture, Christian counsel, and practical common sense.
We believe that:
- the Church needs to continue Christ’s ministry of reconciliation in all walks of life
- this imperfect world will come to an end when Jesus comes
- God calls all the members of His Church to participate in His work.
- The divisions of culture, gender, and class have been overcome by Christ
- the Church should be ready for Christ’s return
