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 April 2025
Hi there You are warmly invited to join our Tenebrae Service (which is also a communion service). The service is a beautiful journey – it is sad, but profoundly hopeful. Join us as we follow Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. https://youtu.be/m8RdTa769kE GodBless and Love, Theo
13th April 2025
Hi there! In Mark’s Gospel there is a fascinating link between Palm Sunday and the preparation for Passover on Holy Week Thursday. You can learn all about it and the comforting implications in our worship service. You’re warmly invited! Click https://youtu.be/3kUklfVNeE4 GodBless and Love, Theo
6th April 2025
Hi There Our Lent series on Holy Week continues and you are warmly invited to our Communion Service where we’ll be looking at the end of Tuesday, Wednesday and the start of Thursday in Jesus’ Holy Week. There are three distinct moments that are important to consider. Please join us at https://youtu.be/Yc9yHoHwyJ4 […]
30th March 2025
Hi there! You are very very warmly invited to join us in our worship service. We’re looking at Mark 13 which is where Jesus talks about the “End Times.” This is an important passage and I believe you’ll find this message relevant and practical. I think it will answer many questions and […]
22nd March 2025
Hi there You are warmly invited to our worship service, where we will continue our Lent exploration of Holy Week and see how Jesus, after overcoming all the traps of His enemies, floors everyone with the greatest commands and the truth about who He is, You can join us at: https://youtu.be/YqyVmZQaCTc GodBless […]
16th March 2025
Hi There You’re warmly invited to our worship service. We continue to follow Jesus into Holy Week. This week we see His Tuesday continue as two more groups try to catch Him out and trip Him up. Join us as we see His wisdom, but also grapple with the issues raised. Join […]
8th March 2025
Hi there! You are warmly invited to our online service where we at the third installment of our Lent Series: “And the Angels were Silent.” We’re considering the Fig Tree, the pitfall questions of the Pharisees and the parable of the Vineyard. We’ll discover our amazing God, the beautiful gospel and the […]
5th March 2025
Good Afternoon You are warmly invited to join us at our Ash Wednesday Service. It continues our theme for Lent – “And the Angels were Silent” and looks at Jesus cleansing the temple. It’s an exciting message – please join us for this special service. https://youtu.be/IfsGtPujGmg GodBless and Love, Theo
2nd March 2025
Hi There You are warmly invited to join our online worship and communion service. We’re launching into Lent with a series entitled “And the Angels were Silent.” I believe it is going to be significant. Join us at https://youtu.be/vkBwAWQ8E6s GodBless and Love, Theo
23rd February 2025
Hi there, You’re warmly invited to our church service and the end of our series on Paul’s second letter to Timothy. Today we look at some of the names at the end of his letter – they are the “closing credits” in Paul’s life and ministry. Will we be in the closing […]
16th February 2025
Hi there! You’re very warmly invited to join our online worship service as we get to the penultimate section in our series on 2 Timothy. Today we consider the passing of the baton of faith from Paul to Timothy. You can click on https://youtu.be/u2mol1SHs18 to be part of this service with us. […]
9th February 2025
Hi there! Our Service today examines Paul’s advice to help Timothy navigate a broken world. Join us as we talk about “On the Shoulders of Others…” https://youtu.be/DVInio-KwAY GodBless and Love, Theo
2nd February 2025
Hi there! You are warmly invited to our Communion Sunday Service. We’re looking at Paul’s description of a broken world and also at how we find our strength and hope in a broken world. Join us at https://youtu.be/6jK1UuqtZwM GodBless and Love, Theo
26th January 2025
Hi there! You are warmly invited to our service of worship where we will continue to explore Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy. Today we look at how we are Proclaimers of Truth in Deceptive Times and the pitfalls to avoid and the things we need to get right… You can join us […]
19th January 2025
Hi there You’re warmly invited to our Worship Service. We’re looking at the third part of our series on Paul’s second letter to Timothy and today we see the important task being handed on to Timothy and how he needs to be a soldier, athlete and farmer. Please join us at https://youtu.be/uAcbEE5U-Bg […]
12th January 2025
Hi there You’re warmly invited to our first Communion Service of 2025! We’re on part two of our series on Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy. Join us as we explore the Gospel and the reality that we can be called to suffer for the gospel. https://youtu.be/jzjZaAWowxs GodBless and Love, Theo
5th January 2025
Hi there You’re warmly invited to our first Sunday Service of 2025! We’re starting a series on Paul’s second letter to Timothy. Join us as we explore the Solid Start Timothy has in the Marathon of Faith. https://youtu.be/4GtnwfLkc0c GodBless and Love, Theo
1st January 2025
Hi there. Here’s a recording of our New Year’s Day Evening Devotion. https://youtu.be/KhhWclFUYC4 The PDF worksheet is available below… GodBless and Love, Theo
31st December 2024
Hi There Here’s a Devotional Service for transitioning into the New Year. You’re warmly invited to join us as we reflect on the year gone by and look towards the year ahead. You can watch the service here: https://youtu.be/2wqM8XIKWqw Blessings and Love, Theo
29th December 2024
Hi there! Welcome to Emmanuel Presbyterian Church’s You Tube Channel. You are warmly invited to join us for the last Sunday Service of the year as we work our way to the end of our series on Luke’s Advent. Today we look at Simeon and Anna and the important idea of PURPOSE. […]
You can find more sermons HERE.
Events: Upcoming and Past
3rd December 2021
Hi Everyone Here’s a quick check-in with details about our Thanksgiving Service on Sunday where we will also be remembering loved ones we’ve lost in the last two years. You’ll get the details in the check-in, but basically I need two things: 1. One or two things you are grateful for. 2. […]
25th November 2021
Hi Everyone I have a brief message on USA Thanksgiving and us. It’s only a few minutes long and also has a beautiful song which I think could even become an anthem for you in the next few days and weeks. Please join in watching for an important reminder and maybe even […]
12th November 2021
Good Morning Everyone. Hope you’re well and looking forward to the weekend. Here’s a quick check-in…. https://youtu.be/rtJBQEgifDE God bless and much love, Theo
28th October 2021
Hey Everyone. Here’s our weekly check-in along with a beautiful song. Please watch – it’s only 10 minutes and will bring you some important updates and encouragement. Click : https://youtu.be/3t4ugMSgRpg GodBless and Love, Theo
21st October 2021
Hi Everyone. Here’s this week’s check-in… This week I’m asking a very important question… Click the link to see the video. https://youtu.be/XT8OO1_YsrU With lots of love… GodBless, Theo
14th October 2021
Hi Everyone. Here’s the weekly check-in. As promised last week, I’m talking about stress, and I believe and pray that it will helpful to you. It’s just over 15 minutes which is longer than usual, but I think there are some useful insights and tools. Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/R3Ao-kg9cLQ With lots of […]
8th October 2021
Hi There It’s been a really long time since I’ve done a weekly check-in. This one is a bit longer than usual, but I’ve been thinking long and hard about where we are at the moment and I think there are some important points to ponder. Please do set aside a bit […]
17th September 2021
Dear Church Family Now that we are at level 2 we’d like to get our teens together and so we’re having a burger evening at the church tonight. Our teens are warmly invited. If you’re not a teen or parent of a teen, please take a moment to pray for our get-together. […]
25th August 2021
Dear Church Family On Sunday Morning I advertised the Focus on the Family Mental Wellness Workshop being offered on-line on Thursday 26 Aug at 19h00 I want to highly recommend it. Here’s the blurb from their website: ——————————– From years of counselling children and parents Dr Steve will share practical advice that […]
11th July 2021
Mwinza and the Valley of the Clay Pots is a delightful African folktale, which was passed down from one generation to the next, orally. It is about Mwinza’s quest for meaning in life. It illustrates Christian values in such a way that it is simple children to grasp. This story will leave […]
28th June 2021
Dear Church Family Here’s a short check-in addressing a practical issue and a critical one. https://youtu.be/AK2_7C_G_YQ God bless and Love, Theo
24th June 2021
Dear Church Family Here’s a short check-in with needed encouragement in these crazy times. https://youtu.be/XtG8ewkTWJE God bless and Love, Theo
17th June 2021
Hi Everyone. Here’s our Thursday check-in where I talk about where we are right now and share a really beautiful song and story with you… https://youtu.be/duH00ftMyg0 – I hope you’ll enjoy it… Right at the end of the check-in, a video link will appear on the bottom left. Click it to watch […]
3rd June 2021
Hi Everyone Here’s a little mint plant to cheer you on…. https://youtu.be/xKT05daP_Jo God bless and Much Love, Theo
28th May 2021
Hi Everyone Here’s a quick mid-week check-in from my kitchen…. https://youtu.be/C5AZ27tW5oU God bless and Much Love, Theo
19th May 2021
Hi Everyone Here’s a quick mid-week check-in from my bicycle. Click https://youtu.be/jZcw6ZB-njY God bless and Much Love, 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
