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
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
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. […]
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
