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
20th October 2024
Hi there. Welcome to Emmanuel Presby’s You Tube Channel. You are warmly invited to join us for our service of worship. The theme for our service today is “GRATITUDE” and we’ll be looking at the transformed life of Zacchaeus. We’ll also be worshipping God with a special Day of Giving Offering which […]
12th October 2024
Hi there. Welcome to Emmanuel Presby’s You Tube Channel. You are warmly invited to join us for our service of worship. October is the UPCSA “Month of Mission” and this year our theme is “Stronger Together.” Today is the second Sunday of our Theme and we’re looking at Unity in the Church […]
6th October 2024
Hi there. Welcome to Emmanuel Presby’s You Tube Channel. You are warmly invited to join us for our service of worship. October is the UPCSA “Month of Mission” and this year our theme is “Stronger Together.” Today we reflect on the fact that we can only find unity in our connection with […]
29th September 2024
Hi there After recording the Online Service on Saturday, I just felt that there was more to be said at the conclusion of the CrossFit series and so I preached a different message in the face to face service on Sunday Morning and we recorded the message. Click the link you want […]
21st September 2024
Hi there! You are warmly invited to join us for our service of worship. We’re considering the importance of having comrades in the work of Christ. We are not meant to do His work alone! https://youtu.be/xbUELbCxAtY GodBless and Love, Theo
15th September 2024
Hi there! You are warmly invited to join us for our church service where we explore Perseverance as one of the aspects of being “Cross-Fit”. How do we keep going when faith is hard? Join us at https://youtu.be/XRRxioAYgFo to learn more. God bless and Love, Theo
8th September 2024
Hi there. We’ve finished the Holy Habits, but we have a few more Cross-Fit themes to pick up. It is possible to be tripped-up, disqualified or cut-in-on in our Faith Marathon. Let’s see how Paul ran his Marathon Relay and what we can learn from that. https://youtu.be/QhdcE2WVmZw You’re warmly invited to join […]
1st September 2024
Hi There! You’re warmly invited to join us in a very special service of worship. Not only is it a Communion Service and the final Holy Habit of Witnessing but we’re also having a Mission Focus on the work Craig is doing with “Shoes for Souls.” Join us at https://youtu.be/HAQfYsgQwtk for this […]
24th August 2024
Hi there! You’re warmly invited to our service of worship where we explore the fourth Holy Habit: Being Spirit-Led. We’ll be looking at the lessons we can learn from Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10. Hope you will join us at: https://youtu.be/Sg8v4yMi-VI GodBless and Love, Theo
17th August 2024
Hi there! We warmly invite you to join us for our Online Service as we explore Holy Habit 3 in our Cross Fit series. This is the Holy Habit of Community or Fellowship. Join us as we see how God uses Fellowship in our lives. We pray the service and the message […]
10th August 2024
Hi. You’re warmly invited to our Worship Service. We’ll be looking at the Holy Habit of Prayer. This habit is deepest and most profound part of being a disciple. I pray it will be a great blessing to you. https://youtu.be/vFWCtvRB7aw GodBless and Love, Theo
4th August 2024
Hi there 🤗 You’re warmly invited to join our online communion service. We’re continuing our “CrossFit” series and for August we’ll be looking at “Holy Habits”. The first Holy Habit is Regular Scripture reading and today’s message will offer compelling reasons to read the Bible regularly and also some practical tips to […]
27th July 2024
Hi there! You are warmly invited to our service of worship – It is a “re-run” from a few years ago, but fits in with our CrossFit Series. https://youtu.be/JyD1jkJzH5I Blessings and Love, Theo
21st July 2024
Hi There! The Joy of our Salvation is the Fuel of our Faith. You are warmly invited to join us for our service today. https://youtu.be/G-cJik7lsFs GodBless and Love, Theo
14th July 2024
Hi there! You’re warmly invited to our service of worship. In the sermon we’ll be continuing the theme of being “Cross-Fit”. This week we look into the “high call” that Jesus makes to us and explore why this is so. Join us at https://youtu.be/PVjvHzvOObM GodBless and Love, Theo
7th July 2024
Dear Theo. Hi! You are warmly invited to join us in our service of worship as we begin our Winter School Series: “Are you Cross-Fit?” Today, in the children’s address and sermon, I explore our motivation for “Running the Race of Faith”. It is also our communion service. Please join us in sharing […]
30th June 2024
Hi there! You are warmly invited to join us as we conclude our series on Tracking Jesus. We’re going to dig into the story of the Rich Young Ruler with stunning images by Michael Belk. Join us at https://youtu.be/wq3_PSrnr7A GodBless and Love, Theo
23rd June 2024
Hi There! You are warmly invited to our worship service! We have the lovely story of Bumper the kitten in the children’s address and the amazing stories of Matthew and Zacchaeus in the Sermon as well as hymns of praise to our God and prayers we can bring to God. You can […]
16th June 2024
Hi There. 🤗 Hi there! You’re warmly invited to attend our online worship service where we consider the story of Paul and Onesimus (and Philemon) in our series on “Tracking Jesus”. You can find the service here: https://youtu.be/kN2PRVlhL8U GodBless and Love, Theo
8th June 2024
Hi there! Hope you’re well! Here is part 2 of our Series: “Tracking Jesus”. In this message, “Nets and Fishing”, we look at Jesus’ call to the fisherman disciples. You are warmly invited to join us for a special service: https://youtu.be/9X0idbWVrBo GodBless and Love, Theo
You can find more sermons HERE.
Events: Upcoming and Past
2nd March 2021
The Presbyterian Link is our Denomination’s Newsletter… HERE’s the latest copy.
24th February 2021
This 7 day family devotional from Scripture Union is full of ideas and activities to make Easter more meaningful for you and your family. There is more material than you will get through in 7 days, so start looking at it well before Easter! It’s the 2020 version, but applicable to any […]
17th February 2021
Hi Everyone! The next chapter-a-day challenge is a selection of chapters for every day of Lent right up to Easter Sunday. I hope it’s a great blessing to you! God bless, Theo You can download a PDF Wed 17 Feb 1. God Creates: Genesis 1 Thu 18 Feb 2. We Rebel: Genesis […]
16th February 2021
Hi There! Ash Wednesday is a special moment in the church calendar. In these strange times, I wanted to do all I can to offer something of that specialness to you. So here are six opportunities for Ash Wednesday: A Devotion for Ash Wednesday. You can find it at emmdev.blogspot.com “Open House” […]
16th February 2021
Hi Everyone! The weather looks ok (a bit windy, but no rain), so we’ll have our Shrove Tuesday picnic on the Church lawns at 18h00 tonight… Bring your own picnic supper (doesn’t have to be pancakes) and camping chairs or a picnic blanket and join us for an evening of responsibly socially […]
15th February 2021
Hi Everyone It’s hard to believe it’s Lent already! As many of you know, it has been a challenging few months for us as a family and, in addition, Lent last year was eclipsed by onset of the Coronavirus and the hard-lockdown implemented in the fourth week of Lent. So I’m coming […]
12th February 2021
Hi Everyone. This week’s check-in takes a look at Ps4 from a fun perspective and gives some detail about the up-coming Lent-Programme. I’m very sure it will bring a smile to your face…. Check it out at: https://youtu.be/2IWE9bT_Idw GodBless and Much Love, Theo
10th February 2021
Hi Everyone. I’m so excited that we now have a KidsCorner on our website where you can find details of our children’s ministries and links to cool content and resources. Check it out at HERE. GodBless and Much Love, Brenda
8th February 2021
Hi Everyone. In my check-in last week I indicated that I’ve sensed the need for an on-line Bible Study where people could ask questions and I could respond to those from a Biblical point of view. The first session will be tonight at 20h00, but I am not sure Monday nights will […]
3rd February 2021
Hi Everyone. Here’s a link to this week’s check-in. It includes an excerpt of an interview with one of my favourite people, Prof Malan Nel. It’s a little longer than usual, but it has been a while since I checked in with you, so I hope it will be worthwhile just “catching […]
8th January 2021
Hi Everyone. Here’s a link to this week’s check-in. I think it is one the most important messages I have sent out. Please take a moment to watch and reflect. It really comes from my “pastor’s heart” and I believe it raises important challenges that will set the tone for the year […]
31st December 2020
Hi Everyone Here’s a New Year’s Devotion in the form of an interview between Jackie and myself. https://youtu.be/jUJTwqg8kAA Hope it’s a blessing to you! God bless and Love, Theo
24th December 2020
Dear Church Family We’ve come to the difficult decision to cancel our face-to-face services this weekend. Please have a look at the important “check-in” I’ve put together for you… https://youtu.be/hZmw_F-yUrA God bless and Much Love, Theo
20th December 2020
Hi Everyone In our morning service we’ll be looking at the powerful messages contained in John 1 and one of our favourite Christmas Carols. I really hope you’ll join in for worship, reflection, contemplation and then action. You can join us at our 8h30 physical service (register online at ) or online […]
18th December 2020
Dear Church Family I’ve recorded a check-in about the Advent, Christmas Carols and something on John’s Joy. Please have a look at it at https://youtu.be/cv1ebLBeT1o Hope to see you on-line or in-person on the weekend! God bless and Love, Theo
13th December 2020
Hi Everyone Christmas is going to be tough on many this year. The actual circumstances of Jesus’ birth bring a lot of comfort to us… Join us at our 8h30 physical service (register online at ) or participate in our online service at https://youtu.be/iMZdZGtrqY0 Hope you have a blessed and renewing Sunday! […]
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
