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
13th February 2024
Hi there! Here is a short 11 minute Shrove Tuesday Sermon including a lovely song about Christ’s Preparation for the Cross. Please join us for this special devotion. https://youtu.be/aN7GEfe2U1A God bless and Love, Theo
11th February 2024
Hi there Join us for part 2 of our Exodus to Easter Series – Today we look into the role that the Law plays in our faith journey. https://youtu.be/C-Nl6pOzZe4 GodBless and Love, Theo
4th February 2024
Hi there You are warmly invited to our COMMUNION service! We are beginning a series, “From Exodus to Easter”, which will take us all the way to Easter. Today we look at the significance of the Passover. Join us at https://youtu.be/AmvV_mEDtx8 God bless and Love, Theo
28th January 2024
Hi There! You’re warmly invited to be part of our worship service where we will explore part 4 of our Series “Streams in the Desert” as we come to the last of our four words – TRUST. https://youtu.be/GRzTYdtttqM GodBless and Love, Theo
21st January 2024
Hi there. You are warmly invited to part three of our “Streams in the Desert” series. Today we explore the importance of Community. Please join us at    • 20240121 Streams In The Desert:  3 Co…  for our service of worship. GodBless and Love, Theo
14th January 2024
Hi there. You are warmly invited to our communion service and part 2 of our series: “Streams in the Desert” and we are talking about Creativity… Please join us at    • 20240114 Streams In The Desert: 2 Cre…  God bless and Love, Theo
7th January 2024
Hi there! You are warmly invited to our first service for the new year. This is Part 1 of our series: “Streams in the Desert” and we are talking about Courage. Please join us at    • 20240107 Streams In The Desert #1: Co…  God bless and Love, Theo
31st December 2023
Hi there! Here is our year end/beginning reflection. I hope it is helpful! https://youtu.be/DJpHD6D-0N4?si=-etGXNsRcKZpFMx5 Brenda, Caleb and I wish you a very happy new year on behalf of your Emmanuel Church Family. GodBless and Love, Theo PS: The two songs in the video are: Casting Crowns: God of all my Days    • Casting Crowns – God of All My Days (…  […]
10th December 2023
Hi there You’re warmly invited to be part of our worship service where we will explore part 2 of our Series “Unveiling Christmas” as we “Unwrap the Secrets” and decode the symbols we use at Christmas time. I think you will find it meaningful and special. https://youtu.be/38KmMEMRotk GodBless, Theo
2nd December 2023
Hi there. 🤗 You are warmly invited to our communion service. It is Advent and we are kicking off a series entitled: “Christmas Unveiled: Beyond the Manger, Symbols and Songs”. The first message in the series explores the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles and suggests links and connections. Join us for a special […]
26th November 2023
Hi There! We’re back from our camping trip! We had a lovely time and thank you for the good wishes and love expressed by so many of you. Today’s service is the conclusion of our “Escapades and Exploits (“Gedoentes”) of the Holy Spirit in Acts” series. Today we look at Philip. You […]
18th November 2023
Hi there! While Theo and Brenda are camping in the Karoo, this message is a repeat of the Pentecost Sunday of 2022. It is a message worth hearing again. https://youtu.be/1NF1UCTPY8g God bless, Theo
11th November 2023
Hi there. You’re warmly invited to participate in our online service. This is the second in our series on the Exploits/Escapades of the Holy Spirit. It is a re-broadcast of a message Theo preached in 2021 which fits in very well here. Listen to this message here: https://youtu.be/IhIWI-VTMW8 The other messages in […]
5th November 2023
Hi there 🤗 You’re warmly invited to our Communion Service and the start of our new series on the Exploits and Escapades of the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts. Today we look at Extraordinary Events in Ephesus. Join us at: https://youtu.be/bYXrN9X7UjY GodBless and Love, Theo
29th October 2023
Hi there 🤗 We’re continuing our Month of Mission Series on the “Five Keys of Discipleship.” The Fifth Key is about obeying the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We’ve called it: “Keeping in Step…” https://youtu.be/sqiyis2IrA4 Join us as we walk in step and even DANCE! God bless and Love, Theo
21st October 2023
Hi there! 🤗 We’re continuing our Month of Mission Series on the “Five Keys of Discipleship.” The Fourth Key is about Evangelism – Sharing our Faith. We’ve called this key – “Tender Witness” which is outreach motivated by the love of God. You’re warmly invited to join us as we look at […]
15th October 2023
Hi there. We’re in the Third Week of the Presbyterian Month of Mission’s “Five Keys of Discipleship” series. You’re warmly invited to join us as we learn from Rev McDougal about Fellowship which is a vital part of our Christian Journey. https://youtu.be/UELAEPCf7ss GodBless and Love, Theo
8th October 2023
Hi there. October is the Month of Mission in the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa and the Theme for this year is the Five Keys to Discipleship. Join us as we explore the second key which is Prayer. https://youtu.be/nxZMNyk1UHQ God bless and Love, Theo
1st October 2023
Hi there! October is the Month of Mission in the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa and the Theme for this year is the “Five Keys to Discipleship.” Join us as we explore the first key which is the regular reading of God’s Word. https://youtu.be/1cSOXv9em7I GodBless and Love, Theo
24th September 2023
Dear Church Family. You are warmly invited to our worship service. The sermon is the conclusion of our series on the Apostle’s Creed: The Life Everlasting. In the message we’ll see that Everlasting Life is more than pie-in-the-sky-one-day-when-we-die and offers hope and purpose for this life too. https://youtu.be/H5MJvZRPe5k God bless and Love, […]
You can find more sermons HERE.
Events: Upcoming and Past
30th July 2020
30 July: Midweek check-in https://youtu.be/Hl9xxx4hklI
24th July 2020
24 July: Congregational Check-In. See Email HERE….
16th July 2020
16 July: MidWeek Check-In https://youtu.be/Upe4eVT_cz8I Wonder as I Wander (and the song is here)
9th July 2020
9 July: MidWeek Check-In https://youtu.be/u8Q38HGVRg4What a Friend we have in Jesus
2nd July 2020
2 July: MidWeek Check-In https://youtu.be/-DvUiyMkEeARembrandt and Storms
25th June 2020
25 June: MidWeek Check-In https://youtu.be/22cvx-D7W8U
18th June 2020
18 June: MidWeek Check-In https://youtu.be/iIwu8EUszyE
11th June 2020
11 June: MidWeek Check-In : Ps.23 and Rest https://youtu.be/zAkTa8vT0RE
4th June 2020
4 June: MidWeek CheckIn https://youtu.be/JZVugzJf-Bo
27th May 2020
27 May: MidWeek Check-In. The you-tube link is https://youtu.be/bsgSuU3UMWY.
13th May 2020
13 May: Mid-Week Update” The you-tube link is https://youtu.be/UsJhK5drtZU.
7th May 2020
7 May: Mid-Week Update” The you-tube link is https://youtu.be/oSaXAwZjOQU you can see the email summary here .
30th April 2020
30 Apr: Mid-Week Update” The you-tube link is https://youtu.be/VVuEvvag7ic .
22nd April 2020
22 Apr: Midweek update: See what Theo, Jedidiah the cat and the Groenevelds have been up to.” The you-tube link is https://youtu.be/ZCyWBtRvFMI.
15th April 2020
15 Apr: Midweek Update: Some announcements and a short msg of encouragement from Theo. The you-tube link is https://youtu.be/GMTbY164p8w There’s also an
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
