Are you thinking about joining Emmanuel or wondering how to do it? Perhaps you’re wondering what it means to join this church. At Emmanuel, we expect our members to:
Worship
Pray
Read Scripture
Engage in Ministry in Daily Life
Give Regularly

Worship is at the heart of our Christian existence. In it, God feeds us with his life-giving Word and Sacraments. We also meet our brothers and sisters in the faith, who strengthen us in our walk with God.

Prayer is another important discipline in the Christian faith. It is a good thing to intentionally take time for daily prayer with other Christians and personal prayer. It is as foundational to our life as breathing.

Reading Scripture provides a chance for God to speak to us. As we read God’s Word, the Holy Spirit works to comfort and challenge us. If you’re not reading Scripture on a daily basis, we invite you to start doing it now.

Ministry in daily life means that our faith matters everywhere we go, including places like our jobs, homes, schools, and other places. In other words, our Christian faith is not just a “Sunday morning experience” and compels us to share God’s love to the world.

Regularly giving of ourselves, our time, and our possessions is vitally important. Because God graciously gives everything we have to us, we give to others. This includes faithfully giving our financial resources to the church and the world, our time for ministries of Emmanuel Church, as well as serving the poor and those in need.

How do I Join Emmanuel?
There are many ways to join Emmanuel Lutheran Church.

Letter of Transfer
Members in good standing from other ELCA congregations can transfer their membership from their previous congregation. Those transferring from other Lutheran congregations are strongly encouraged to attend “Being/Becoming Lutheran.”

Baptism
Baptism is God’s gracious entryway into the church. Adults and older youth who have not been baptized into the Christian church are invited to enter into a period of intentional formation called the catechumenate.

Confirmation
Affirmation of Baptism, sometimes called confirmation, is offered for baptized students in grades 6-8. Classes are held each Sunday during the Sunday school hour. We use Here We Stand Confirmation for our confirmation classes.

We welcome new members at a variety of times throughout the year. All are welcome at any of these classes. For more information on what to do contact the Church Office.

Finally, we offer a variety of ways to get to know more information about Emmanuel, including:

Inquirers Gatherings
We gather with those who have been recently visiting Emmanuel a few times a year. These no-obligation social gatherings are a chance for visitors and prospective members to get to know several of our congregational leaders and to ask questions about the ministry of Emmanuel Lutheran Church.

Being/Becoming Lutheran
In the fall and spring of each year we offer a four week course called “Being/Becoming Lutheran.” While this course is open to all in the congregation, it is especially good for new and prospective members of the church to attend this interactive class.