Emanuel Lutheran Church

What are services like?
Music plays a very important part in the life of Emanuel. Emanuel is a singing congregation that has benefited from the great musical heritage of the Lutheran church but also from the music of other traditions and sources. Living in today’s world, we continue to acknowledge this heritage while simultaneously looking to the present and future for new ways to express our faith through music. One reflection of the musical diversity of the congregation is through the variety of liturgies (orders of worship) that are used to guide the worship life of the congregation, and through the variety of sources from which congregational hymns are drawn. We primarily sing from the New Century Hymnal in companion with Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW), the Lutheran hymnbook. Additional sources include the 1991 Hymnal Supplement and Worship & Praise. There are a number of liturgies utilized throughout the year in our worship services, each of which aims to capture the spirit of that particular church season. As is our practice at Emanuel, adaptations are made in the texts when necessary to ensure that worship at Emanuel is fully inclusive and that God is not made as small as one gender or referred to exclusively as "he."

What is the community like?
In keeping with the spirit of Luther, Emanuel is a congregation that has heeded the call of conscience in response to the gospel of Christ. As such, Emanuel has frequently stepped forward on issues having to do with both church and society. Emanuel has led the way in promoting inclusive language in worship, weekly communion for people of all ages, and, most significantly, for the full inclusion of gay and lesbian members in the life of the church. Emanuel was the first Reconciling in Christ Church (a church that publicly embraces the cause of inclusion) in the New Jersey Synod and was a leader in the Synod in this cause. Emanuel is also a model for a mission-oriented church in its outreach and its witness.

What if I'm not a Christian?
We invite all seekers to experience the life of the Christian community as lived at Emanuel. Emanuel is a member of the New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Lutheran tradition of Christianity is based on the belief that human beings are freely accepted by God as a matter of divine grace. The believer does not win or earn God's favor, because this is already bestowed by God upon all. Christian faith is the response to this acceptance, the response of love for love, grace for grace, as these are known in the life and teachings of Christ Jesus. Lutherans believe that the Bible is the word of God insofar as it testifies to the Word of God that is known in Christ Jesus. The Bible is not literally God's words, but is understood as testimony to God's Word and therefore must be interpreted by believers.