Emmanuel Lutheran Church

Who We Are

Emmanuel Lutheran Church is a community of people who love to make music, worship God, serve our neighbors, and be together. We are a church of the ELCA. Our weekly worship includes people from about 4 months old to 94 years old! We receive holy communion each week and we practice an open table, so please join us for worship and receive God's grace embodied in the bread and wine.

About Us

Vibe
Casual, Traditional Liturgy, Creative, Down to Earth, Friendly, Inclusive, Multigenerational, Gay affirming

Programs
Children's Ministry, Choir, Adult Education, Community Service, Social Justice, Seniors Ministry, Nursery

Music
Traditional Hymns, Contemporary

Denomination
Lutheran (ELCA)

Networks

Southwest California Synod, ELCA

Size
Small

Language
English

Founded
1957

Plan Your Visit

Services

10:15amSunday

Contact

Address
1900 Baker St
Bakersfield, CA 93305

Phone
(661) 323-3355

Website
Visit Website

Directions
Get directions on Google Maps

Our Services

What are services like?
Our services tend to last about an hour and are followed by snacks, coffee, and fellowship time. During worship, we have a screen on which the words of the service and the songs are projected. There are also helpful hints (like when to sit and stand) up there. The shape of our service is often out of the ELW (a worship book), which are provided in the pews if you prefer to follow along in there (especially if you read music as the notes are not on the screen).

What is the community like?
We are a small community, generally less than 100 people are in worship on a given Sunday. We are also a very active community. We are part of Faith in Action, a local faith-based community organizing branch of PICO and we have a growing food pantry ministry. We also provide a monthly Saturday morning children's program for neighborhood children. We have active WELCA groupers, crafters, Bible-studiers, and outreachers. And we believe that God calls us to ministry in new ways all the time so bring your passion when you come and we might just find another way to do God's work with our hands through you!

What if I'm not a Christian?
You are still welcome! You do not need to subscribe to any particular doctrine to join us for any activities Emmanuel Lutheran Church offers, ever. It is not our intent to convert you. We are Christian, however, so Christ is at the center of all we do and our language will reflect that. We hope our behavior will as well!

Leadership View all

Dawn Wilder
Pastor

Pastor Dawn Wilder began serving Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Bakersfield March of 2017. She recently transferred her ordination from the MCC churches to the ELCA. She was first ordained in 1996. She has over ten years experience working with homeless and underprivileged youth. She has also worked as a chaplain and bereavement counselor for a hospice. She served as Associate Pastor for MCCLA as the Director of Congregational Life and ran a drop in center for homeless and at-risk youth in West Hollywood. She then served as Interim Pastor for MCC Glendale. Dawn is also a fully credentialed K-8 teacher and taught 4th and 5th grade for the Inglewood Unified School District where she also provided technology education for students and staff. She holds a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary and completed a two-year residency in Clinical Pastoral Education at UCLA Medical Center. She also holds a MA in Technology Based Education from CSUDH.