Fr. Jacques Jefferies

The Mission of Emmanuel Church
Emmanuel Anglican and Uniting Church is a joint congregation called to build each other up in the wholeness of the faith as one worshipping and caring community in West Wodonga. The congregation seeks to witness in the community and the world, by word and deed, to the grace and liberating power of Jesus Christ.
Following Christ, we seek to:
share the Good News of the Kingdom of God

• nurture believers in Christ within a life-giving community of reconciliation
• listen to each generation and culture so as to live out the Gospel in fresh ways
• respond in compassion to human need by loving service
• live justly, seek justice for all, and transform unjust structures of society
• care for creation and safeguard its integrity pursue God’s mission in partnership
• care for creation and safeguard its integrity
• pursue God’s mission in partnership

The notes below may help us to reflect a bit deeper on the first six points.
1. Share the Good News of Jesus Christ: In our congregation, different denominations work closely together in harmony, meeting the challenges.
2. Nurture believers in Christ within a life-giving community of reconciliation: We seek to grow in our faith while seeking to resolve issues with our partners, and others around us.
3. Listen to each generation and culture so as to live out the Gospel in fresh ways: We seek to broaden our outlook and our ability to welcome others of different ages and backgrounds.
4. Respond in compassion to human need by loving service: Our Meeting Place was built to provide a place where some needs of our wider community could be met. We seek to build on the current situation.
5. Live justly and seek justice for all: We seek to advocate for justice within our partnerships and for the powerless in our society.
6. Care for creation: We seek to use energy, and our land wisely.
7. Pursue God’s mission in partnership: We were founded in partnership with Anglican and Uniting Church parishes, and seek to develop these and other partnerships as God leads us.

Direct Offering
Direct Offering is a service that makes it easy for Uniting Church members to make regular contributions directly to their congregation by means of Direct Debit. It’s safe (you don’t need to carry cash) and it's flexible — you can increase, decrease or even cancel your pledge at any time. 
A Direct Offering facility means you can still give even when you’re away and lets you avoid having to play catch-up upon your return.

Key Features

• Eliminates the need for cash transactions;

• Allows for regular contributions even if church members can't regularly attend worship;

• Giving can coincide with donor’s income — weekly,  fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annually;

• Provides the congregation with regular income and cashflow;

• Income is credited directly into the recipient’s interest-bearing account in UCA Cash Management Fund.
  
  To make application speak with our congregation Treasurer LouAnne Stabb.

Safe Church Policy at Emmanuel
Emmanuel Church has implemented the Safe Church Policy. All who hold a leadership role of any sort at Emmanuel, including Elders, Wardens, Congregation office-bearers and people on the worship roster, must hold a current Working With Children Check. This applies also to Community Shop and ground maintenance volunteers. If you are included in the list above and are yet to get a WWCC please speak with an elder or wardedn

Emmanuel name tags
If you would like an Emmanuel name tag, please get in touch with LouAnne, Harold or Ted in the next couple of weeks.

REMINDERS

Emmanuel Building Security
There have been instances recently of doors left unlocked after Sunday worship. We ask that church members continue to close and lock windows and doors, but also that the last person leaving the building at any time check doors and windows and activate the security system.

Emmanuel Wednesday Prayer Group
The Emmanuel Prayer Group meets at Betty Saggers’ home 113 Chapple Street, Wodonga. They meet Wednesday mornings at 8:30 am.  If you are interested in joining, do get in touch with Carol Harris or Betty.
Everyone is welcome to come along to this group whenever they can. If you are unable to get here please consider pausing wherever you are, at the scheduled time, to pray for the Emmanuel congregation.

Prayer Requests at Emmanuel
If you wish to make a prayer request at Emmanuel on a Sunday morning please make sure it is in the Prayer Book (at the entrance to the church) prior to the commencement of worship. The book will be taken to the front of the church by the welcoming Elder/Warden.

Opportunities for Prayer requests at Emmanuel
Emmanuel folk are reminded that there are a number of ways in which they can request prayer or praise for themselves or others:

• at worship each Sunday morning – write it into the book in the church entry;

• at the Wednesday morning prayer group.

Please remember, if you are asking prayer for others, that you need to obtain their agreement beforehand. All requests will be kept in confidentiality among the group in which they are offered.

Wodonga City Tip Vouchers
If you have any vouchers that you will not be using, the Emmanuel Church Grounds and Maintenance Group will gladly receive them and put them to invaluably use. Please speak with Harold, Rod or David.