Emmanuel E-News

March 13-19, 2025

Second Sunday in Lent

Dear Beloved Members of Emmanuel,

As we continue to witness God’s grace and faithfulness in our midst, and as our community continues to grow, we find ourselves at a point of exciting opportunity and increased need. Last summer, I met with the Executive Committee over the course of three all-day sessions of prayer and planning to restructure our congregation’s leadership for future ministry and capacity for growth. The initial step was a constitutional restructuring of the Church Council and Committees which you approved at our last annual meeting. Thank you!

The next step began the first weekend of this year, on Epiphany, as I stood in the pulpit and made a commitment to better care for you, our current members, to minister to those on the fringes, and to equip us for greater service. Emmanuel has been blessed with a vibrant congregation, and we are eager to continue to expand our ministry and reach more neighbors in the Venice community. To do so, the Church Council and I have prayerfully discerned that the next step is to call an Associate Pastor.

Why do we need an Associate Pastor?

The primary reason is the current size of our congregation: with around 600 members we need another Minister of Word and Sacrament to meet the ministry needs of Emmanuel. Moreover, there’s an energy to grow our ministries to reach more of our neighbors with Christ and his love in both word and deed.

Our Synod agrees and has begun the search process to help us find the person God is calling to Emmanuel. The Church Council has unanimously voted to approve the formation of a Call Committee to work with the Synod in the search for an Associate Pastor.

What would the Associate Pastor do?

An Associate Pastor will play a vital role in our ministry, and depending upon their gifts could serve a variety of capacities, including but not limited to:

-         The leading of worship and preaching at Emmanuel, with the possibility of providing new worship opportunities on campus and/or offsite with retirement communities in our area.

-         Providing pastoral care to the hospitalized and homebound, including offering counseling, visiting the sick and hurting, and providing spiritual guidance to our members.

-         Leading or assisting in the planning and execution of various ministry programs including faith formation, youth, children, and outreach/volunteering.

-         Collaborating with other staff and lay leaders to be a strong and supportive ministry environment.

How are we going to pay for another pastor?

     The timeline for calling an Associate Pastor would occur over the spring and early summer, with the possibility of this person starting in the beginning of fall, though this is not written in stone. I want to assure you that the financial commitment to this position has been carefully considered by the Church Council. The Associate Pastor’s salary and benefits will be fully funded through 2025 using resources from our endowment. This allows us time to integrate this role into our long-term financial planning while continuing to support the mission and ministry of Emmanuel.

I am filled with hope and anticipation for what God has in store for Emmanuel as we continue to grow in faith and service. I ask that you join me in prayer as we seek God’s guidance in finding the right person to fill this important role. Next week, I’ll introduce you to the members of our Call Committee and lay out more in detail the process and timeline for calling an Associate Pastor.

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Will