About Emmaus UCC

Emmaus UCC main building in the evening.

Emmaus UCC main building in the evening.

Drawing on the heritages of our denomination, the United Church of Christ, Emmaus seeks to be a place where people can come to be...

  • refreshed and strengthened in our daily lives

  • in the company of others who are seeking the presence of the Love of God and wanting to make that Love tangible for themselves and others

  • stimulated into new ways of thinking about the place that the Divine and the Gospel of Jesus Christ have in our lives

  • expanded into new ways of thinking about ourselves

  • comforted, challenged, and empowered in our liberal, progressive, spiritual tradition

  • dedicated and active about making change in today’s world

Open and Affirming

Emmaus United Church of Christ is an open and affirming congregation.

It has publicly declared that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual, or questioning (LGBTQ) people (or those of all sexual orientations and gender identities) are welcome in its full life and ministry (e.g. membership, leadership, employment, etc.) It bespeaks a spirit of hospitality and a willingness to live out that welcome in meaningful ways.

We are proud of the fact that Emmaus United Church of Christ is where Rev. Anne Holmes, the first openly lesbian minister in the United Church of Christ, was ordained in 1982.

What is the significance of the name Emmaus?

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After Jesus was crucified and risen from the grave, two of his followers were walking on the road that led to a town called Emmaus. They were sad and were talking about what had happened to Jesus. Suddenly, Jesus joined the disciples and walked along with them, but they didn’t recognize him until they sat down to eat and they broke bread together (Luke 24: 13-35). We are reminded that the divine presence is with us, even when we don’t recognize it.

Vision Statement: United in God's love, we envision a just world for all.

Mission Statement: As a Christian community of faith, committed to exploring God's purpose for us, we dedicate ourselves to being instruments for Love in the world, welcoming all and seeking justice for all.