Immanuel's Mission As a More Light Congregation
We seek the full participation of LGBTQIA+ people in life, ministry, and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and in society.
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As a fellowship of believers
The Immanuel congregation seeks to be faithful to the mission to which Christ has called us.
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As a witnessing congregation
We seek every opportunity to live out our faith in our daily lives.
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As a worshiping congregation
We gather around the Word of God with prayer, praise and thanksgiving.
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As a nurturing congregation
We offer the love and support of an extended family.
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As a welcoming congregation
We offer fellowship and acceptance to all who come to worship with us.
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As a learning congregation
We support and nurture the spiritual journey of our children and ourselves.
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As a serving congregation
We seek to follow Christ’s example by reaching out to the poor, the lost, and those burdened by hardship wherever they may be.
Immanuel’s Statement of Faith
We trust in a God who is with us: Immanuel.
An embodied God
Who, in the truly human Jesus,
Gave us the clearest glimpse into the nature of divinity
By fleshing out both the cost and the power of love
In Jesus’ words and deeds, his life and death,
But who, through the mystery of Resurrection,
Would not let Jesus’ death, or ours, have the last word.
An embodied God
Who, in the truly human Jesus,
Gave us the clearest glimpse into the nature of divinity
By fleshing out both the cost and the power of love
Who, in the truly human Jesus,
Gave us the clearest glimpse into the nature of divinity
By fleshing out both the cost and the power of love
In Jesus’ words and deeds, his life and death,
But who, through the mystery of Resurrection,
Would not let Jesus’ death, or ours, have the last word.
A challenging God
Who, through the Spirit that was in Jesus,
Calls, pushes, and empowers us
To participate in embodying love in our lives as well,
By working to alleviate suffering, address injustice, and care for the Earth and its people,
Using our time, talent, energy, and material resources
To follow Jesus’ example by reaching out to the poor, the lost,
And those suffering hardship, wherever they may be.
A challenging God
Who, through the Spirit that was in Jesus,
Calls, pushes, and empowers us
To participate in embodying love in our lives as well,
Who, through the Spirit that was in Jesus,
Calls, pushes, and empowers us
To participate in embodying love in our lives as well,
By working to alleviate suffering, address injustice, and care for the Earth and its people,
Using our time, talent, energy, and material resources
To follow Jesus’ example by reaching out to the poor, the lost,
And those suffering hardship, wherever they may be.
A merciful God
Who, through amazing grace,
Not only beckons us to express compassion and kindness
To others in their weakness and need,
But also meets us where we are, despite our all too evident human frailty,
Loving us enough to work transformation
In our lives and in the life of the world.
A merciful God
Who, through amazing grace,
Not only beckons us to express compassion and kindness
To others in their weakness and need,
Who, through amazing grace,
Not only beckons us to express compassion and kindness
To others in their weakness and need,
But also meets us where we are, despite our all too evident human frailty,
Loving us enough to work transformation
In our lives and in the life of the world.
A guiding God
Who encounters us in the words of scripture,
As we use our minds and hearts to interpret them,
Taking seriously both their context and our own,
But whose Spirit can also meet and lead us in conversations and meditation,
In literature and spiritual reading, in music, art, worship, and prayer,
And in the events of our daily lives as we seek to discern
How the God we read about in ancient texts speaks in our present,
Given the insights—and sometimes limitations—of modern physical and social science.
A GUIDING GOD
Who encounters us in the words of scripture,
As we use our minds and hearts to interpret them,
Taking seriously both their context and our own,
Who encounters us in the words of scripture,
As we use our minds and hearts to interpret them,
Taking seriously both their context and our own,
But whose Spirit can also meet and lead us in conversations and meditation,
In literature and spiritual reading, in music, art, worship, and prayer,
And in the events of our daily lives as we seek to discern
How the God we read about in ancient texts speaks in our present,
Given the insights—and sometimes limitations—of modern physical and social science.
A gathering God
Who is perhaps best experienced in community
And loves the whole world, no exceptions,
Making room at the table for all
Women and men, boys and girls,
Regardless of ethnicity, nationality, economic condition,
Age, color, creed, or sexual orientation,
And through the Holy Spirit enabling
Reconciliation, peace, and wholeness.
In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.
A gathering God
Who is perhaps best experienced in community
And loves the whole world, no exceptions,
Making room at the table for all
Who is perhaps best experienced in community
And loves the whole world, no exceptions,
Making room at the table for all
Women and men, boys and girls,
Regardless of ethnicity, nationality, economic condition,
Age, color, creed, or sexual orientation,
And through the Holy Spirit enabling
Reconciliation, peace, and wholeness.
In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.
Immanuel’s History
The first worship service of Immanuel Presbyterian Church was conducted by our organizing pastor, the Reverend Robert Keever on September 11, 1960, in the cafeteria of Franklin Sherman Elementary School in McLean, Virginia.
In November 1960, Presbytery purchased our present site, which consisted of six acres and a 1942 brick house. For the next ten months, services were held in the basement of the two-story house.
