Faces of Emmanuel

The picture at right was compiled by Aliki Cooper, our web master. It is comprised of the faces that are carved into the woodwork in the choir area of the church. Notice that they are all different. They represent the diversity of God's people. How appropriate that they are part of the art work in a church that has long been known as the "church of the people." These faces represent for us the people of our world, the people to whom God calls us to reach out with God's love, compassion, and justice.

So, who are the faces of Emmanuel Church?

We could put up on our "face board" the image of a musician in New Orleans who can no longer support herself post-Katrina. Now, she depends on the ministry of St. Anna's Episcopal Church, where she receives free medical care and is provided with paying work on Wednesday evenings. Our efforts to support his ministry means that she is a face of Emmanuel.

We could include on our face board a young boy who attends the Kingsway Junior School in Malindi, Kenya (learn more here). He is there because families of the Emmanuel Day School raised money to fund a scholarship so that he can attend for a year. Perhaps in the years to come his family and he will have the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty.

On our face board, you might find an image of a woman from Kampala, Uganda who works for Bead for Life, a business that lifted hundreds of women and their families from poverty. In the last few weeks, led by our own Meg Dutton, we had two Bead Parties. Combined, Meg and her helpers sold approximately $4,500 worth of bead jewelry. All of the profits go directly to support the Ugandan women who make the jewelry.

Of course, most of the faces of Emmanuel reside right here in Newport and the surrounding communities. Those of us who gather to worship, who come together expecting to encounter God each Sunday, are faces of Emmanuel. Those of us to seek God's transforming and redeeming grace are the face of Emmanuel. Those who desire to be instruments of God's love and compassion are the faces of Emmanuel.

Are you one of the faces of Emmanuel Church? Would you like to be? Contact me or show up on Sunday and learn what it might mean for you to be a face of Emmanuel Church.