Worship With Us
Sunday Worship
Receive the Eucharist at our Sunday and weekday services. The Early Service is at 8:00 in the warmer months (from Palm Sunday to September 31) and 8:30 in the darker, winter months (from October 1st to Palm Sunday). This service uses the older Episcopal language of Rite I. At 10:00, we use Rite II, the less formal Episcopal rite. You’ll find people of all ages, music of many styles and preaching that brings the Gospel to life. Christ is present in every Eucharist, welcoming us all: young or old, churched or un-churched, skeptic or believer. Bask in this hearty welcome and then help us to serve God’s world when you leave.
Thursday Worship
On Thursdays at 11am, a small group gathers in the chapel to listen, pray, ask questions, share wisdom, and find mid-week renewal. We meet most Thursdays, occasionally skipping for inclement weather, clergy travel, or other scheduling conflicts. If you’re not already on our Thursday email list, please feel welcome to call the church to inquire about the Thursday worship schedule, or visit the calendar on our website.
- Take time to refresh your soul and spirit
- Gather in a sacred space to pray and connect with God
- Engage in conversations about scripture
- Be nourished with Holy Communion (alternating Rite II and the New Zealand Prayer Book)
Worship Leadership
Our services at Emmanuel are beautiful and support our experience of connection to God and community. Our worship leadership is very much a shared ministry, and as with everything we do, worship is enriched by combining our gifts and working together. Opportunities to participate in worship ministries include:
Eucharistic Ministers assist the priest, especially by serving communion to the congregation.
Lectors read the Scripture lessons in our services. A wide variety of our members take turns in turning the written word into the spoken word.
Greeters and Ushers welcome everyone to worship, give out bulletins, find extra chairs, helping folks with disabilities, and otherwise allow us all to concentrate on worship.
The Altar Guild works with quiet devotion and behind-the-scenes to prepare for worship. They wash and iron linens, refill candle oil, care for our chalices and other vessels used in worship, coordinate flowers for special liturgies, and so much more.
Choir
Emmanuel Episcopal Church is well known throughout the area as a center for musical excellence. In addition to Emmanuel’s own music program, the church serves as a venue for rehearsals and performances by many local and visiting groups and ensembles. The Music Ministry includes the Adult Choir and the Emmanuel Brass, all under the direction of André Strydom, Organist and Director of Music Ministries.
During the summer when the choir is in recess, Emmanuel is fortunate to have special music each Sunday provided by participants in the Bay View Music Festival, the longest continuously operating chamber music festival in the United States. Having these outstanding young musicians share their gifts is made possible through the generosity of Emmanuel members.
The wider Petoskey area is home to several instrumental ensembles, including the Great Lakes Chamber and Alpena Symphony Orchestras, Northern Symphonic Winds, and Northern Michigan Brass Band, and others. From time to time, these musicians are engaged for special services at Emmanuel, such as Easter Sunday and Christmas Eve when a brass ensemble participates in our worship musical offering.
The organ at Emmanuel, built and installed in 2008 by the Lauck Pipe Organ Company of Otsego, Michigan, consists of 25 ranks (both pipe and digital) spread over four divisions. Emmanuel Episcopal Church is a Member of the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM).