September 2026
2404 Kirby Rd, Memphis 901.754.6548 Worship: Sundays 8:50 & 11am (Live Stream @ 11am) The hope for the church and for us individually, as Chris ans, is to have an impact on the world. We are called to work with God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit to bring about the realm of God on earth as it is in heaven. That Godly realm becomes a greater reality as we devote ourselves to the teachings of Christ, to the breaking of bread, to prayers, worship, and fellowshipping with one another. The Book of Acts gives witness that when devo on to one another is present, God show ups and holy miraculous things happen. Those miraculous things don’t always happen instantaneously, but gradually over me through a step-by-step process. For many, that has been their experience of the life of faith – a gradual step by step process. I describe my own faith experience as the slow mel ng of an iceberg. Yet, all the while, God was there guiding and direc ng if not in obvious ways, then through quiet grace-filled ways of which I was rarely aware.
For me, much of that “mel ng” was done through the church – composed of those who supported the ministry so that I could be impacted in a way that led to my own life of ministry. Each fall, Emmanuel prepares and plans for how our witness and ministry can impact the world through a Stewardship Campaign. This year, our theme is “Step By Step.” It will also serve as the tle of our worship series in September. We will be reminded of the benefit of walking step by step with God and the role of prac cing jus ce and mercy. We will be reminded that steps of faith bring healing and wholeness, and that we strive for what we cannot always see – a transformed world. Our impact on the world, as a congrega on, begins and is strengthened by our personal support and commitment. Join with me in making a commitment to suppor ng Emmanuel UMC’s impact by making a pledge toward our 2027 ministry budget. More informa on will be shared in the coming days as to how you may support Emmanuel’s impact on the world through our combined support. Peace, Dr. Rob
Community
Join us!
Whether you've been worshiping with us for a few months or a few years, there's always a next step to becoming more connected at Emmanuel. We invite you to join us for our Next Steps Lunch on Sunday, September 13, at 12:15 p.m. in The Commons. Register so we can provide lunch for you. This relaxed gathering is designed especially for those who are new—or new-ish—to our church family. It's an opportunity to meet some of our pastors and leaders, learn more about Emmanuel's mission and ministries, ask questions, and discover ways to connect through worship, discipleship, service, and community. At Emmanuel, we believe that faith is a journey. Wherever you are on that journey, we want to help you take your next faithful step. If you have been wondering how to get more involved, meet new people, or find a place to belong, this lunch is for you.
COMMUNITY
Wednesday Night at Emmanuel
Children
Serving
HOME RUNS FOR HARAMBE A Church-Wide Kickball Fundraiser
Saturday, October 31st 9:00–11:00 a.m. Location: field TBD
Bring the whole family for a morning of kickball, laughter, and community as we support our partners at Wesley College in Mwanza, Tanzania. Whether you're ready to kick, coach, or cheer from the sidelines, everyone can be part of the fun! All proceeds and donations support Wesley College's mission of providing faith-based education that empowers students and communities in Tanzania. In Swahili, Harambe means “all pull together” or “working together”. It is a traditional rallying cry for community cooperation and mutual support. A full scholarship for a year is only $2,000 (includes tuition, room, and board) or $500 a year for tuition only. This helps first-generation college students access education. So let’s pull together.
Emmanuel Prayer List As of 8/24/2026 NURSING CARE & ASSISTED LIVING David Barron John Coleman Margaret Miller Shirley Riddle John Sander Rose Strange
DEATHS
Merna Keeney Donna Rowland
Jennifer Bodie Danial: Daughter of Bill Bodie 7/29 Shirley Riddle: Sister of Cheryl Cleaves 7/30 Steve Rowland: Husband of Donna Rowland 8/06
Emmanuel Staff New Staff Posi on Hospitality & Ac vi es Coordinator
Please join us in welcoming Erika Cothran to the Emmanuel staff!
This posi on is a rebranding of our Director of Wellness & Recrea on posi on. Erika will work part- me coordina ng fellowship ac vi es which include Wednesday Night Dinners, picnics, and celebra ons. She will also coordinate ac vi es for all ages which may include recrea on, art, special ou ngs, and events. Erika will begin August 17. She is excited to bring fresh ideas while con nuing many of the ac vi es and tradi ons our church family has come to love. Erika graduated from the University of Memphis with a degree in Adver sing and Marke ng. She and her husband, Chad, recently welcomed their daughter, Blair, in May. We're excited to have Erika join the Emmanuel team and look forward to the energy, crea vity, and enthusiasm she brings to this ministry. Be sure to introduce yourself and welcome her when you see her around campus!
Youth Ministry
EUMC’s search for a full- me youth director con nues. We have posted our posi on on a variety of church and community related websites. As we begin our fall programing, interim leadership of the youth program will transi on from Channing Peeples to Libba and James Fyke. Channing will con nue to serve as one of the faithful adult leaders in the program.
Emmanuel Office Hours & Contact Info
Office Hours
Monday—Thursday 8:30am—4:30pm Friday 8:30am-noon Dr. Rob Mar n Lead Pastor rmar n@emmanuelmemphis.org Rev. Luke Lea Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach llea@emmanuelmemphis.org Rev. Kevin Presley Pastor of Music and Worship kpresley@emmanuelmemphis.org Jane Kinzer Business Administrator jkinzer@emmanuelmemphis.org Mandy Morse Director of Children’s Ministry mmorse@emmanuelmemphis.org Erika Cothran Hospitality & Ac vi es Coordinator ecothran@emmanuelmemphis.org James & Libba Fyke Directors of Youth Ministry youth@emmanuelmemphis.org Andrew Adams Facili es Supervisor aadams@emmanuelmemphis.org Nikki Jones Bookkeeper njones@emmanuelmemphis.org
901-754-6548