At their Annual Retreat in 2001, the Vestry of Emmanuel Parish undertook to create a Mission Statement. The members didn’t. Instead, they decided that the Mission of Emmanuel Parish is contained in the following prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come with the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (from The Book of Common Prayer, page 101)
The Vestry members then concluded that our Vision for Emmanuel Parish is contained in Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 “Truly, truly I say to you, as you have done for the least of these my brothers and sisters, you have done it for me,” and is given a practical dimension in the following phrases from our Baptismal Covenant:
In the Life and Ministry of Emmanuel Parish, we will:
Proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ;
Seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves;
Strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.