Who Are We?
We are a very small, close-knit congregation of people who gather together on Sundays to worship God in a traditional service.
All are welcome!
We participate as we are able in outreach activities within our church and in some of the Emmitsburg Council of Churches missions. We are part of the Baltimore Presbytery.
What is a “traditional” worship service?
We follow a worship format led by the minister which includes:
Call to Worship.
Prayers of Thanksgiving, Confession Pastoral prayer and the Lord’s Prayer.
Hymns sung with organ and piano music.
An Offertory.
Scripture passage reading.
A Message presented by the minister.
We celebrate the sacraments of holy communion 4 times a year and baptism when requested.
Though the service is traditional, the message is up-lifting, thought-provoking and applicable to our lives today.
What do We Believe?
Some of the principles articulated by John Calvin remain at the core of Presbyterian beliefs. Among these are the sovereignty of God, the authority of the scripture, justification by grace through faith and the priesthood of all believers. What they mean is that God is the supreme authority throughout the universe. Our knowledge of God and God’s purpose for humanity come from the Bible, particularly what is revealed in the New Testament through the life of Jesus Christ. Our salvation (justification) through Jesus is God’s generous gift to us and not the result of our own accomplishments. It is everyone’s job – ministers and lay people alike - to share this Good News with the whole world. That is also why the Presbyterian church is governed at all levels by a combination of clergy and laity, men and women alike.
Points of Interest regarding our beliefs:
Presbyterians confess their beliefs through statements that have been adopted over the years and are contained in the Book of confessions. These statements reflect our understanding of God and what God expects of us at different times in history but all are faithful to the fundamental beliefs described above.
Even though we share these common beliefs, Presbyterians understand that God alone is lord of the conscience, and it is up to each individual to understand what these principles mean in his or her life.
When is Worship?
We meet on Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Our service generally lasts less than an hour.
All are invited to join in refreshments in the social room following the service.
We record the worship service for those who are not able to attend church. This recording will only be shared through email with members and friends. Please email emmitsburg.presbyterian@gmail.com if you would like to receive the links on a regular basis.