| Church Address:
401 North Main Street Post Office Box 451 Amherst VA 24521 Telephone (434) 946-7624
Church Website:
Facebook: Emmanuel United Methodist Church-Amherst
Worship by Phone (24/7; toll-free) Dial 434-381-0027 from any phone
Pastor: Rev. Jennifer Vestal Moore
Administrative Assistant: Cindy Sale Church Council Chair: Pam Brockman Church Treasurer/Finance Chair: Mike Stinnett Board of Trustees Chair: Geoff Steadman Lay Leader: David Hewes Staff Parish Relations Chair: Mike Gamble Accompanist/Organist: Sue Lamm Substitute Organist: Ella Sue Coffey Custodian: Isabell George Nursery Attendant: Morgan Beck |
August 2026Emmanuel United Methodist ChurchNewsletterAdult Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship Service/Children’s Church 10:30 a.m.
The Back-to-School season is just around the corner! Many children are buzzing with excitement as they prepare for a new school year filled with fresh experiences. They will meet new teachers, explore new classrooms, make new friends, and embark on exciting journeys with their books. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to embrace and support our children in both our church and community during this special time. In Mark 10:14-16, we see Jesus expressing his deep love for children. , “14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.” His loving embrace and blessing of the little ones inspire us to cultivate a nurturing environment for our children. This heartfelt invitation fills us with joy and purpose, motivating us to wholeheartedly cherish them and support their growth in love and faith. To celebrate this occasion, we have planned an exciting lineup of events for Sunday, August 16th! Join us for a heartfelt Back to School blessing during our worship service at 10:30am. Be sure to bring your child’s backpack and lunch box! After the service, we invite all children and their parents to join us for a lively pizza party with a special surprise! The entire church family is invited. Please share these wonderful events with your family, friends, and neighbors, and invite them to join us! Thank you for your support for our ministry. Together, let’s make this Back to School season truly special for our children! See you in Worship, Pastor Jennifer
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Mark Your Calendars
Monday August 3 – Meals on Wheels – 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Thursday, August 6 – Brunch at Emmanuel for the AES Teachers 10:00 a.m. – SH
Tuesday, August 11 – SPPRC Meeting – 2:00pm
Sunday, August 16 – Luncheon at Emmanuel for children & adults 11:45 a.m.
Monday, September 7 – Meals on Wheels – 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 13 – Welcome Reception for Pastor Jennifer and family – 11:45am
Tuesday, September 15 – Church Council – 4:00pm *Please note day and time
Sunday, September 20 – “Spook-tac-ular” Boo Buddy” Forms due Sept 27
Sunday, September 27 – Faithful Praise lead worship – 10:30am *Love Offering*
Sunday, September 27 – Church Picnic Luncheon – 11:45am – SH
Sunday, October 4 – World Communion Sunday – 10:30am International Lunch
*Bring some of your best, Italian, Mexican, Irish, French, etc. food to share. If you have an “International Costume” (clothes from another country) please consider wearing it.
*Back-to-School Teacher Bags: “You are an Awesome Teacher!” ~ We look forward to welcoming the teachers and personnel of Amherst Elementary School back to school with a gift bag that features items they can enjoy (don’t forget to include chocolate!). Bags are now in the Narthex/back of Sanctuary. Please take one (or more!) and return it to the church on or before August 2. Please see Jeanie Combs if you have question.
*Brunch at Emmanuel for AES Teachers: The Vitality committee is excited to host our AES teachers for a special “Back to School” Brunch at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 6, in the Social Hall at Emmanuel UMC. See Jeanie if you are interested and available to help. If you have signed up to bring food, please plan to have your food item at the church by 9:00 a.m. Thursday, August 6.
*Back-to-School” Blessing Sunday, August 16 during 10:30 Worship Service: We welcome all students, teachers and school personnel (preschool and beyond!) to join us for worship as we ask God’s blessing upon the new school year. Students are invited to bring their backpacks or lunchboxes to worship for the blessing. Please plan to join us!
*The Children’s Ministry Team is collecting coins or loose change for their party to be held Sunday, August 16. The whole church will be invited, but Jeanie wants to add a little extra to the festivities. Thank you to all who have brought in their change. So far, we have collected $200.
*” Spook- tac-ular” October. (Secret Boo Buddy) –Let’s have some fun! You will bring a gift each Sunday in October to your “boo buddy”. Sign up forms are due on Sunday, September 20th. We will draw on Sunday, September 27th. The forms are located at the back of the church; fill out and place form in the “boo bucket.”
*Appreciation for First Responders: In appreciation of our “local heroes” and in observance of Patriot Day that commemorates 9/11, the Vitality Team invites the church family to join us in showing our appreciation to our fire, rescue squad and law enforcement personnel with a gift box of “grab-and-go” snacks. We will collect pre-wrapped snack-sized packs of cookies, crackers, granola bars, candy bars and chips (no water bottles please) to deliver to our community servants. Please place your items in the Narthex tub beginning August 16 through September 6. The Vitality team will pack the boxes on Tuesday, September 8 and deliver them to our community heroes the week of Sep. 11. We will offer a prayer of blessing over these gifts on Sunday, September 6. Thanks for your help.
*Food Pantry Needs: We are in need for the food pantry canned soups (all varieties) and canned peas. Please be aware of dates for use are well into the future. They can be left in the container in Narthex.
| PARTNERS IN MINISTRY
August September Ushers: Jeanie Combs Need Volunteer Check-in/Greeters: Jill Clark Jill Clark Lay Reader: Bill Pribble George Peters
ALTAR FLOWERS August 9 – Cookie Ogden September 6 – Communion Sunday August 16 – Janie and Mike Stinnett September 13 – Margaret Ann White August 23 – Jill Clark September 20 – Marge and Geoff Steadman August 30 – Sheila Michael September 27 – Jill Clark
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Please contact Janette Mears ([email protected] or 434-826-0036) if you would like to place altar flowers on a particular Sunday. If you are placing your flowers in honor or in memory of someone, please send that information via email to the church office ([email protected]) by noon on Monday.
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Church Office Hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:30-1:30 p.m. Please note that items for the weekly announcements or changes to the weekly calendar are due to the office by phone or email (434-946-7624; [email protected]) no later than NOON on Monday of each week. You may also leave your written announcement in the marked folder inside the wall box outside the church office door.
Reminders from the Board of Trustees: Please help us keep our church building free of pests by observing the lowing: Do not leave any open food or food wrappers anywhere in the building; please tie up any food trash before placing it in wastebaskets upstairs or in classrooms; take any kitchen/social hall trash from your event to the OUTSIDE cans before you leave. Please wipe down all surfaces wherever food has been present and clean up all crumbs from tables, chairs and floors. Guidelines for use of the church kitchen are posted in the kitchen. Thank you for your cooperation.
Won’t You Be “OUR” Neighbor? Our Vitality Team continues to provide welcome gift bags for the congregation to use in greeting your new neighbors that move in near you and invite them to church! The bags include the Amherst Guidebook and map, as well as information about our church. You can add your own goodies and a personal note from you if you wish (totally optional). The WHITE bags are located in the labeled basket on the table in the youth room upstairs (room with couches). Please use these bags as a means of helping you and our church connect with those new to the Amherst community. The next Vitality Team Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8, at 1:00 p.m. All are welcome to join us!
*Amherst Woman’s Club Widow’s Group beginning at EUMC: The Woman’s Club Widow’s group will be meeting in the church Social Hall from 3-4 p.m. on the second Monday of each month beginning on August 14. Please welcome this group Mary Hunt is organizing. She can be reached at 434-941-7643 for information.
Online We are back online recording our Sunday Morning Worship Services on Facebook Live: Join us every Sunday Morning in person online.
Stewardship
Attendance & Giving
| Sunday | In-Person | Children | Online | General Fund | Other |
| June 7 | 59 | 8 | 0 | 6284.00 | 3800.00 |
| June 14 | 66 | 1 | 0 | 1720.00 | 768.00 |
| June 21 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 942.00 | 535.00 |
| June 28 | 40 | 1 | 0 | 695.00 | 285.00 |
Attendance & Giving
| Sunday | In-Person | Children | Online | General Fund | Other |
| July 5 | 41 | 0 | 25 | 8755.00 | 435.00 |
| July 12 | 49 | 0 | 36 | 2670.00 | 265.00 |
| July 19 | 46 | 0 | 38 | 783.00 | 85.00 |
| July 26 | 51 | 4 | 38 | 3930.00 | 2650 |
August Birthdays
08/05 Bill Ferguson
08/08 Charlie Clark
08/08 Wills Turner
08/09 Cooper Anderson
08/09 Sandra Martin
08/09 Pam Peele
08/09 George F. Peters, Jr.
08/13 Jim Kirkwood
08/13 Alex Motley
08/14 Harrison Stinnett
08/15 Mark Restivo
08/16 Jeanette Goff
08/16 David Hewes
08/16 Eddie Howell
08/18 Paul Kilgore
08/19 Barry Moore
08/20 Joseph Bondurant
08/21 Wayne Goff
08/22 Tyler Hall
08/25 Sandra Burks
08/25 Devorah Ondrick
08/25 David Steadman
08/26 Gail Payne
08/26 Jennifer Kilgore Webb
08/29 Kevin Lamm
08/29 Tom Shrader
08/30 Dot Hance
08/31 Debbie Hunt
Newsletter Editor: Deadline to submit newsletter articles: 20th of the month. If you can send your information by email, it would be appreciated. If you do not have email, your article may be left at the church office in the newsletter basket.
