"I Am The Vine/You Are The Branches" Mural

A very unique feature of Emmanuel Episcopal Church is a handpainted mural located on the rear (western) wall of the Church.  The mural was commissioned by Father Leonard Gross, the first rector of Emmanuel Church, and it depicts in a vivid manner how the Body of Christ is composed of people from all ages, races, and walks of life.  The images of the people in the mural were actual members of the parish at the time it was created.

We are a Eucharist-centered church using the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and the 1982 Hymnal.  Our two Sunday worship services  are at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM.  The early Holy Eucharist has a contemplative atmosphere and the second liturgy is complete with instrumental music and choir.  Following the 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist, we invite everyone to join us for a fellowship brunch.  Both services include a sermon.  All are invited to partake of the Sacraments with us.

Emmanuel Church offers opportunities to all who seek spiritual meaning:  the faithful and the questioning; those who share and those in need; and those in search of peace.

Emmanuel Church is also the home of a long-standing ministry of prayer and Christian healing that meets every Wednesday at 10:30 AM.  It is open to the public.  We believe that the healing ministry is an important work of the Church today.  Jesus Christ modeled this for us and gives us the call to allow healing through the Spirit in our community.  We encourage all people to join us in worship with prayers for their loved ones and themselves.

We have many different ministries at the church, including Christian Formation for all ages each Sunday, Taizé Prayer every Tuesday evening, which is followed by the Guild of Sts. Peter and Paul (a theological and spirituality discussion group), Youth Fellowship, Men’s and Women’s Groups, Choir, and other ministries and activities that the Holy Spirit inspires us to engage in.  There are numerous special events and community activities throughout the year, such as Black History Month Celebration, Parish “Quiet Days” (led by an Episcopal Benedictine Monastic Order), Mardi Gras, Blessing of the Pets, Youth Camp at Peterkin Center, Cinco de Mayo, and other celebrations.

We are a Family in Christ Jesus

The “New Commandment” of Jesus Christ that we are to “love one another as I have loved you”  (see John 13:34-35) we take very seriously at Emmanuel Church.  We have a close-knit community of faith where we care for one another, sharing in joys and sorrows together.  Emmanuel Church is well-known for its tradition of truly Christian hospitality to all we encounter, both those who come to visit our church and those in the community who are in need.  It is our belief that we are to reach out to all those who are hurting, lonely, and those in need of assistance (physical and spiritual).  We are convinced of the unconditional love and acceptance of Jesus Christ, and that all human beings are made in the image and likeness of God — and are therefore of profound value.

Emmanuel Church is a diverse community of faith.  The congregation is composed of people from many different backgrounds and theological/philosophical orientations, a fact which is coborrated by the findings of our parish Church Assessment Tool (CAT) results.  Therefore, it would be very difficult to classify or categorize Emmanuel Church in terms of “liberal”, “conservative”, “high-church”, “low-church”, etc.  Although we are quite diverse in our backgrounds and understanding of the Church, we are mutually enriched and edified by the insights offered by our sisters and brothers in Christ.   We view this congregational diversity as a blessing.

Historical Overview

The beginning of what would become Emmanuel Episcopal Church can be traced to the work of the Rt. Rev. George W. Peterkin, the first Bishop of West Virginia, when he confirmed several individuals in the Keyser area on Ash Wednesday of 1893.  In 1910 the current red brick church on South Mineral Street was constructed, which was consecrated by Bishop William L. Gravatt in 1917.  In 1986 Emmanuel Church achieved full parish status, with Fr. Leonard Gross becoming the first rector.

Additions to the original church were made to serve the needs of the congregation and community, first in 1965 with what is now known as the “A-Frame” was originally constructed for use as a parish hall but is now utilized for administrative office spaces, classrooms, and youth group activities.  The end of 2004 saw the completion of a much larger and well-designed parish hall with ample classroom space in the basement level.  In 2007 work began on installing an elevator system so that Emmanuel Church will be fully handicap-accessible.  This project is scheduled to be completed by early 2008.