Information for Visitors

We gather every Sunday morning at 10:50 am for worship. The sanctuary is located on the corner of 4^th and Jackson in downtown Alexandria.

No. We will not single you out by asking you to stand or raise your hand. All we ask of you is what we ask of everyone who worships with us – come and lift your heart to the God who welcomes all of us in Christ.

Worship at Emmanuel is typically considered traditional rather than contemporary, but we believe that those two words create a false dichotomy. While our music relies heavily on classic hymns and choral anthems, we also use our own creative gifts in writing music and other elements in the service. Our hope is that worship at Emmanuel leaves room for both the holy and human. The pipe organ, stained glass windows and Neo-Gothic Revival architecture point us toward reverence. By the same measure, the opening words of welcome and the weekly Children’s Time point us toward personal connections.

Simply put, you should wear what you’re comfortable in. The scriptures teach that our attire should not be a distraction or hindrance for worship. You will probably see more suits and dresses at Emmanuel than you would at another church, but you will also see many members wearing slacks and golf shirts.

At Emmanuel we believe that worship is for all generations, so you can expect to see people of different ages involved in the service. Worship begins when one of the children chimes the hour with a handbell. We also include a Children’s Time in each worship service. Those 6th grade and younger meet with one of the ministers around the communion table to further understand the ways we are worshiping on that particular Sunday. Children occasionally lead in worship through choral anthems, the reading of scripture, lighting candles and creating cover art for the Worship Guide.

We also have a nursery available for infants through 3 years old. The trained nursery staff provides a safe and caring environment for young children to learn that church is a place where they are loved. Older preschoolers and kindergartners sit with their families during the first part of the worship service. Here they learn the importance of families worshiping together. They share in singing hymns and offering prayers. They are also given a Children’s Worship Guide created each week with activities specifically related to worship for that Sunday. After the Children’s Time at the communion table, preschoolers and kindergartners move to one of the classrooms to continue their time of worship in our extended session.

Emmanuel values its rich Baptist heritage, but also partners with other Christian denominations in ministry. We support and share in the work of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, particularly with fellow CBF churches in the state of Louisiana. We also partner in service with churches and ministries of the Louisiana Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention.

Some have described Emmanuel as a “different kind of Baptist” church. But we know that all Baptist churches are unique in their own way. At Emmanuel, we strive to be the kind of church that practices God’s grace in real ways. We want people to feel like they can lift their hearts in worship without neglecting their minds. We also believe that God can use people of all ages and all backgrounds to make a difference in the world. That’s one reason we gladly affirm the gifts of women in ministry. We welcome you to come and see for yourself what kind of church Emmanuel is.