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Grief changes us. Whether a loss is recent or many years ago, the death of someone important can leave questions, pain and emotions that feel hard to name, let alone share. After Easter, Emmanuel will be running The Bereavement Journey, a nationally recognised programme that offers a gentle, thoughtful space to explore loss, grief and the impact bereavement has on our lives. Through a series of short films, honest stories and guided group conversations, participants are supported to reflect on their own journey of grief, understand what they are experiencing and consider what healthy next steps might look like for them. You do not need to have everything figured out. You just need to come as you are. The course runs over six weekly sessions, with an optional seventh session that explores spiritual questions around loss and hope from a Christian perspective. This final session is entirely optional and the programme as a whole is suitable for people of any faith or none. When : Tuesdays, 2.00 pm – 3.45 pm Dates: 21st April to 9th June (excluding half term week, 26th May) Who: Anyone aged 18+ who has experienced the death of someone important, at any time. Where: Emmanuel Church If you would like to register your interest, please do so via the Church App and we will be in touch. Those not connected with Emmanuel can register interest through the church website . You are also very welcome to speak to Kathryn McGuinness or Tim Lyddon if you would like to know more before signing up. If you know someone who may benefit from this, please do pass this on. Sometimes the greatest gift we can offer is simply a safe place to grieve, together. As Christians, we believe Jesus meets us in our pain and walks with us through the valley. This course is one small way we seek to offer that compassion, care and hope to our city.

A Rocha, the charity who run eco church, have a calendar of monthly eco activities to help us appreciate the beauty and diversity of creation, think about how we can reduce our impact, and how we can improve our local environment For January, you are invited to take part in the RSPB  Big Garden Bird Watch. The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch (Friday 23-Sunday 25 January) is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey! Last year, nearly 600,000 people took part and over nine million birds were counted. We’ve lost a staggering 38 million birds from UK skies in the last 60 years. With birds facing so many challenges, it’s more important than ever to get involved in the Birdwatch. To take part, spend one hour counting the birds you see in one location – your garden, balcony or a local park. Submit your findings to the RSPB. You can download a free guide and ID chart to help you identify the birds you spot on the RSPB website. Find out more at: rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch (And don’t worry if you are on the Church weekend away, you could take part from Lee Abbey!) Watch for more tips in the Lampost or for more eco-tips, sign up to A Rocha UK’s Wild Christian email:   arocha.org.uk/wild-christian   To find out more about the eco church process visit     https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/   The eco church website also offers a wide range of resources   https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/resources/

It is an incredibly exciting time to be part of Emmanuel. We are seeing God move in wonderful ways, with our worshipping community growing to over 200 people and our home groups now supporting 120 members. However, being "a light to the city" in 2025 brings with it a new set of healthy pressures. As we grow, we have reached a strategic "inflection point" where our current resources are stretched to their limit. The Reality of Our Growth  For nearly three years, we have been operating without an Associate Rector, which has meant considerable stretch on the team. While we have seen amazing momentum, our current "paid staff" capacity equates to roughly only one full-time role to support our entire community. To keep our church safe, vibrant, and outward-looking, we need to move from a season of "endurance" to one of "investment". The Financial Challenge  Transparency is one of our values, and we want our community to understand the landscape we are navigating:   Emmanuel St Andrews St M’s + StS’s Emmanuel & St Pauls Notes.   2024 Participation number 146 264 140 182 140 seems low for St Matts given other data 2024 giving, incl gift aid, excl legacies 175,000 335,000 240,000 198,000 St Paul's Giving is £23k.  2024 giving per participant 1,200 1,300 1,700 1,100 Common Fund request for 2026 97,000 151,000 83,000 121,000 Common Fund request for 2025 93,000 144,000 83,000 114,000 CF request 2024 93,000 145,000 78,000 114,000. CF payment 2024 93,000 145,000 57,000 114,000 According to accounts on the charity commission website.  Paid clergy 1 2 2 1 Not counting Tony at Emmanuel and St Pauls Paid Staff approx. FTE 1 6 4 1   2024 wages paid 26,000 145,000 127,000 26,000 At Emm, a Youth Worker would add about £34,000 2024 total income  259,000 453,000 284,000 314,000 For Emm 20K is special gift to pay for youthworker. St Pauls gets about 22k a year to run Soup Run and Food Bank.  Ratio of wages to income 23% 32% 45% 19% Emm percentage includes a FT Youth Worker currently in vacancy. Although the role is coming out of reserves. The Common Fund:  Emmanuel and St Paul’s contribute significantly to the wider Diocese—approximately £114,000 annually—to support mission across the region. Staffing Ratios:  Currently, only about 19% to 23% of our income goes toward the staff who run our ministries, which is much lower than many comparable churches. Operational Needs:  The world has changed. Modern requirements for safeguarding, data protection, and complex charity legislation mean we can no longer rely solely on the volunteer models of the past. Where We Are Heading  We aren't looking for quick fixes; we are looking to build a foundation that lasts. This means creating dedicated capacity for our work with children and young people, strengthening our worship, and professionalizing our operations to reduce risk and protect our mission. How You Can Join Us in This Season This is an invitation for all of us to seek God’s heart for Emmanuel together. As we step into this new chapter, I am asking our church family and friends to join me in three specific ways: 1. Pray for Guidance and Provision  Please join us in asking for God’s wisdom as we navigate these strategic decisions. We are specifically praying for His provision for our Youth Leader role. We have seen such life in our younger generations, and we want to ensure they have the dedicated leadership they need to flourish. 2. Discern the Call to Lead  As we grow, the "Acts 6" moment reminds us that God often uses seasons of change to call new people into leadership. I ask that you prayerfully consider if God is nudging you to step up into a new area of service or leadership in this next season. We want to be a church where every gift is recognized and released. 3. Review Our Giving  To make this vision a reality, we need to ensure our resources align with our mission. I am asking everyone who calls Emmanuel home to prayerfully review their giving. Our goal is to create a sustainable foundation that allows us to employ an Operations Manager to stabilize our systems, sustain our vital Youth Ministry, and eventually explore the possibility of a Worship Pastor to lead us into the future. This is not about meeting a budget; it is about enabling a mission. It is about ensuring that Emmanuel remains a healthy, safe, and vibrant "light to the city" for generations to come. Thank you for standing with us as we step into this next chapter. Peter Shaw   Team Rector

St Paul's Efford, join us for our Sunday service at 10am. Welcome to St paul's Church EFFORD ONE BIG FAMILY We're a community of Christians who seek to follow Jesus Christ in our daily lives. Church is so much more than the building we meet in each week. It's a vibrant community of people of all ages. We help each other to follow Jesus Christ as we live and work in Plymouth. MEET THE TEAM Looking Upward to our Lord in Prayer, Inward that his Word might shape our lives and Outward to fulfil our Great Commission our services Every week we meet on : sundays 10.00AM Main service Our main service aims to be lively and relevant to life, based upon teaching from the Bible. There is something for all the family with children's activities available. Be sure to stick around after the service for a refreshments and some great chat. 6.30pM evening service FIRST SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH An informal but exciting meeting for Praise & Prayer. We sing together and we pray together for the needs of the world, the local community, and one another. our LOCATION 100 Efford Lane, Efford, Plymouth, PL3 6LT safe guarding statement If you have a concern about the safety of someone or the actions of someone working with children or vulnerable adults, please speak to someone. The Diocesan Safeguarding Team can be contacted here . Our Safeguarding Policy Statement can be viewed here . If you are a young person and you feel unhappy about something happening to you, you can call Childline on 0800 11 11 our team includes: Rev Darryl Cree Vicar of St. Paul's Rev Bev Cree Parish Deacon Rev Peter Shaw Team Rector Rev Robin Brown Team Vicar Rev Simon Springett Permission to Officiate get in touch If you would like to get in touch, please contact the office by emailing info@stpaulsefford.co.uk or call us on 01752 260317 Submit Thanks for submitting! back to emmanuel Church Up

Our kids’ groups are safe, fun, and full of exciting ways to learn about Jesus. From singing and games to Bible stories and crafts, every session is designed to help children grow in faith and friendship. KIDS Children aged between 0-10 At Emmanuel Church Plymouth, we love welcoming children and families! Our kids’ groups are safe, fun, and full of exciting ways to learn about Jesus. From singing and games to Bible stories and crafts, every session is designed to help children grow in faith and friendship. Whether your child is a toddler or in primary school, there’s a place just for them on Sundays and during the week. Our team is caring, DBS-checked, and passionate about making church a place your kids will love. Little Sparks 0-5 years old Thursdays in term time Every Thursday (in term time) 9:30am At Emmanuel Church Bring your little ones along for a morning of fun and friendship with other families. This is a warm and welcoming group where parents, carers, and toddlers can: Play and explore together Meet new friends Share support and laughter Open to all families, whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or carer. Suggested Donation of £1 Per Family - Book on Here Light Factory Primary school children Thursday (once a month) First Thursday of the month during term time Doors open 3:30, 4:00 - 5:00 activities At Emmanuel Church Hall Each month, children will explore a fun theme that connects with their everyday world—while discovering where Jesus is at work all around them. This interactive program is a wonderful introduction to just how much Jesus loves us! Snacks to keep energy up Big group games Creative craft activities The occasional bouncy castle ☕ Meanwhile, parents can relax in our free café—a welcoming space to put your feet up with a hot drink while we entertain your children. Open to all families, whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or carer. £2 per session Sunday Services During our sunday services we provide kids groups for children to enjoy and enable parents and carers the opportunity to focus on the service Tiny Beacons 2-5 years old SUNDAY 10:30 at the Sunday service In the Oval room at Emmanuel Church A joyful morning of discovery, play and faith. Through sensory activities, story time, songs, and hands-on fun, preschoolers will explore the wonder of God’s love in ways that engage their hearts, minds, and imaginations. Sensory and explorative play stations Bible story time designed for little learners Joyful songs and simple activities A safe and welcoming space to encounter Jesus’ love FREE per session Torch Bearers 6-10 years old SUNDAY 10:30 at the Sunday service Church Hall at Emmanuel Church Games, activities and loads of fun. Children will dive into the Bible to discover how to be lights for the city by spending time with Jesus and learning to become more like Him. Engaging Bible activities Exciting games and challenges Fun with friends in a safe, faith-filled environment Practical lessons on living as lights for Jesus in everyday life FREE per session Older Children We offer a range of activities for children over 10 years old more info

Emmanuel Church, Plymouth. A light for the city. Join us for worship and community. 👋 HELLO new here? Services What's on A light for the City We are committed to being a visible and transformative presence in Plymouth, shining the hope of Christ into our community. Through worship, transformed lives, and compassionate outreach, we share His love and bring renewal to our city. vision from the well to the waters the god who sees Each week explores how God’s story unfolds from creation to covenant, revealing His desire to dwell with His people and preparing our hearts to see His promises fulfilled in Christ. sermon series alpha Join us as we unpack the Christian faith together — asking the big questions about life, meaning, and God in a relaxed, welcoming space. Alpha is all about honest conversation, good food, and real community, whether you’re curious, sceptical, or just exploring. Come for the food, stay for the conversation. more info The Bereavement Journey Grief changes us. Whether a loss is recent or many years ago, the death of someone important can leave questions, pain and emotions that feel hard to name, let alone share. After Easter, Emmanuel will be running The Bereavement Journey, a nationally recognised programme that offers a gentle, thoughtful space to explore loss, grief and the impact bereavement has on our lives. Through a series of short films, honest stories and guided group conversations, participants are suppo Kathryn McGuinness 6 hours ago 2 min read Welcome to 2026 eco tips! A Rocha, the charity who run eco church, have a calendar of monthly eco activities to help us appreciate the beauty and diversity of creation, think about how we can reduce our impact, and how we can improve our local environment For January, you are invited to take part in the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch. The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch (Friday 23-Sunday 25 January) is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey! Last year, nearly 600,000 people took part and over nine millio Sarah Prance 6 days ago 1 min read Investing in the Future: A Season of Growth at Emmanuel It is an incredibly exciting time to be part of Emmanuel. We are seeing God move in wonderful ways, with our worshipping community growing to over 200 people and our home groups now supporting 120 members. However, being "a light to the city" in 2025 brings with it a new set of healthy pressures. As we grow, we have reached a strategic "inflection point" where our current resources are stretched to their limit. The Reality of Our Growth For nearly three years, we have been o Peter Shaw 6 days ago 3 min read more posts SIGN UP Scan to download our Church Centre App to get the most out of Emmanuel