On Saturday 10th October, a group of women from Emmanuel travelled to Birmingham for the Orchard conference. Rachel Hughes and Amy Hughes independently had visions in 2020, and were drawn again and again to Jeremiah 17:7, a picture of a tree that “sends out its roots by the stream,” that “has no worries in a year of drought” and “never fails to bear fruit.” That image shaped everything. They then had the vision of an orchard. A vast company of women, deeply rooted and abundantly fruitful. Women filled by the Holy Spirit. Women sustained by Biblical truth. Women liberated by Jesus from all that keeps them captive, so they can carry freedom wherever they go. From that vision, Orchard Women was born and the highlight each year are 2 conferences, one in London (next year, Brighton) and one in Birmingham. This year, 3000 women gathered around Romans 12:2 to ‘be transformed by the renewing of your mind’. Most of us know what it is to be held back by our own thinking. There are thought patterns that keep returning, and a voice that tells us who we are and what's possible. God says one thing, our internal voice says another, and over time, without us really choosing it, the wrong voice wins. It was a day led by truly inspirational women of God, for women to be empowered by the Holy Spirit and to step boldly and purposefully into every season of life. Through outstanding, Biblically based talks, Spirit-led worship, and powerful prayer ministry, we were taken on an emotional journey. Through vulnerability, Christine Caine spoke about David and Goliath, but not in a way any of us would have heard before! I could have listened to her for hours! We were challenged to identify our own Goliaths that can hinder us in our spiritual journey, and become women sustained by the truth of God’s Word, to be unswayed by the values of the culture around us, and to know that we are women who are imperfect, but completely loved. Never having gone to such an event, I was apprehensive walking into the ICC with 3000 other women and hundreds of teenagers, but I am so glad I went. The teaching was brilliant, the sung worship made room for God to move, and I certainly left feeling more equipped, and more convinced than ever of my value and identity as a child of God. In the youth stream, so many teenagers gave their lives to Jesus, and we were able to celebrate that together towards the end. Such a special day. So much so, that I have already booked for next year! Will you join us? "I thought the energy that arose when the youngsters came in was tangible and will be a spiritual force to be reckoned with. I also could have listened to more from the speakers, they were great." “The Orchard is a breath of fresh air. To be able to abandon myself in worship with words I understand and no children tugging on me is so good for my soul. It fills me up ready to be sent back.” “For me The Orchard was a real breakthrough of knowing I am seen by God. Amy's talk was impactful and I went forward for prayer and the lady praying simply prayed a series of blessings which were spot on.” "It was a day of gentle nudges, of experiencing the presence of God, of feeling freer and letting go of burdens I have been carrying." Early bird tickets are available from www.theorchardwomen.com

A new sermon series at Emmanuel: discovering the presence of God in the places where life feels darkest. There are seasons in life when faith does not feel like clarity or certainty. Sometimes, faith looks more like waiting in the dark. We wait for grief to ease. We wait for healing that does not come. We wait for justice, struggle with anxiety about the future, or find ourselves wondering where God is in the midst of loneliness and uncertainty. The Bible is wonderfully honest about these experiences. It does not pretend that life is always straightforward, that prayer always brings an immediate answer, or that following Jesus means we will never face suffering. Instead, Scripture invites us to discover something remarkable: even in the darkest places, we can encounter the living God. This autumn at Emmanuel, we are beginning a new sermon series, In the Darkness We Were Waiting, exploring what it means to meet God in the difficult and uncertain seasons of life. Meeting God in the darkness Throughout the series, we will journey through Scripture, listening to the voices of people who knew what it was to wait. We will explore the raw honesty of the Psalms, the hope Jesus offers in the face of death, his invitation to trust amid anxiety, and the faith of those who continued to seek God when his presence seemed hidden. We will consider what it means to wait in grief and loss, live with long-term illness, long for justice, face an uncertain future, and wrestle with doubt when faith feels thin. These are not simply abstract theological questions. They are experiences that touch our lives, our families and our community. Some of us may be walking through these seasons ourselves; others may be supporting friends or loved ones who are. This is not a series about easy answers or pretending that darkness is not dark. It is about discovering that God meets us there. Sometimes, in the darkest moments, we discover the depth of his love. Sometimes, when we have nothing left, we encounter his strength. Sometimes, in the silence, we become more aware of his presence. And sometimes, when everything familiar has been stripped away, we begin to see his light in a new way. The light shines in the darkness At the heart of the series is Remembrance Sunday, when we will hold before God the reality of death, war and sacrifice, remembering those who gave their lives and those who continue to live with the consequences of conflict. Here, perhaps more than anywhere, we are reminded that Christian hope does not depend on ignoring the darkness. It rests on the God who has entered it. In Jesus Christ, God came among us. He knew suffering, sorrow, betrayal, abandonment and death from the inside. At the cross, Jesus entered the very depths of human darkness. Yet death did not have the final word. In his resurrection, we see the promise that darkness, suffering and even death cannot ultimately overcome the life and love of God. As John writes in the opening chapter of his Gospel,  “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:5) This is the hope at the heart of our faith. Not that we will never experience darkness, but that we never have to face it alone. A journey through Scripture Starting 25th October: Over eight weeks, we will explore different experiences of waiting and what it means to seek God in each of them: Waiting in grief and loss: finding words for our sorrow and hope when life has changed. Waiting in long-term illness: discovering God's presence when healing seems distant. Waiting in death and remembrance: facing the reality of death while holding on to the hope of Christ. Waiting in suffering: bringing our frustration and longing before a God who hears our cries. Waiting in anxiety and fear of the future: learning to trust God when tomorrow feels uncertain. Waiting in loneliness and hiddenness: seeking God when we feel unseen or forgotten. Waiting in doubt: discovering that even fragile faith can bring us to Jesus. Waiting in the ordinary after Christmas: learning to recognise God's presence in the quiet, everyday rhythms of life. Each week, we will turn to the Bible not simply for information, but to encounter the God who speaks, loves, sustains and transforms us. We do not wait alone At Emmanuel, our vision is to be a light to the city. We want to be a church where people can come honestly, bringing the whole of their lives before God: the joy and the sorrow, the confidence and the questions, the strength and the weakness. We believe the Church should be a place where people do not have to hide their struggles or pretend to have everything together. As we learn to meet God in our own darkness, we can also become people who bring his compassion, hope and light to others. We are those who wait in the dark. But we wait looking for God. Even in darkness, he is present. Even in suffering, he is loving. Even in weakness, his power is at work. And even when we cannot see the way ahead, the light of Christ still shines. We do not simply wait for the darkness to end. We meet God in the darkness. We invite you to join us at Emmanuel as we journey through Scripture together, making space for honest questions, deeper faith and the hope that is found in Jesus Christ.

Since starting as Operations Manager with Emmanuel Church in July, I’ve been discovering what it means to work somewhere where God is right at the centre of everything. I do like to begin the day with a plan. Ideally, a neat one. Possibly colour-coded. A tidy to-do list, a sensible order of events, and the quiet confidence that I know roughly what is going to happen next. And then God, with perfect timing and a wonderful sense of humour, very often says, “That’s lovely, Jane, but let’s try this instead.” Emmanuel PCC is funding seven hours of my time to support St Mary’s, Laira, which is currently dealing with some serious structural and roof repairs — the sort of thing that makes you look upwards in church for both spiritual and practical reasons. Last week I arranged the very first meeting of the Friends of St Mary’s, and I was feeling quietly pleased with myself. Slides prepared? Yes. Agenda ready? Yes. Attendees invited? Yes. Refreshments sorted? Of course. I was practically glowing with administrative virtue. Then, the night before the meeting, I had a phone call asking whether the bell ringers could come at exactly the same time as the meeting. My first thought was, “Well, that will certainly add to the atmosphere.” My second thought was, “Oh it might be noisy” But in the spirit of adventure I said yes. At the start of the meeting, things began to unravel with impressive speed. The slides absolutely refused to appear on the projector screen, the bells were ringing with heroic enthusiasm, and hearing one another became less of a meeting technique and more of an extreme sport. It had all the ingredients of organised chaos — although, if I’m honest, the organised part was becoming increasingly theoretical. At that point, the only sensible options were to laugh, breathe, and pretend this had been the plan all along. And then, wonderfully, two teenage girls joined us and shared what life is like for young people in Laira. They told us where they spend time, what they enjoy, and what they would love to see locally. It was honest, helpful, and genuinely encouraging — the sort of contribution no slide deck could have improved on. So we carried on — bells, missing slides, raised voices, good humour and all — and somehow ended up having exactly the conversations we needed to have. Then, right at the end, a face appeared at the door. He had heard the bells and wondered whether he could help. It turned out he was a structural engineer who lived on the same street as the church, and he said he would be happy to offer some of his time. Honestly, you could not make it up. My carefully planned meeting had been cheerfully hijacked by bell ringing, technical failure, teenage honesty, and one very timely structural engineer. It was not quite the agenda I had printed — but it may well have been exactly the agenda God had prepared.

SAFEGUARDING Your safety matters to us. If you believe someone is in immediate danger, call 999 straight away. If you are worried about a child, young person or vulnerable adult, or about the behaviour of someone involved in church activities, please speak to someone. You do not need proof to raise a concern. You can contact: Parish Safeguarding Representative: Carol Springett Diocesan Safeguarding Team by clicking here NSPCC: 0808 800 5000 Childline (for young people): 0800 1111 If you would prefer to speak to someone outside the church, you can call Plymouth City Council’s safeguarding services on 01752 668000 . You can also call 101 for police in non-emergency situations. National helplines: NSPCC – 0808 800 5000 Childline – 0800 1111 Stop it Now – 0808 1000 900 NAPAC – 0808 801 0331 Samaritans – 116 123 Family Lives – 0808 800 2222 National Domestic Violence Helpline – 0808 2000 247 Action on Elder Abuse – 0808 808 8141 Report a concern Emmanuel Plymouth Parish Safeguarding Policy Statement Statement of Safeguarding Principles The Emmanuel, Plymouth Parochial Church Council fully recognises and accepts the House of Bishops' Safeguarding Policy Statement "Promoting a Safer Church 2017", and commits to complying with the current Church of England and Diocesan safeguarding policies and practice guidance. In so doing we will comply with the secular multi-agency safeguarding procedures relating to children and young people and adults experiencing or at risk of harm, abuse or neglect. We are committed to: Promoting a safer environment and culture within our Parish and in our Parish activities by adhering to safe working practices and acknowledge the principle that safeguarding is everyone's business. In addition we will ensure that any individual organisation renting/using our premises for activities involving children, young people or vulnerable adults is aware of this, our Safeguarding Policy, and aware of their own individual responsibilities to have appropriate safeguarding policies and processes in place, including safer recruitment. Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibilities related to children, young people and vulnerable adults within the Church in accordance with the House of Bishops' Safer Recruitment: Practice Guidance 2016. We will ensure those appointed are aware of the Diocesan and Parish Safeguarding Policies and are aware of their roles and responsibilities. We will support them by ensuring they receive Diocesan safeguarding training commensurate with their role and that they are fully aware of and have access to the practice guidance. Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation in accordance with the statutory child and adult safeguarding procedures and the House of Bishops' safeguarding practice guidance. We will ensure that any complaint made regarding a vulnerable person, who may have been harmed or is in significant danger, will be reported immediately and we will fully cooperate with statutory agencies during any investigation into allegations concerning a member of the church community or any other person. Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons. We will seek to offer informed pastoral care and support to anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them an appropriate ministry that recognises the importance of understanding the needs of those who have been abused, including their feelings of alienation and/or isolation and provide them with details of local and national support agencies. Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons. We will work with others to ensure the appropriate support for them and those affected. Where that person is considered to pose a risk to others, we will work with the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor to mitigate any identified risk. Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others. We will endeavour to offer pastoral care and support whilst ensuring any risk has been assessed and is being managed in accordance with House of Bishops' policy and guidance and in collaboration with the statutory agencies and the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor. Safeguarding representative We will ensure that there is an identified person to be the Parish Safeguarding Representative who will be suitably recruited and trained, and is aware of their role and responsibilities, and who will be the point of contact for any concerns. We have appointed Carol Springett as our Parish Safeguarding Representative. Guidance Copies of Diocesan and parish guidelines and procedures are held by Mrs Carol Springett. Review This policy will be formally reviewed annually and a copy shared with the Archdeacon at the time of the Visitation. Date of Adoption The PCC of this Church agreed and adopted the above Policy at its meeting on 15 May 2025. The PCC shall review this policy annually. The next review will take place at the first PCC meeting following the APCM to be held May 2026.

living hope easter at Emmanuel The Well Prayer Room During Holy Week, we will have a Prayer Room Open with various stations around the room. The Well will be open between 11.00am and 1.00pm from Monday 30th March to Friday 3rd April, without the need to book in advance. Maundy Thursday Communion Service 2nd April | 7:00pm | Emmanuel Church A quiet, reflective service as we remember Jesus’ final evening with his disciples. We will have a time of Holy Communion and optional foot washing. Worship at the Well 2nd April | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | The Oval Room Join us for a time of worship, prayer and space to draw near to God during holy week. Good Friday All Age Gathering 3rd April | 10:30am | Emmanuel Church Join us as we come together to remember Good Friday and the amazing love shown through the cross. Good Friday Reflective Gathering 3rd April | 6:30pm | Emmanuel Church Join us as we gather to remember Good Friday in a reflective way we will have time for stillness, reflection, and prayer as we enter into the story of Good Friday together. Easter Sunrise Service 5th April | 6:45am | Location Below As the sun rises, we will meet together for a short time in scripture, and prayer. After the service, we will gather enjoy hot cross buns together. Location: What3Words – Sprinkler.Advantage.Grace Easter Sunday All Age Celebration 5th April | 10:30am | Emmanuel Church Join us as we gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. It will be an all-age service filled with joy, worship, and baptisms as we gather to celebrate new life and the heart of the Easter story. where are we

Building real friendships, exploring faith, and having loads of fun along the way. Aimed at ages 11 to 17, we meet regularly for games, food, discussion, and time to dig into what it means to follow Jesus in everyday life. YOUTH Aged between 11 -17 Our youth activities are all about building real friendships, exploring faith, and having loads of fun along the way. Aimed at ages 11 to 17, we meet regularly for games, food, discussion, and time to dig into what it means to follow Jesus in everyday life. Whether you're already part of church or just curious, you’re always welcome. We create a space where everyone is valued, listened to, and encouraged and our committed team is here to support young people through every high and low. Sundays 10:30am Flames 11 to 13yrs Flames is our group for young people aged 11 to 13. We start off together in the main 10:30am service, joining the whole church family for worship. After a short time at the front to share what we’ll be up to and receive a prayer, we head over to our own group in the church hall. There, we dive into Bible-based discussions, fun activities, and time to grow in faith together. Flame re-join the main service either at the communion rail or during the final hymn if it’s a morning prayer service. Sundays 6pm Bereans 14 to 17yrs Named after the truth-seeking believers in Acts 17, Bereans is our youth group for ages 14 to 17. We begin the evening service together in church, joining in worship before heading to the youth room for our own time of teaching, discussion, and prayer. Bereans is a space where young people can explore big questions about life and faith, dig deeper into the Bible, and encourage each other in following Jesus. Whether you're confident in your faith or just curious, everyone is welcome. Wednesdays 5:30 - 7:30pm Illuminate Youth Group 11 to 17yrs Our weekly youth group is open to anyone aged 11 to 17 and meets during term time in the new youth room. It’s a relaxed, welcoming space where friendships grow and faith can be explored at your own pace. Each week we share a meal together, because good food and good conversation go hand in hand! There's time for fun and games, as well as space to chat, ask questions, and dive into meaningful discussions about life, faith, and what it means to follow Jesus today. Whether you're part of the church or just looking for a place to belong, you’re always welcome.