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If you have been sitting in our current sermon series through the book of Acts, you know that the Holy Spirit is deeply challenging our assumptions about comfort, stability, and what it means to be A Light for the City. Last Sunday, in the evening I looked at Acts 4 and a famous quote by a bishop who noted that "wherever the Apostle Paul went there was a riot; wherever I go, they serve tea." For decades, Western secularism has tried to confine our faith to the private living room, turning the explosive power of the resurrection into a polite, safe, cultural monument. The tragedy of the modern West is that our post-Christian culture has been exposed to just enough institutional Christianity to lose its power. We inoculated an entire generation against the real thing. But the vaccine is wearing off. A New Hunger Across the UK Last week, a brilliant new documentary was released called Awakening in the UK. If you haven't watched it yet, it is an absolute must-see. The film tracks a profound spiritual movement bubbling under the surface of our long-labeled "post-Christian" nation: a sudden, intense openness to the Gospel, a surge in radical prayer movements, and a deep Hunger for the presence of the Holy Spirit. YouTube The documentary highlights stories of churches rediscovering total dependence on God, and crucially, young adults and youth encountering Jesus for the very first time. The secular fortresses are cracking, and people are searching for reality. Let’s stop playing it safe. Let's stop protecting our comfort. Let's watch the resurrected King transform our city.

Hello friends, On Sunday, I mentioned a brilliant interview that I recently watched, and I wanted to give it a proper plug here for anyone looking for something uplifting and thought-provoking to dive into this week. The interview is on The Diary of a CEO podcast, where host Steven Bartlett sits down with Professor John Lennox. For those who might not know him, John is an Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at Oxford and a wonderful Christian apologist. He has spent his life showing that brilliant science and deep faith in Jesus do not just coexist, they actually beautifully complement each other. It is an absolutely fascinating conversation. They dive into some big, heavyweight questions that I know many of us wrestle with. How do we hold onto hope in a rapidly changing world? What does the rise of Artificial Intelligence mean for our identity and our future? What I loved most was how John reframes the conversation around AI. He reminds us that while technology can mimic human tasks, it can never replicate human consciousness or the unique soul God gave us. In a world trying to use technology to solve big human problems, John beautifully points out that Jesus solved our deepest need over 2,000 years ago on the cross. His life-changing work is where our true hope rests. Whether you are fully tracking with us in your faith journey, or if you are simply exploring the big questions of life, this interview is full of grace, intellect, and hope. As we try to be a hungry, hopeful, and holy people here at Emmanuel, listening to wisdom like this helps us grow as disciples so we can be a true light to our city. You can watch the full episode on YouTube, or listen to the audio on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. If you give it a watch or a listen, do let me know your thoughts. I would love to hear what resonated with you! With every blessing, Peter

The Orchard Women’s conference in Birmingham on Saturday 10th October 2026 Join us for a special day for women to be led by other inspirational women of God. It will be a day of worship, teaching, interviews and plenty of space to respond, receive prayer ministry and connect with others from across the UK. This day is designed for all women and teenagers to be empowered by the Holy Spirit and to step boldly and purposefully into every season of life. It is aimed to help us 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. The youth stream will give space to inspire and encourage girls aged 11–18 to see their worth, know how deeply God loves them and discover that God has a purpose for their life. The dream is to empower the next generation by declaring truth over their lives and allowing space for encounter with the Holy Spirit! As well as passionate worship, powerful teaching and prayer, there will be afternoon breakout sessions. These will range from dance and creative music workshops, to seminars on how to survive school as Christians, to chilled pamper and prayer space and so much more. Interested? We are hoping this year to take a minibus up to this event, so if you would like to be a part of this special day do chat with Steph or Pippa. To discover more: The Orchard Women's Conference 2026 — The Orchard

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. Thursdays 5:30 - 7:30pm Connected Youth 11 to 17yrs Our weekly youth group is open to anyone aged 11 to 17 and meets during term time in the church hall. 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.

NICE to meet you We know it can be daunting starting something new, but we are here to make sure you feel welcomed into your church community Hi, welcome to Emmanuel Church Plymouth We’re so glad you’re checking us out, and we’d love to get to know you and help you feel at home here. A great first step is signing up on our church portal – it’s the best way to stay in the loop with everything going on at Emmanuel. You can sign up for events, update your contact details and receive our weekly emails that keep you up-to-date with all that’s happening. We also run newcomers events, which are a great opportunity to meet some of the team and others who are new to Emmanuel. You can also join a Connect Group or one of our serving teams – both brilliant ways to build friendships and get involved in church life. If you’ve got any questions, feel free to drop us an email – we’d love to hear from you and help you get connected. SIGN UP FIRST STEPS Some simple steps to help you start your journey with us Sign up Visit Connect Attend Register on our portal Come to a service Lets get social Join an event Welcome Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Romans 15:7

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. 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.