A Church on East Jefferson in Blissfield
Emmanuel United Methodist Church sits at 215 East Jefferson Street in the heart of Blissfield, Michigan, a small Lenawee County village where the River Raisin runs quietly past the historic main street. The congregation's motto is short and direct: Loving God. Loving Others. Making Disciples of Jesus Christ. Those three commitments shape everything from the rhythms of Sunday morning to the lineup of midweek meals, the youth mission work that has carried teenagers to the mountains of eastern Kentucky, and the long-running Vacation Bible School that draws children from across the area each summer.
The church building itself reflects its long presence in Blissfield. The sanctuary is large enough to welcome families together, with main-floor seating and a balcony, and the surrounding rooms host Sunday School classes for every age. Everyone is welcome to attend, and the congregation describes itself as made up of people from diverse backgrounds and walks of life who are committed to doing life together with one another and with Jesus Christ.
Sunday Morning in Blissfield
Sunday is the heart of the week at Emmanuel. Adult Sunday School gathers at 9:30 AM, with classes for every age running before the main service. The format is straightforward: arrive, study, share a coffee, and stay for worship. For those who cannot be in the building, Mark Crane leads a virtual Sunday School hour each week at 9:30 on Zoom, with a dial-in option for anyone joining by phone.
At 11:00 AM, the congregation gathers for the Worship Celebration. Services include sound Biblical sermons and offer a blend of traditional and contemporary styles, drawing on the long Methodist worship tradition while leaving room for modern music and casual dress. The church's invitation is as simple as its motto: come as you are.
Sunday worship is also livestreamed on Zoom, giving anyone who is traveling, homebound, or simply unable to attend in person a way to take part. The livestream can be focused on the speaker or the liturgy by pinning the video in the Zoom client, making it easy to follow along from home.
Children Welcome in the Sanctuary
Children are part of every Sunday at Emmanuel, not segregated from it. The voices of children are always welcome in morning worship, and family seating areas are available in the sanctuary and the balcony for parents who want a place where a fussy baby or a restless toddler will not disturb others. For families with very young children, nursery services are available each week for children under age four, giving parents a chance to focus on the sermon while little ones play in a safe, supervised space.
That same commitment shows up throughout the year. Each summer, Vacation Bible School fills the building with energy, music, and crafts. Recent themes have included Serengeti Trek, Maker Fun Factory, G-Force, Kingdom Rock, Operation Overboard, and Weird Animals, with the church welcoming children from age zero through fifth grade for evening VBS sessions. Parents and youth alike talk about how VBS has become one of the year's most anticipated weeks.
Wednesday Nights from September to May
From late September through May, Wednesday evenings take on their own rhythm. Families begin at 5:30 PM with a light meal together around the table, an old-fashioned fellowship supper that has become one of the church's most loved weekly traditions. After the meal, activities and Bible study for all ages run from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, with separate programming for children, youth, and adults so that every generation has a place.
Adults gather for an in-depth Bible study led by Lawson Crane, which has worked its way through the book of Proverbs with discussion and questions. The study takes place in a room large enough for distancing, and for anyone who would rather join from home, the same study is available via Zoom. Children and youth have their own classes and activities, often involving music, games, and creative ways to engage with Scripture.
During the school year, the Wednesday Night Talent Show and Wednesday Night Youth Lock-In have become highlights of the calendar, giving young people a place to perform, hang out, and grow together. Bells and other musical activities are part of the rotation, and occasional dance parties and game nights round out the programming.
Youth Ministry and Mission Work
Youth ministry is at the center of life at Emmanuel. A dedicated Youth and Children's Ministry Team of six adults - Beverly Crane, Judy Sampson, Kendra Goetz, Julie Keller, Tammy Butler, and Nicole Raker - organizes the Wednesday evening programming, the summer mission trip, the youth-led video series, and the regular youth-led services. The team works alongside the pastor to walk with young people from childhood through the senior year of high school.
Mission work has taken the youth group to Henderson Settlement in Kentucky, where they have served alongside other volunteers in rural Appalachian ministry. Closer to home, the youth have produced a series of original videos tackling questions like What is Lent?, Who Is That Man?, He's Gonna Be Mad, and Why We Trunk or Treat, giving young people a voice in the congregation's teaching and outreach.
The youth also participate in the River Raisin Festival Parade each summer, walking the parade route with a church float and passing out candy along the way. Trunk or Treat each October turns the church parking lot into a safe, family-friendly Halloween event, and the youth Christmas Program - in recent years a creative production called An Emoji Christmas - has become a beloved December tradition.
Community Life Beyond the Building
Emmanuel is woven into Blissfield's wider life in tangible ways. The church hosts a free community meal for Blissfield area residents, open to anyone and everyone in the community, held in the fellowship space and staffed by church volunteers. It is one of several outreach ministries that open the church's doors to neighbors who may not otherwise attend.
Other recurring community events include Christmas caroling at Blissfield Place, a Ladies' High Tea, an annual Talent Show that draws performers from across the congregation, Lenten Breakfasts during the holy weeks of Lent, and a Father-Derpose Sunday celebration each June. Pictures and videos of these gatherings are shared online so that members and friends can look back on shared memories.
The church's Vacation Bible School each August is genuinely open to the wider community, with registration open to children from age zero through fifth grade whether or not their families attend Emmanuel. Recent summers have seen VBS draw dozens of children for evenings of games, music, snacks, and Bible teaching.
Leadership and Pastoral Team
Pastor Devin serves as the church's pastor and is the primary preacher and teacher on Sunday mornings. The pastor walks alongside the Youth and Children's Ministry Team, the Staff-Parish Relations Committee, and the Administrative Council to set the tone for the congregation's life and ministry.
The lay leadership is broad. Earl McHenry is the Church Treasurer, Beryl McHenry chairs the Staff-Parish Relations Committee, and Jim Novak chairs the Administrative Council. Patty Hamann serves as Property Manager, keeping the building and grounds in good shape for Sunday worship, midweek programs, and the steady stream of community events. Brian Gorski serves as Church Secretary, working out of the office at Blissfield First United Methodist Church, since the two congregations share a secretary and the phones are forwarded to that office Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Mark Crane hosts the weekly Virtual Sunday School hour, and Lawson Crane leads the Wednesday night Adult Bible Study through the book of Proverbs. Together with the Youth and Children's Ministry Team, these lay leaders carry much of the teaching and program leadership that shape the congregation's week.
Affiliation and Identity
Emmanuel United Methodist Church is a congregation of the United Methodist Church and is part of the Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church. The congregation lives out of the denomination's connectional identity, sharing resources and ministry with neighboring United Methodist churches in the area, including Blissfield First United Methodist Church, with whom Emmanuel shares a secretary.
For those wishing to support the church's ministry, the church's email is EmmanuelUMC@live.com and the phone number is 517-486-3020, with calls forwarded to the shared secretary's office during business hours. The address is 215 East Jefferson Street, Blissfield, Michigan 49228. Visitors are welcome to drop in for Sunday worship, to join a Wednesday night meal and Bible study during the program year, or to stop by during office hours to meet the staff and learn more about the congregation's life and mission.