A 1925 Cornerstone on Summit Avenue
Emmanuel United Methodist Church stands on the southeast corner of Summit Avenue and Howard Street in Hagerstown, Maryland, a building with roots that reach back to the spring of 1923. That June, the Official Board of St. Paul's Church discussed opening a third United Brethren congregation in Hagerstown, and Mr. and Mrs. Warphy Miller soon presented the lot for the project. By November, ground was broken. The following June, the cornerstone was laid. Emmanuel's 111 members held prayer meetings in private homes until the permanent building was ready, and the first Sunday school session gathered 112 people in the nearly finished sanctuary in January 1925. On February 1, 1925, the new Emmanuel United Brethren Church was dedicated, with Rev. Carl N. Mundis as the first pastor.
The congregation that began as United Brethren has lived through three denominational chapters. In 1946, the Evangelical Church and the United Brethren Churches merged, and a new sanctuary was completed in 1955, followed by educational facilities in 1968. In December 1970, the name was changed to Emmanuel United Methodist Church. Recent building improvements have added an elevator for accessibility and an upgraded HVAC system, but the church's own description of itself is unchanged by any of it. The motto reads, "A Family of Disciples Devoted to Loving and Serving Jesus," and the congregation points to its people, not its building, as the biggest asset.
Two Sunday Mornings, One Family
Sunday at Emmanuel begins early and runs through mid-morning. A spirit-filled Early Worship service starts at 8:15 a.m., geared toward busy families who want a shorter option before the rest of the day begins. Both services are livestreamed on the church's Facebook page for those who cannot attend in person.
At 9:30 a.m., the main Traditional Worship Service fills the sanctuary. Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month. Children attend the worship service through the Children's Message, then head upstairs to the education department for their own Sunday school time while the adults continue in the sanctuary. From 10:30 to 11:00 a.m., the congregation gathers for Fellowship Time, with coffee, drinks, and snacks. Worship at Emmanuel blends traditional and contemporary elements, and the church describes its people as welcoming and friendly and its services as spiritually uplifting.
Sunday School for Every Age
Emmanuel's Sunday school program runs from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m. and offers two adult classes alongside the children's program. The Meridian Class meets in the Adult Sunday School Room and uses the United Methodist Sunday School Curriculum. It is led by a different teacher each week in a lecture style, and the class describes itself as a sharing and caring group. The Journey in Faith class is discussion-based and meets on the second and fourth Sunday of each month in the church library, looking at various topics from scripture's viewpoint. New members are welcomed in either class.
Children's Sunday School covers Pre-K through fifth grade and uses Gospel Light Literature, with team teachers engaging and enlightening the students. The children's ministry is supported by a Children's Choir that rehearses during Children's Church on Sunday morning and sings once a month. Vacation Bible School runs each summer with a different annual theme, complete with crafts, singing, and hands-on learning.
Life Groups: Small in Size, Big in Heart
Emmanuel describes its Life Groups as "small in size and big in heart," and the congregation offers several of them across the week. The South Pointe Life Group meets at the Mitchell home, 1214 Hillbrook Drive in Hagerstown, on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m., gathering around food, study, and fellowship.
The West Virginia Life Group, nicknamed "Burt's Place," meets on Tuesdays at 7:15 p.m. The first Tuesday of each month is broadcast on Facebook Live; the second, third, fourth, and fifth Tuesdays meet at Domino's Pizza in Spring Mills, West Virginia, and the service is also shared on Facebook. The group includes fellowship, music, discussion, and a message, and is led by Pastor Randy.
A Thursday Morning Bible Study Group meets at 8:30 a.m. in the church library. Open to all, the group studies various authors and uses the Bible and video to help members live faithfully as followers of Christ. Each module of study is intended to support the walk with God.
Men's fellowship is built into the weekly rhythm in two ways. An Informal Men's Breakfast meets every Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. at the Hagerstown Diner on Dual Highway for prayer and breakfast. A Men's Devotional Bible Study gathers at 7:30 a.m. every Friday in the church library for prayer and discussion. Women readers gather for the Anam Cara Book Group, which meets monthly to discuss a book of interest.
The Prayer Shawl Group meets on the first Saturday of each month from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., making baby blankets and prayer shawls for those in need of comfort. Beginners are taught how to start, and those who already know how to knit or crochet but cannot attend the meeting can pick up instructions to work at home. Liz Alberding oversees the group.
Relevant Youth and the Next Generation
Emmanuel's youth ministry is called Relevant Youth, and the name sums up the goal. The program is led by volunteer Youth Coordinators Amanda Manspeaker and Katie Mitchell, and it focuses on developing a closer relationship with the Lord, preparing young people to serve Him every day, and sharing the gospel with families and friends. Youth activities include food, fun, games, music, praise, and Bible lessons, and the group gathers with partner congregations at times, including recent events at Shiloh UMC. The youth ministry has its own Facebook presence under the Relevant Youth banner.
Beyond Sunday morning, the children's ministry continues to reach beyond the church walls. Emmanuel used to run a Good News Club after-school Bible Club at Emma K. Doub Elementary School, bringing the word of God to participant children. The club has been on pause since COVID, and the church has expressed interest in hearing from volunteers who would like to start it up again.
Music is a key part of the next generation's worship life as well. Children's Choir practices during Children's Church on Sunday morning and sings once a month, and the Chancel Choir presents anthems at the 9:30 service, with special presentations including the Easter and Christmas Cantatas. Musicians who would like to share their talents at Emmanuel are invited to reach out to Dave Miller.
Music, Prayer Shawls, and Parish Nurses
Emmanuel's ministries provide care, compassion, and service both inside and outside the congregation. The Missions Committee distributes funds to missions, charities, and organizations, with specific projects that receive donations including Salvation Army Christmas stockings, African Women in Need, and Nan McCurdy. The Evangelism Committee coordinates Fellowship Time refreshments after the 9:30 service each week and provides welcome bags for visitors.
The Parish Nurse program interacts with all age groups and individuals and families at Emmanuel. Parish nurses serve as Health Educators, Health Counselors, Referral Sources, Case Managers, Trainers of Volunteers, and Facilitators of Support Groups. Monthly Blood Pressure Checks are offered alongside any health questions that arise.
The 55 & Up Group meets for luncheon on the third Wednesday of each month, with topics and locations changing every month. Members gather for food, fun, and fellowship, and the church invites new members of any age to attend.
ActsChange: A Blessing Box and Micah's Backpack
Emmanuel's outreach to the broader Hagerstown community flows through a ministry the church calls ActsChange, described with the tagline "Christ's people in action." The verse at the heart of the program is Acts 4:32: "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had."
The most visible part of ActsChange is the Blessing Box, a street-side food pantry on the church property. Visitors can take what they need and give what they can. Congregants are invited to bring canned food and non-perishable food items to the church to be placed in the Blessing Box. Fellowship luncheons and dinners are also scheduled for the community, with dates announced on the church marquee or by calling the church office.
Inside the schools, Micah's Backpack provides food every weekend during the school year to students at Emma Kay Doub Elementary who have been identified as hungry, supporting children in the neighborhood that surrounds the church. Emmanuel also participates in REACH, a hosting week coordinated by Melissa Hargreaves. Through REACH and other partnerships, the congregation extends its reach beyond Summit Avenue.
Where to Park and How to Give
Visitors driving to 802 Summit Avenue will find two parking lots available. One sits at the southwest corner of Summit and Howard Streets, and the other is in the 800 block of Guilford Avenue behind the church. On-street parking is also available. The building is accessible through both the Summit Avenue entrance and the basement rear entrance, and the addition of an elevator has made the building accessible to everyone of all ages and abilities.
The church office is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and can be reached at 301-733-4720 (fax 301-733-4722). Pastor Randy is also available by phone for pastoral needs.
Giving at Emmanuel can take several forms. Electronic giving is available online through the church's donation page, and a GivePlus Mobile App allows one-time and recurring donations from a phone or tablet after searching by ZIP code 21740 or by church name. Text-to-give is available by texting 844-909-2638, then following the registration link. Traditional giving by check or cash through the offering plate remains an option, and direct payments from a checking or savings account can be arranged with the church office using the Authorization Form.
A Church Bound Together
Across a century of ministry, Emmanuel United Methodist Church has continued to describe itself in the same way it always has. A family of disciples, devoted to loving and serving Jesus, bound together in Him. The building has grown, the name has changed twice, and accessibility and HVAC systems have been upgraded, but the congregation's commitment to one another, to the community, and to serving the Lord Jesus Christ remains the church's biggest asset. There is always room for one more.