Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ –

This month we ring in the 113^th academic year, here at our beloved Emmaus. For 112 years we have opened the doors to the school and welcomed in the children of the parish and the neighborhood.

For over a century teachers have stood in front of classrooms – some still in use today – and taught English, German, Math, History, and many other subjects.

Our classrooms over that century were filled with laughter, singing, questions and answers. Little hands grasped pieces of chalk and wrote out math problems, spelling words and sentence diagrams.

Maps were pulled down, film strips were shown and books were read in the many and various classrooms – some even over on Weghorst.

The gymnasium was host to volleyball, basketball, dodgeball, plays and meals. Over the years, our gym filled with tables and chairs for Ladies Aid meetings, Fall Festivals and Easter Breakfasts [by the way – Lutheran grade school P.E. class was sometimes learning the art of setting up said tables and chairs!!!].

Lunches were served over those many years [one particular cook and her helper were very special to me!] and occasionally spinach and other such dishes that were not appreciated, but nevertheless eaten – thanks to Mr. Hoffschneider and others.

A Pantry was formed and eventually went from being in the basement of the school to its own building – another gift from GOD! There at the Hodge-Daniels House, through the hard work of many volunteers, Emmaus carried out the mission to show mercy and compassion to our fellow man as Christ taught us to do.

But the most important thing? That was the teaching and learning about Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Through Bible stories, Arch books, Growing in Christ, Catechisms, picture Bibles, Chapel, acolyte duty, Confirmation and many other means, children were taught the faith by our pastors and teachers. A faith – mind you – that would not be taught in public schools. Think of all of the children over those 112 years that became adult Christians. Some even went on to be Lutheran school teachers, principals and pastors, carrying on the tradition in other Lutheran schools – and even right back here at good ol’ Emmaus [my 6^th grade teacher Mrs. Voge, for one].

This was the mindset of those who conceived the idea of Emmaus at the end of the 19^th and beginning of the 20^th century, to not only build a church, but to build a school as well. The LORD’S will was worked here at the corner of Laurel and Orange – through His people at St. Paul, and eventually Emmaus. His will was to not only open the doors to a beautiful and needed sanctuary to serve this German community, but also to carry out the great Lutheran mission started by Martin Luther himself – to educate not just the secular mind, but the theological one as well, in a Lutheran school.

Certainly over the last century plus, we have seen years of plenty and years of famine as well. However, just as the LORD took care of Jacob and the twelve brothers, and all of Egypt, during both the years of much and little, He too has taken care of Emmaus through the same good and difficult times.

And He still does! We are opening the doors to our school for the 113^th time with more students and teachers than we’ve had in quite a while. We’ve expanded from K-3^rd two years ago, to PK4-5^th! Yet financially we wound up in the same spot this year that we did last year, which means we aren’t behind – we’re ahead! I hope and pray that we have begun to leave the lean years behind and are headed to fat years! GOD has rewarded our faithfulness, and it would seem there is much work to still be done in this corner of the Vineyard.

This was important to the parish 113 years ago, to make a way to not only church the people, but to also educate the children. It is probably even more important to this neighborhood in today’s context of church decline and the shrinking numbers of believers. The best way into a household and family with the Good News of Jesus Christ, is through the teaching of Christ crucified that we do in our school.

May we continue to give GOD all of the thanks and praise, glory and honor for His great and mighty works that He continues to do through our beloved Emmaus Lutheran Church, School and Pantry.

The LORD be with you.

Saved by the blood of the Lamb,

+Pastor Ray Smith+

John 1:29

+To GOD alone be the Glory+

Visit us at - https://www.facebook.com/emmausfountainsquare/

Here you will find out all about what's going on @Emmaus...

Monthly 

  - Community Events

  - Adult Game Nights

  - Open Gym Days

Weekly

  - Worship Sundays and Wednesdays [September through May]

  - Various Bible studies throughout the week

Volunteering Opportunities in our Church, School and Pantry

Come be a part of the amazing things GOD is doing @Emmaus!!!