immanuel
mission

"God with us" in El Monte

texto en ESPAÑOL

Immanuel, which means "God with us," is a church where everyone who desires God's presence is welcome! God is with every person - regardless of race, creed, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or economic status.

Established as a "ministry station" in 1922 by The Rev. R. Renison in the city of El Monte, Immanuel Church has been a vibrant mission of the Diocese since 1950. In 1997 Immanuel was blessed to be "adopted" by the Church of Our Saviour in San Gabriel.

Immanuel is a bilingual (Spanish & English) church in one of the poorest areas of the San Gabriel Valley. For 25+ years, Our Saviour Center, an outreach ministry of the Church of Our Saviour, has been located on the property of Immauel Church and has become Immanuel's primary outreach ministry as well. Parishioners of Immanuel assist with the Food Bank, after-school programs, and special programs, such as the annual Christmas gift party.

The congregation of Immanuel pastors 300+ members as well as being a Chaplaincy for Our Saviour Center's very large client base, serving an array of individual spiritual needs for center clientele. Immanuel is approximately 90% Latino and the current Vicar, the Rev. Gary J. Bradley, is a fluent Spanish- speaker with 25 years' experience in mission work in the USA, Mexico, and Peru.

our worship life

An English service of Holy Eucharist - at 9am on Sundays - welcomes a small but caring congregation including several longtime members. The Spanish services - at 11:15am and 6pm on Sundays - welcome a very young congregation (average age of 28, and average membership of 8 years). A single bilingual service is celebrated once a month, followed by a pot luck "brunch" and the month's birthday cake, to bring the whole congregation together.

The large Latino membership celebrates the sacramental life of the Catholic tradition embodied in our Anglican heritage. Celebrations of First Formal Eucharist and of "Quinceañeras" (Fifteenth Year of Faith) are important to the members. Examples of special days at Immanuel, shared by all the members are:

• the annual celebration of the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead - All Souls Day), near November 2, with the preparation of individual family altars remembering and honoring the ancestors and other faithful departed. It is a joyful celebration, recalling St. Paul's admonition, "Death be not proud."
• the festival of La Virgen de Guadalupe in early December, celebrating the importance of Our Lady to many people as well as the religiosidad popular of Mexico and Latin America.
• the procession through the City of El Monte reenacting the Holy Family's search for lodging, the Posadas in the Advent season, traditionally within the novena of days before Christmas.
• the annual renewal of wedding vows at Eucharist on the Saturday closest to February 14, the Dia de Amor, followed by a dinner and dance evening.
• the special focus on events of Semana Santa (Holy Week), including a city procession of the Via Crucis on Good Friday.
• the annual Fall Friendship Fashion Show held at Church of Our Saviour to bring women of the two congregation together.

and the annual beginning and ending of summer All Parish Picnics, each beginning with a bilingual Eucharist and followed by a Fiesta de Verano.

Our warm and loving congregation invites you to worship with us and share in our many rich traditions. Please join us!