Most Updated Information

Embrace Family,

These past few weeks have brought a mix of joys and struggles. While we’ve been blessed by our online gatherings, ZOOM calls, texts, etc., we have also felt the absence of seeing each other in-person. I understand that many of you feel a profound loss of community. The Lead Team is currently having serious discussions about our path to coming together for in-person gatherings. We are not yet comfortable hosting a large gathering on Sunday mornings, though we are considering possibilities for small-group gatherings so you can connect with each other through conversations, prayer, worship, and fun. We will keep you updated!

Don’t forget to reach out if you need anything. Reach out to me, to a friend, or a neighbor. You’re not alone. I love you all and I’m grateful to be your pastor and friend.

-Pastor John

A few IMPORTANT details:

• All in-person services and activities are canceled until further notice. Each Sunday we will gather at 11am on Facebook Live to connect, worship, pray, and learn. You can find the livestream on our Facebook page.

• On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12-12:30pm we will connect on Facebook Live for prayer, reflection, and connection.

• We have a podcast! You can find us on Apple and Spotify. You can also add us using our RSS feed to your favorite podcast player.

• We also have a YouTube channel! On our channel you will find lots of good content: reflections, full services, sermons, songs, and more. Subscribe to our channel today!

• If you need anything, please reach out to us. We are not gathering in-person but the church isn’t closed. Pastors John and Kristina are available if you need someone to talk to. Call the church office or email us. Kristina: kristina@embraceyourcity.com & John: john@embraceyourcity.com

• If you need prayer, please email Kristina your requests. The prayer team will be lifting those up each week.

Giving

If you’re able to continue giving, we need the support. We are committed to paying our staff (hourly and salaried) through this season of social-distancing. We are also planning to support some ministries caring for the poor and vulnerable. If you normally give on Sundays at church please consider mailing your contribution or making a donation online.

Address: 1015 N. Limestone St. Lexington, KY 40505

Click Here to Give Online

Note From Pastor John

Embrace Family,

I just want to write a quick note of encouragement and give a few updates. What we are facing as a community is challenging, scary, overwhelming, confusing, isolating...We’re all struggling to make sense of what all this will mean for our selves, our families, our communities, and our church. My simple reminder for you today is that we are not alone. We have Jesus and we have each other. We will get through this one way or another; and we will do it together. Please reach out to each other. Ask for help. Share what you have. I’m here for you. I love you all and I’m grateful to be your pastor and friend.

-Pastor John

A few IMPORTANT details:

• All in-person services and activities are canceled until further notice. Each Sunday we will gather at 11am on Facebook Live to connect, worship, pray, and learn. You can find the livestream on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/EmbraceChurch/

• On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12-12:30pm we will connect on Facebook Live for prayer, reflection, and connection.

• If you need anything, please reach out to us. We are not gathering in-person but the church isn’t closed. Pastors John and Kristina are available if you need someone to talk to. Call the church office or email us. Kristina: kristina@embraceyourcity.com & John: john@embraceyourcity.com

• If you need prayer, please email Kristina your requests. The prayer team will be lifting those up each week.

Giving

If you’re able to continue giving, we need the support. We are committed to paying our staff (hourly and salaried) through this season of social-distancing. We are also planning to support some ministries caring for the poor and vulnerable. If you normally give on Sundays at church please consider mailing your contribution or making a donation online.

Address: 1015 N. Limestone St. Lexington, KY 40505

Online Giving: https://app.clovergive.com/app/Giving/embracechurch

SERVICES CANCELED THIS SUNDAY/MONDAY

We have decided to follow Governor Andy Beshear’s advice to cancel our worship services this coming Sunday and Monday (3/15 & 3/16). Given the serious and ever-changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic we are choosing to exercise caution and support the state’s efforts to curtail the spread of this virus. We hope our local church can play a small part in working towards the common good of all Kentuckians.

A few details:

-Pastor John will share a live message on Embrace’s Facebook page at 11am. Please join the Embrace family virtually on Sunday!

-The Gathering will be canceled on Monday. We will have a limited number of food bags available for folks who need them. Please stop on Monday by 3pm or reach out to us by phone (859) 309-3862.

-We will re-evaluate next week about our future plans for worship. We will keep you posted!

Neighbors Immigration Clinic

We have some really exciting news to share…😁

We are starting an immigration legal clinic at Embrace! 👏👏👏 Neighbors Immigration Clinic will provide affordable, high-quality immigration legal services to immigrants in Lexington, Northern KY, Eastern KY, and beyond. Neighbors will be affiliated with National Justice for Our Neighbors, which has been effectively starting immigration legal clinics across the country for decades. Neighbors will become their 19th site, the first in Kentucky. We will donate space in our church for their offices and programs.

Over many years our church has developed deep relationships with immigrants who have come from many places throughout our world. Many have come to the United States fleeing horrific violence, poverty, and suffering. The immigration system in America is complicated and very difficult and expensive to navigate. Today immigrants are increasingly afraid and confused as they face prejudice, unfair stereotypes, and lack of compassion from our immigration system. The Bible is abundantly clear that we are required to show hospitality, kindness, and welcome to immigrants. Our Christian faith compels us to stand in solidarity with our immigrant neighbors through practical and effective action. We can’t sit on our hands and do nothing. Some folks from Embrace have joined up with others from across the state to make this dream a reality.

Neighbors is an independent nonprofit that plans to partner with organizations and individuals all across the state. Through conversations with community stakeholders we learned that there are significant gaps in affordable legal services for people seeking asylum and facing removal. Neighbors plans to assist clients in these situations while also hosting monthly mobile clinics in Northern Kentucky and Somerset. The plan is to expand to other parts of the state as the organization grows.

We couldn’t be more excited about this! 🎉

If you want to support Neighbors Immigration Clinic or learn more you find more information on their website:
https://www.kyneighborsclinic.org/give

EMBRACE HAS A NEW LOGO 👏

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of Embrace Church, a church-plant that started in Pastor Roz’s house, launched in the KY Theatre, and eventually made its way to our current location on North Limestone. Though we must acknowledge that the story our faith community goes back further than 10 years. The story of our church is the story of three different churches who have remained faithful to our community in North Lexington for many decades. When Embrace merged with The Rock/La Roca UMC in 2011, Embrace’s history was enriched and expanded by the legacies of two other congregations: Epworth UMC and The Rock/La Roca. Over the last 10 years we have honed and developed a distinct identity that honors the past while looking forward to who we can become. One thing will always remain the same: we will accept God's wide embrace and offer that same embrace to others.

Three years ago we revamped our values and our mission statement to reflect our growth and maturation as a congregation. Our six values are:

1 - Jesus at the Center

2 - Gritty Christ-Followers

3 - Comfortable with being Uncomfortable

4 - Keep it Real

5 - Neighborhood Focused

6 - Church=Diverse Family

Our mission statement is: “We are a diverse family of gritty Christ-followers who place Jesus and His kingdom at the center of all we are about. We risk real life together sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with our words and actions in our community in North Lexington.”

Thank you to Mark and Ciara Walz for helping us create a new logo that reflects our values and mission! ❤️