We’re so grateful to God for the links he has given us around the world, and the many friends he has joined to us from overseas here in Durham.

International Sunday is our way of celebrating this diversity in the church.

Everyone is invited to wear the dress of their home or chosen nation and we’ll be welcoming our great friend Finny to speak.

During our International Sunday 2018, we were greatly blessed to have three Ghanaian brothers join us to lead us in worship, with an African beat!

We are very much looking forward to welcoming them back, to The Durham Centre on Sunday 28th April.

We're so thankful to God for the links he has given us around the world, and the friends from around the world he has brought to us here in the North East. We're looking forward to celebrating our International Sunday 2019 on Sunday 3rd March. There will be a joint meeting of our Durham and Chester-le-Street congregations at The Durham Centre at 10:30am.

We're also inviting everyone to think about 'living links' we have to other countries. This could be a living relative, or close friend. We'll be marking them on a world map and praying for them. It will be wonderful to see just how far our influence goes!

And, as with previous years, we're all invited to wear national dress for the service. It doesn't have to be your own national dress - it can be whatever nation you like! 

It promises to be a great morning together. To whet your appetite, take a look back at last year's International Sunday here. 

Please note: there will be no separate meeting in Chester-le-Street that morning.

We are all part of God's family, which stretches across the globe. And our vision is to be a growing, charismatic family church with a world vision.

We are proud of the diversity we have among our congregations in Durham and Chester-le-Street, and our links with friends and churches worldwide.

International Sunday celebrates all of this - with great colour and celebration.

Join us at The Durham Centre on Sunday 4th March, at 10:30am.

This will be a joint meeting of our Durham and Chester-le-Street congregations. There will be no separate meeting in Chester-le-Street.

During the meeting, we will be taking up an offering to thank God for the granting of planning permission for The Emmanuel Centre. This was the first hurdle to clear as we look to extend and expand our Kingdom Resource Centre in Durham, which will bring provision for the nation and the nations.  At the same time, part of the offering will be going to a church in Pune, India, to enable a couple to enlarge their meeting place for a Hindi speaking house church, enable leadership training and support other house church plants.

We are staging an Indian Cookery night to raise money for the iConnect charity, with all proceeds going to an educational project in rural India.

This will be held at 17 Herefordshire Drive, Belmont, on Saturday 22nd July, from 6.30pm - with the cooking starting at 7:00pm.

Guests will learn how to cook genuine Indian food with Shanti, and eat the results!

Entry is by a minimum donation of £10. Only 20 places are available. To book, see Elena Speller or Janet Lawrence. Email: iconnect100@gmail.com

As a church we're very proud to support the Candle for India charity, which is linked to The Deepti Centre in Kerala, India, which supports children with special needs. 

On Sunday 18th June, John Renshaw will be selling his watercolour paintings before and after the service at Durham to support the cause. 

This summer, our FP interns and some of our students are going on mission to South Africa.

They recently made bacon sandwiches before and after church, in return for donations to fund the trip. This raised £323.19.

On Sunday 11th June, there will be a fundraising bake sale - before and after the service at Durham.
You can also give to individuals involved in the trip, or via their fundraising page.
The FP interns are also offering their services for practical tasks, in return for a donation. Email: danbaker679@gmail.com

This August, some of our young people are travelling to China to work with disabled children in an orphanage. 

A key event to help raise the money needed to cover the costs of the trip - and hopefully buy some presents for the orphans - will be a Family Fundraising Day at The Durham Centre on Saturday 16th July from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.

There will be stalls, including Decorating Ninja Gingerbread, Chinese lantern making, card making, a tombola, a BBQ, cake stall, crafts, teas and coffees, Mario Kart games, a Great Wall of China penny trail (so bring your pennies!) and a nail bar with Chinese tattoos, cards and much more.

All are welcome.

Around 20 years ago, our church received a prophecy that as we reached the nations, God would give us Durham.

This completely changed the focus of the church from our own locality to the rest of the world.

Over that time we have sent people to many nations and people from many nations have become part of Emmanuel. On Sunday 20th March we will be celebrating the connections we have with other parts of the world.

Sunday 20th March will also be the last time John Parker and Chris Done ill be with us before their year in Tokyo. We will hear what they will be doing there and the vision that God has given then to pioneer for him in Japan.

Our wider church family, Regions Beyond, is holding a day conference for 20s and 30s called 'Transform: Going to the Nations' on Saturday 31st Oct.

It is down in Penge in south London and costs £7.

You will hear teaching and testimony from Steve Oliver and several others who have been involved in overseas mission and there will be chances to hear what opportunities there are to serve with Regions Beyond overseas.

If you are interested in going let John Oliver know, as he is hoping to take a group down.