Who we are
The
story of the Mennonites in the Eugene area begins
in 1887, when three families bought farms in Lane
County north of Elmira. Eugene Mennonite Church
(EMC) dates back to 1963, when several families
began meeting in each other’s homes. In
1964, the fellowship began to meet in the Four
Oaks Grange Hall. With the help of students from
the University of Oregon architecture program and
many volunteers, the building we now own was
completed in 1979.
As a church located in a university town, we have regularly experienced significant membership turnover. Because so many members were students in our early years, the congregation needed outside support from Mennonite mission agencies and other Mennonite congregations. Today we have a strong base of permanent families, allowing us to reach out in service to the community. In addition to those from Mennonite background, some of our members come from Baptist, Quaker, or other religious traditions.
Throughout our history, EMC has been characterized by openness, caring and freedom. Worship services are informal in spirit, often beginning with a moment for quiet reflection. A few of our favorite things are four-part singing, children’s story time, and potluck meals.
EMC is a member of the Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference, itself part of the Mennonite Church and General Conference Mennonite Church denominations. For more information about Mennonite history, activities and beliefs, click here: http://MennoLink.org
As a church located in a university town, we have regularly experienced significant membership turnover. Because so many members were students in our early years, the congregation needed outside support from Mennonite mission agencies and other Mennonite congregations. Today we have a strong base of permanent families, allowing us to reach out in service to the community. In addition to those from Mennonite background, some of our members come from Baptist, Quaker, or other religious traditions.
Throughout our history, EMC has been characterized by openness, caring and freedom. Worship services are informal in spirit, often beginning with a moment for quiet reflection. A few of our favorite things are four-part singing, children’s story time, and potluck meals.
EMC is a member of the Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference, itself part of the Mennonite Church and General Conference Mennonite Church denominations. For more information about Mennonite history, activities and beliefs, click here: http://MennoLink.org
What we believe
“We
believe in God the loving creator as the source
of our life; in Jesus Christ as our savior,
example and guide; and in the Holy Spirit who
dwells with us and empowers us to live
faithfully.
“We commit ourselves to the Jesus of the Gospels, who is the foundation for our faith and model for peace-making, service and reconciliation. As a community in continuity with the Anabaptist-Mennonite heritage, we understand Jesus through our interpretation of the Bible, through our awareness of the history of the Christian tradition, and through God’s continuing revelation to us in the present.
“We believe the church is the fellowship of those who trust in God and desire to follow Jesus in a life of mutual caring and common endeavor.”
- from the EMC Congregational Confession of Faith, adopted in 1989
“We commit ourselves to the Jesus of the Gospels, who is the foundation for our faith and model for peace-making, service and reconciliation. As a community in continuity with the Anabaptist-Mennonite heritage, we understand Jesus through our interpretation of the Bible, through our awareness of the history of the Christian tradition, and through God’s continuing revelation to us in the present.
“We believe the church is the fellowship of those who trust in God and desire to follow Jesus in a life of mutual caring and common endeavor.”
- from the EMC Congregational Confession of Faith, adopted in 1989
What we do
Our
congregation works on behalf of low-income folks
in our community through participation in the
Interfaith Night Shelter program, run by the
First Place Family Center. This program involves
53 local congregations and synagogues which host
a group of homeless families. EMC joins Valley
Covenant Church and Eugene Friends Church every
year around Memorial Day to host the families for
a week. Among other involvements, we conduct food
drives for FOOD for Lane County, support a family
in the Starfish program, and collect needed items
for ShelterCare and St. Vincent de Paul.
During the week, Wellsprings Friends School meets in our church building. This alternative high school strives to build a sense of community among its students and teaches nonviolent conflict resolution. The Eugene peace Choir also rehearsed in our building.
EMC is involved with the Mennonite Festival for World Relief (an auction held each fall in Albany, Oregon, to benefit Mennonite Central Committee), Mennonite Mutual Aid, and Mennonite Disaster Service.
Other highlights of our church activities include our annual hike up Mt. Pisgah, special intergenerational worship services each summer, Bob and Warren’s can’t-be-beat pancake breakfast, the all-church campout, and regular midweek breakfast gatherings for men and women.
During the week, Wellsprings Friends School meets in our church building. This alternative high school strives to build a sense of community among its students and teaches nonviolent conflict resolution. The Eugene peace Choir also rehearsed in our building.
EMC is involved with the Mennonite Festival for World Relief (an auction held each fall in Albany, Oregon, to benefit Mennonite Central Committee), Mennonite Mutual Aid, and Mennonite Disaster Service.
Other highlights of our church activities include our annual hike up Mt. Pisgah, special intergenerational worship services each summer, Bob and Warren’s can’t-be-beat pancake breakfast, the all-church campout, and regular midweek breakfast gatherings for men and women.
How to find us
From
I-5 exit 195, go west on Beltline for nine miles.
Turn left at the “T” intersection
onto West 11th Avenue. Drive one mile east to
Bailey Hill Road (the second signal light) and
turn right. Go half a mile south to the first
signal light. Turn left on West 18th Avenue. The
church is one block up on the right; look for a
sign for both Eugene Mennonite Church and
Wellsprings Friends School.
Eugene, OR 97402
541/343-9548
peaceofeugene@gmail.com3590 W. 18th Ave.
Eugene, OR 97402
541/343-9548
peaceofeugene@gmail.com
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