Our Story
Emmanuel Lutheran Church dates back to the 1850s when Lutheran families settled in Macon Township, Michigan. From our humble beginnings to overcoming the devastation of a cyclone in 1920, our congregation's journey reflects resilience and faith. Transitioning from German to English services during World War I, and evolving with the times, we built a new house of worship in 1963, continuing to grow and serve the community. With milestones like the establishment of Sunday School in 1936 and expansions in the 2000s, our legacy of faith and community engagement endures, celebrating our 164th anniversary in 2025. Join our journey of faith, service, and commitment to the Great Commission.
Our Beliefs
Foundation of Our Faith
With the universal Christian Church, The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God: the Father, creator of all that exists; Jesus Christ, the Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise to life again in the ultimate victory over death and Satan; and the Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God's Word and Sacraments. The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal, one God.
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Being Lutheran means we accept and teach the Bible as God's inspired and inerrant Word. We agree with the Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the Reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century. The teaching of Luther and the other reformers can be summarized in three short phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone.
Grace alone - God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him, and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly.
Faith alone - By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that it offers. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him.
Scripture alone - The Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine.
Our Mission
Emmanuel Lutheran Church seeks to share the love of God in Christ Jesus with you.
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We will do this by:
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Reaching out to the community
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Inspiring with Christian love
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Developing faith through Word and Sacrament
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Growing in Grace
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Educating through God's Word
Our Pastor
Rev. Peter Burch
Born and raised in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), Reverend Peter Burch began his faith journey at St. Paul Church in Ann Arbor, where he also attended school through eighth grade. He went on to earn his undergraduate degree in Social Studies, with minors in History and Geography, from Eastern Michigan University.
Before pursuing the call to ministry, Pastor Burch explored a variety of careers, including working in a deli/bakery and providing tech support for a telecommunications company. Eventually, he responded to God’s calling and enrolled in seminary, where he found particular joy in courses that encouraged personal reflection and deeper expression of his understanding of Scripture.
An avid outdoorsman, Pastor Burch enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, writing, and working on computers. He is also an Eagle Scout and holds deep respect for organizations that foster outdoor engagement and character-building among youth. His faith is at the center of his life, guided by Scripture and inspired by the many individuals God used in both the Old and New Testaments. He strives to follow their example in all aspects of his ministry and life.