April
The American Lutheran Church was formed by the merger of Evangelical Lutheran, American Lutheran and United Evangelical
Lutheran denominations.
April 17
Luther League served the first Easter Breakfast for the congregation.
April
Use of The Service Book and Hymal of Lutheran Church (the red hymnal) begun.
September
Preaching - Teaching - Reaching Mission Week held with special guest speaker Rev. Everett Hagemann.
1961: January
In connection with the creation of the ALC (American Lutheran Church), Rev. Mayer conducted a month long series of Witness
Bible studies.
March
Immanuel hosted the Rum River Conference constituting convention of the Luther League.
June
Two service Sunday worship schedule begun with worship at 8:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
Christmas at Immanuel, 1982.
Altar in 1991.
Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Northeast view 1991.
Original parsonage used as office 1971 - 1977.
Second Sanctuary with Addition built in 1978.
June 8
Congregation approved building of education unit.
July 27
The building program postponed due to inability to reach agreement on the financing.
August
Fifteen Luther Leaguers attended the International Luther League Convention in Miami, Florida.
October 29
Reformation Rally, co-sponsored by Immanuel and Trinity of Princeton, held at high school auditorium with guest speaker
Dr. Melvin Hammarberg.
1963: January
Bethel Bible Study begins a two year training program for teachers.
May 6
Bert Anderson property purchased for $10,000 for use as Parish House for educational purposes. (This house is located across
the street from the Fellowship Hall.)
October 30
Marlene Wilhelm hired as church secretary to work in her own home.
1964: August
Six Luther Leaguers attended the International Luther League Convention held in Detroit, Michigan.
October
Congregational Bethal Bible classes begun.
1966:
Diamond Jubilee - 75th Anniversary of Immanuel celebrated with a program focus of "Know Your Church". Three sons of the
congregation, who by this date were ordained pastors, returned to conduct services: Rev. Harold Oelschlager (April 17 - "Know
Your Church - Its Teaching"), Rev. Max Wilhelm (June 5 - "Know Your Church - Its Love"), and Rev. Alfred Oelschlager (July 17 - "Know
Your Church - It's Mission"). The Jubilee Service ("Know Your Church - Its History") was held September 18 with four former
pastors returning to conduct the Sunday worship services: Rev. Henry Dohmeier and Rev. Walter Langholz at eh early service,
and Rev. William Tinge and Rev. George Feistner at the late service. The late service was followed by a dinner held in the elementary
school auditoruim. James Mattson, Jr., a son of the songregation studying to be a pastor, conducted a service "Know Your Church
- Its Youth" as the final Diamond Jubilee event on November 20. This service was followed by a youth banquet featuring a speaker
from the ALC Youth Department.
1967: January 22
Rev. Richard Lafer installed to serve both Immanuel and St. John's Lutheran Church in Zimmerman.
February 22
Council approval given to set up a library in church basement, with congregation funding shelving, etc.. The
Ladies Aid will purchase books. (This original church library was located in the area used today for Pastor Koch's study
(1991).
July 12
Congregation approved purchase of the original parsonage (situated on emptly lot south of house today used for educational
purposes (1991).
December
The Church Constitiution was approved as revised.
1968: January
The observance of individual communion began with individual communion held at early service and common cup used at late
service.
1969: March 10
By a vote of 94 to 83, the congregation voted against a merger with Trinity Lutheran Church of Princeton.
April
Church office established in the church basement rather than in secretary's home.
September
Parament and communionware cabinet built in the sacristry.
Fall
Church Directory made.
June
The two point parish of Immanuel and St. John's ended with the new parish realignment of St. John's with Hope Lutheran of Orrock.
June 21
Ordination of Dennis Reiman, son of Immanuel (parents Bernard and Laura Reiman).
1971: January
More cemetary land bought.
March
Parsonage living room and dining room were carpeted.
Summer
Year round Sunday School ended.
July 19
The church office moved from church basement to the original parsonage.
1972: July 30
The Rev. Jerome F. Larson was installed.
August
Church roof reshingled.
October
Sanctuary PA system installed.
1973: January
Early communion for fifth graders established.
1974: October
Parish House remodeling and the double garage for the parsonage completed.
1975: May
Coffee Hour between services begun.
July
Parsonage living room remodeled.
September
Special guests Pastor Paul Jagdahr of Guyana, South America, and Paster Albertus Mouton, South West Africa, conducted services.
Fall
Church Directory made.
December
One year old used Conn organ purchased for $6,800.
1976: April 13 & 14
"The Glory of Easter" was presented by combined choirs of Immanuel and St. John's Lutheran of Zimmerman, directed
by JoAnn Nielsen. (JoAnn's mother Teresa Bensemann was a former Immanuel member and her father Rev. Walter Pilgrim was a guest
speaker at Immanuel's 50th Anniversary in 1941.
May 19
Building Committee elected: Loren Trunk, Ken Gustafson, Stan Hansen, Deane Sampson, Dale Haugen, Shirley Miller and Nels Gilbertson.
September
Parsonage basement remodeled.
December 14
By a vote of 97 to 14 the $290,000 proposal for an education and fellowship hall unit was approved at the Annual Meeting.
(Cost later raised to $295,000)
1977: April 24
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Fellowship Hall/Education Unit held. Officiating were Southeastern Minnesota ALC
District Bishop Elmo G. Agrimson, Rev. Jerome F. Larson (pastor), Loren Trunk (Building Committee Chair), Gene Gerth (Congregational
Chair) and Roger Erickson (architect).
August
Parsonage appliances purchased.
October 30
Rev. Paul F. Wolff installed.
1978:
The fiscal year for the church was changed to coincide with calendar year.
February 16
Altar Guild created to care for the paraments and the communionware.
April 1
The Parish House was sold.
June 25
Dedication of the new Fellowship Hall/Education Unit. Former pasters Rev. Henry A. Mayer spoke at the morning worship
services and Rev. Jerome F. Larson spoke at 2:00 p.m. service. An open house followed. The offering for the day was designated
for the work of Pastor Paul Jagdhar and Pastor Albertus Mouton who had visited Immanuel in 1975.
August
The orginal parsonage, which recently housed the church office, was razed.
1979: February 11
Dedication was held for the "Lutheran Book of Worship" ("LBW" or green hymnal).
May
Gift of large oak cross received.
June
Vacation Bible School buried a time capsule in the church flower bed.
June
Summer midweek services begun on Wednesday evenings.
Summer
Sanctuary was repainted and pews refinished. New piano purchased for sanctuary.
August 17
Rev. Craig Koester installed with first implementation of two pastor staffing.
December 3
Acolyte program begun.
December
Youth attended the Lutheran Youth Congress over Christmas vacation.
1981: February
Pew cushions put in use.
Due to Sunday School growth, additional bi-fold panels installed in Fellowship Hall to
create additional classrooms.
Summer
Immanuel Cemetery received bequest from William Schulte Estate.
1982: August
Church Directory made. Ceiling fans installed in sanctuary.
October 2
MIssion Festival Auction held.
1983:
Bi-folds installed to make two more classrooms.
August 21
Rev. Craig Koester's farewell sermon.
Fall
Search, a lay led adult Bible study, begun. (This program ran continuously at Immanuel since 1983 and completed in the fall
of 1991.)
November 12
First Craft & Bake Sale held with proceeds going to benevolence.
