Immanuel Lutheran Church a place of family and friends celebrates 125th Anniversary

[July 15, 2017]  LINCOLN - On July 16, the Immanuel Lutheran Church will celebrate its 125th anniversary. During those years, there have been many changes from the language of the services to the hymnals used.

The church was organized in April 1892 and some of the initial services were held in the Lincoln Hill Church and then the Tabernacle on Logan Street.



Reverend Henry Meyer was the pastor at the time. In July 1892, Meyer and church officers met and made plans to build a new church at a cost of $3,000. Soon, they developed a plan for a building that would cost $5,000, and the building committee was given permission to borrow the money for the building.

During the summer of 1892, a pulpit and 10 hymnals were purchased. The committee also got church members' signatures and pledges for the church building fund. In September, the cornerstone for the new building was laid.




Pastor Meyer and his family donated property at the corner of Logan and Pekin Streets for the original building and the new church was dedicated February 5, 1893. Over the next several years, walks were built and a furnace and coal basement were added.


In 1912, a new tower and balcony were built and a Hinner's pipe organ was installed. Meyer's children donated an electric cross for the tower in memory of their mother who had died in 1905.

In 1949, the church added a basement for more space for Sunday School classes.

In 1960, the church broke ground on Pulaski Street for a new building, which was dedicated in 1961.




This building, which is the church's current location, has more classrooms and a larger sanctuary than the original. The roof and carpeting have been replaced over the years and pew cushions, attic vents, and ceiling fans added.


In 1894, the Ladies Aid Circle was organized and held chicken dinners, bake sales, and farm sale lunches. This group also helped furnish the kitchen in both locations.

Other organizations over the years have included senior and youth choirs, the Brotherhood, the Women of Immanuel, the Mary-Martha, Ruth, and Rachel Circles, Chi Rho, Lutheran Youth Fellowship, The Couples Fellowship, UNI, and Sixty Plus. Each of the organizations has done various projects for the church and raised money for missions and church activities.

Longtime members Jean Hall and Wanda Rohlfs said the Women of Immanuel group makes and sends off hundreds of quilts to various countries with Lutheran missionaries every year. The church also sends money to Lutheran World Relief to help in disasters. Hall said there are still a lot of people serving the church.

One ongoing service the church provides is the pork project. Member Kathy Miller said Phil Ruck deliver pork to the food pantry about every two weeks.

Memories from over the years

Booklets from the 75th Anniversary in 1967 and the 100th Anniversary in 1992 shared some history and memories from various members. Anna Behrends recalled that before the old church had a basement, classes were held in an old school building across the street. At least one Easter Sunrise Service was even held at the drive-in theater.

Bertha Otte Dahmm, who was a church organist for many years, remembered that a pump organ used in the early years had a wheel that would "pump air in the bellows so the organist could play the hymns." The wheel was turned by small boys between the ages of 10 and 12.

Longtime member Jean Hall remembers it being a "big deal" when the church got a new pipe organ sometime in the 1970s.

Other memories Dahmm shared from those early years were children attending confirmation lessons five days a week and learning to read and write German. In 1920, they began to teach the confirmation class in English. Services were done in German until 1926.

Longtime member Wanda Rohlfs said her mother attended confirmation classes all day on Saturday.

Several members recalled that years ago, the church held picnics the last Thursday of every August. The pastor held a service and the Luther League had programs with plays and singing. Other activities included games, a fish pond, and a grab bag.

As the church prepares to celebrate 125 years, other longtime members recall many important events at the church.

Pastor Candida Turner said, "Immanuel’s mission statement is 'Living, Caring, Sharing the Good News of Jesus.' As we have prepared for our anniversary celebration, we have gotten a chance to consider how this statement has been lived out over the last 125 years as well as build excitement for the great things we know will continue to happen with God’s help and our willingness to act."

Sam and Jane Redding have been members for many years and Jane said her best memories at Immanuel Lutheran was the baptism of their last two kids to be baptized and all four of the children going through confirmation at the church.

Rohlfs said six generations of her family have been part of the church. Rohlfs is on the planning committee for the celebration and said the first pastor kept a journal and though it was in German, she was able to read her great grandfather's name in the journal indicating he was one of the members the year the church began.

Rohlfs said she and her husband Gene got married at the church. Rohlfs said her children were confirmed and married at the church. In addition, a couple grandchildren have been confirmed at the church.

Rohlfs said as the church grows to meet the needs of the people, there are different types of activities and they are more diversified.

Jean Hall has been a member for over 65 years and also has several family members who were part of the church during the early years. She remembers that growing up, church and family was important.

Rohlfs said the church is a very family oriented type of environment and some friends have become like extended family.

Hall said, "we have had some good times and bad times for the church and have survived. It is amazing when any church survives for 125 years. Things change and churches must change with the times to survive." She said, "We have to gather in our youth and our younger generation for the church to continue to survive."



This week has been a time of gathering in youth as the church hosted its annual VBS with over 30 kids attending each evening.

On Sunday, July 16, a celebration service will be held. Synod Bishop John Roth, who presides over several districts of the Evangelical Lutheran Churches, will be doing the message Sunday. After services, there will be a luncheon.

Pastor Turner said, "I look forward to gathering this weekend to give thanks to God for his presence throughout the history of Immanuel!"

[Angela Reiners]