- 1868 Eleven families of German descent, after a series of meetings,
organized the congregation of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Earlville Illinois.
- 1869 The first church building was dedicated on the last Sunday in
November. Rev. A. Schieferdecker of Clarion Township presided with Rev. F.
Lutz of Galena assisting. The cost of this new building was about $2,000.00.
- 1878 Rev. Emil Knappe was the first resident pastor. He served for one
year. A school house was built on the church property to serve the religious
education needs of the congregation.
- 1879 Rev. H. Drexel came and a parsonage was bought on Union Street.
- 1884 The parsonage was sold and a new parsonage was built next to the
church.
- 1886 Rev. Ralph Johnson began his time of service at Immanuel; the
church building was enlarged; 26 ladies organized a Ladies Aid Society.
- 1889 Rev. John Brenner, a student at the Lutheran Seminary in Mendota,
served Immanuel.
- 1892 Rev. H. Brueckner began to serve in Earlville.
- 1900 Rev. Wm. Kurtz began a 14-year time of service at Immanuel.
- 1904 A new church building was dedicated in January; the entire cost for
the lot, church building, furniture, equipment and bell was $9,000.00.
- 1909 A Luther League had been organized and entertained the Federation
at Immanuel.
- 1913 The parsonage was rebuilt and enlarged.
- 1915 Rev. P.H. Valentiner became the pastor of the congregation.
- 1915 A pipe organ was installed in the church.
- 1917 One monthly English worship was introduced to the worship life of
members of Immanuel Lutheran Church and the Sunday School began to use the
English language.
- 1921 The congregation decided to alternate German and English worship
services.
- 1922 Rev. Theo Meinen began his six years of service at Immanuel.
- 1923 The minutes of the congregation meetings were first written in
English.
- 1928 Rev. Thomas Tychsen began a three-year time of service at Immanuel.
- 1931 The congregation extended a call to Wartburg Seminary student, Carl
Boebel.
- 1933 A second womens group, the Womens Missionary Society, was formed
in the congregation.
- 1942 Rev. Otto Kreiter began a 24-year pastorate at Immanuel.
-
1944 The Mens Brotherhood was
organized.
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1945 The Altar Guild was formed.
-
1950 A new pipe organ was
dedicated.
-
1954 A new Parish Hall was built
and dedicated in July. (This building is currently our worship sanctuary.)
-
1960 Immanuel became part of The
American Lutheran Church (ALC) as the result of national church mergers.
-
1962 The Service
Book & Hymnal (the "red Hymnal") was first used.
- 1966 Rev. David Nelson arrived to serve Immanuel Lutheran Church.
- 1969 Rev. O.H. Behrens was installed as Visitation Pastor at Immanuel.
He served in this capacity until his death in 1971.
- 1970 The 1904 church building was razed and a new education building and
parish hall was built; the Parish Hall of 1954 was remodeled and rebuilt to be
the place of worship for the congregation.
- 1972 Rev. Ronald Johnson was installed as pastor of Immanuel.
- 1975 The bell tower was dedicated.
- 1979 Rev. Dennis Pettyjohn began his pastorate at Immanuel.
- 1979 The Lutheran Book of Worship (the "green book") was
introduced to the congregation.
- 1981 The ordination of Sherman Bishop took place at Immanuel a first
for the congregation.
- 1981 The mortgage for the Parish Education wing was burned during a
celebration service.
- 1983 Rev. James Warnock begins his ministry with the people of Immanuel.
- 1987 Rev. Mark Luepke was installed as pastor of Immanuel Lutheran
Church in May.
- 1988 Immanuel became a part of a new Lutheran Church body the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) as a result of national church
mergers.
- 1988 The new parsonage was dedicated and the old parsonage was razed.
- 1992 Immanuel began a weekday preschool ministry for three and four year
olds from the congregation and the community.
- 1996 Rev. Donald Knowles was called as pastor of Immanuel Lutheran
Church in October.