The History of The Immanuel Lutheran Church

THE HISTORY OF IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH

To bear witness to t= he Gospel of Jesus and to tell the story of our Lord’s gracious dealing = with His people, by collecting and preserving our history and pictures.

1873 = By this year a number of Lutheran families had settled and established homes in the Spring Valley area. A Post Office by= that name was located one mile south of the present church.

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; In this same year, the Rev. P.F German, of Topeka, came to this area and conducted Lutheran services on two successive Sundays. Shortly thereafter, six Lutheran families banded together for the purpose of establishing a congregation.

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; About this time, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, commissioned Pastor J. Hoffm= ann as Missionary at Large for Western Kansas. He established his headquarters at Hutchison. This Lutheran Group at Spring Valley; together with a group, from Superior, now Inman, extended a call to J. Hoffmann. God moved him to accept.

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; The members at Inman had planned to build a parsonage, but for some reason did = not carry out their plans. Pastor Hoffman and his family lived in the homes of = the members at Spring Valley. Before long the congregation at Spring Valley built a tw= o room house for their pastor and his family on a five acre tract of land which was presented to the congregation by Geo. Schneider, a member. The location was= 1 mile south and 1 mile east of the present church, at the present location of the Meridian/Spring Valley Township Cemetery. Pastor Hoffmann also held services in Newton,= Kansas a number of times.

1878= &= nbsp; July 14^th the congregatio= n at Spring Valley reorganized and a revised constitutio= n was adopted. The name “Immanuel&= #8221; was adopted, which means “God with us.” They said, “God will be with us in the future as H= e has been in the past”. The subsequent history of the congregation pro= ves that God was indeed with this congregation to pour out His bountiful blessi= ngs upon them year after year. Pastor Hoffmann accepted a call to Nebraska.

1879 = Rev. C. Wuensch accepted a call to Immanuel, in less than a year: he accepted a = call to Nebraska.

1880 = During this time without a pastor, a split developed in the congregation. Some dec= ided to join the General Council, the Holderman Mennonite Church and laid claim to the church property. However, a strong faction remained t= hat wanted to stay with the Missouri Synod, although they had not yet officially joined the Synod. Not caring to resort to court, these members kept the name Immanuel Lutheran church and looked for another location.

1881= &= nbsp; Under the leadership of Missionary G. Toenjes, t= he congregation called Pastor J.H.F. Hoyer, who was ordained and installed on = July 31. The congregation was incorporated under the laws of the State of Kansas. In November, Mr. William Boesker offe= red 10 acres of land as his contribution toward the building program of the church. This land was 7 miles south and 1 mile west of Canton.

1882= &= nbsp; This= year a cemetery was laid out on the southwest corner of the property and dedicated with fitting ceremonies. One member, who had been buried at the former Lutheran cemetery, 1 mile south a= nd 1 mile east of our present cemetery; was moved into lot 63 at our current cemetery. She was Adelhide (Gerken) Grother, who was born 6-20-1834 and died 8-28-1876.

In the first years, the public worship services = were held in the Spring Valley and = Meridian public school houses.

1885= &nbs= p; January – The congregation voted to build a church and gathered pledges. The = first church building was dedicated J= uly 19. The cost was $1,660.18. It was a frame structure 30 x 50 feet with a vestibule 10 x10 feet.

1886= &= nbsp; The congregation officially joined the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, a conservative Lutheran body, which was organized in Chicago in 1847.<= /p>

1887= &= nbsp; A new building, 18 x 18, was built to be used for a Christian Day Schoo= l.

1888 = Pastor Hoyer, during his pastorate, did mission work in nearby communities such as= Strong City, Chase, Newton, Hills= boro and Wichita. Toward the end of the year he accepted a call to Hanover, Ks.

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; The same year, Pastor E. Maehr became the new pastor. During his ministry the parsonage was enlarged. Maehr also served Inman and organized and served the Moundridge congregation. He was influential in getting a church building mo= ved to Moundridge from Inman.

1897 = Pastor Maehr accepted a call to St. Francis, Ks at the close of this year. Pastor = G. Storm became the new pastor and teacher.

1902 = Pastor Storm accepted a call. A student was called from Concordia Seminary to teach the school. In the fall, the Rev. W.G. Bullinger became pastor and teacher.=

1903 = The congregation celebrated the 25^th anniversary of its organization= .

1908 = Mr. Henry (Heinrich) W. Wilkening donated a 1000 pound bell to the church. He a= nd his wife, Caroline nee Reinhardt, celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary that year. They were married on February 5, 1858, in Sedamsville, Ohio. The cost of the bell was $1,110.00. A bell tower was added to the church at this time.

1910 = Rev. Bullinger accepted a call to C= oncord, Nebraska. Rev. Hellmann suc= ceeded Bullinger as pastor.

1915= &= nbsp; Rev. Hellmann accepted a call. In the fall, Rev. A. F. Lutz was installed. He was the first one to introduce the English language into the church.

1918 = Rev. Lutz accepted a call and the Rev. O.H.W. Hornbostel became pastor.

1926= &= nbsp; The congregation built a new white frame school house. The envelope system was first used.

1928= &= nbsp; Pastor Hornbostel accepted a call to Duluth, Ks. The Rev. H. Schmidt became = the new pastor. On July 15, 1928, Immanuel observed the Golden Jubilee of its organization. At this time, half o= f the services were being conducted in German and the other half in English.=

1929 = The first regularly called teacher was Mr. Henry Osthoff, a graduate of Concordia Teachers C= ollege, Seward, Nebraska.

1934= &= nbsp; Electric light plant was installed for the school house, where meetings were held. It was later extended to the church.

1935 = July 21, the congregation observed the Golden Anniversary of its church’s dedication, which was July 19, 1885. Speakers were Victor Hoffman, Paul Hoy= er and Joe Gerken.

1936= &= nbsp; A two manual Himers pipe organ was purchased from the Wangerine Organ Co. of Milwaukee, Wis. and installed for $985.00. This was a used organ which had = been taken out of a theater.

1937 = April 18, the Rev. H. Schmidt died of meningitis. He served the congregation for 9 years. He was laid to rest on April 20 at Wichita, Ks. The Rev. B. Loesel of Moundridge took over in the vacancy. On June 27, = the Rev. A.L. Hoemann became pastor.

1938 = In April, the congregation voted to purchase a house for the teacher and move = it to the church property. The house cost $800.00 and was dedicated on Sept. 2= 5.

1940= &= nbsp; German services were abolished. On Jul= y 21 a revised German and English Constitution was adopted by the congregation and approved by the Synod.

1944 = In April, the congregation voted to redecorate, paint and varnish all wood wor= k in the church.

1945 = The congregation celebrated the 60^th Anniversary of the church Dedication on July 22. In the same year, an old custom began to change, one where the men sat on the left and the women and children sat on the right h= and side of the church. Mr. Weldo Groneman and his wife, Ruth; along with Mr. Walter Vogts who just returned from serving in the war, and his wife Clara, were the first to sit together during church.

1946 = A water system was installed in the parsonage, teacherage and school house.

1947= &= nbsp; This year a regular Sunday School was inaugurated at Immanuel.=

1951 = On July 15, the ground breaking ceremony was held for the new church edifice.<= o:p>

1952= &= nbsp; On January 13, Pastor Hoemann preached his farew= ell sermon and took a call to Brawley, Ca.

&= nbsp; <= /b>In the same month, the Rev. J.L. Strelow of Litchfield, Ill. Was extended a call and he was installed on Feb. 17. He also served St. Johns at Moun= dridge.

  &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;   On Feb. 10, the Rev. Arlen Bruns of Great Bend conducted the Cornerstone Laying service for the new church.

  &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;   August 24 a farewell service was held in the wood frame church. This building serv= ed the congregation for 67 years. During the following week the building was dismantled. The pipe organ and the 1,000 pound bell were moved from the old church to the new building.

  &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;   On September 14 the present church was dedicated. The Rev. H.W. Munderloh of Russel, Ks, preached in the morni= ng, the Rev. Arthur Traugott of Ellinwood, Ks preached in the afternoon. In the evening, Prof. A.F. Droegemueller, organist of Z= ion Lutheran Church, Independence, gave a sacred concert on the completely remodeled pipe organ. Attendance for the three services was 1,500 people.

1953=         &= nbsp; Mrs. Mary Vogts offered the congregation 80 acre= s of wheat to harvest; the profits of which were to go toward the church debt. T= he available pictures record the many church members, who came together with combines, trucks, tractors, and plows, in a fine display of church comradely for a common goal.

  &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;   On July 19, the 75^th Anniversary of the congregation’s foundi= ng was celebrated. The Rev. Victor Hoffman and Rev. Alvin Hornbostel were speakers.

  &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;   In October, The congregation resolved= to build a new parsonage, which is located just north of the present church building.

  &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;   November 23, Pastor Strelow accepted a call. Pastor O.A. Bohnert was asked to fill t= he vacancy.

1954  =         On December 5 the Rev. Martin Helmer was installed as pastor, coming to us fro= m Beatrice, Nebraska.

1962  =         In July Rev. Helmer accepted a call to Wellington, Ks.

  &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;   Rev. James H. Leidholdt, was installed on September 23. He also served St. John’s, Moundridge.

1966=         &= nbsp; On September 11, an open house was held at Shiloh Manor Nursing Home, in Canton. Several church groups had been interviewed to ma= nage the home. Immanuel congregation expressed an interest and agreed to enter i= nto a contract for the operation of the home. The home serves a real need in the community and is a splendid outlet for Christian service for many men and w= omen of the church.

1968  =         Immanuel at this date had: 221 communicants and 83 children; for a total of 304 soul= s.

1969  =         Rev. Leidholdt accepted a call to F= arrar, Missouri.=

1970=         &= nbsp; Immanuel and St. John, Moundridge entered into a dual-parish arrangement where-by both congregations jointly called a pastor= to serve both congregations.

1970  =         The Rev. Elmer C. Hethke was installed as pastor of the dual parish on April 25= . He served until October 6, 1975.

1976  =         The Rev. Delmer J. Harders was installed on April 25, as a Vicar under the supervision of vacancy Pastor J.A. Hofius of Grace, McPherson. This vicarage was part of a colloquy program by which Rev. Harders was being processed in= to the ministerium of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. On November 15, 1976, Rev. Harders was certified by the Synodical Colloquy Board and eligible to receive a call. The dual-parish of Immanuel and St. John’s, Moundridge subsequent= ly called him to be their Pastor.

1977  =         Rev. Delmer Harders was installed as Pastor on March 6.

1978  =         The congregation celebrated one hundred years of grace and blessing on July 16.= The Rev. James H. Leidholdt preached at the morning service and the Rev. Martin Helmer preached in the afternoon. The congregational membership numbered 352 souls with 264 communicant members.

  &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;   The process of replacing the sanctuary tinted glass windows was begun with an o= rder of three windows.

1979  =         Five more stained glass windows were installed the next year.<= /p>
1980  =         Rev. Harders accepted a call to Zion = Lutheran Church, Pittsburg, Ks. The Rev. John A. Hofius, McPherson, served as vacancy Pastor.

1980  =         The dual-parish called a Seminary Graduate. On July 13, Rev. Russell L. Sommerf= eld was ordained and installed.

1981  =         A building proposal for an education and fellowship addition was proposed and tabled due to financial concerns.

1982  =         200 copies of the Lutheran Worship, a new Synodical hymn book was dedicated. It= was first utilized the first Sunday of June.

1983  =         The pipe organ was renovated by former member Donald Hoyer, of Hoyer Organ Co., Lawrence, Ks.

1984  =         In August the stained glass windows were completed in the Sanctuary.

1985  =         An adult weeknight Bible class was begun and well received.<= /p>
1986  =         On July 19, Pastor Sommerfeld preached his farewell sermon. He accepted a call= to Arapahoe, Nebraska.

  &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;   Rev. Donn Williams accepted the call to Immanuel on April 15. He was installed on May 25. During his tenure, air conditioning and a replacement furnace were installed in the church. During the vacancy, Rev. Martin Pullman, Winfield, Rev. David Schemm, St. John’s, Moundridge, plus others had served as vacancy Pastors.

1995  =         On February 12, after considerable discussion, Immanuel split the dual-parish agreement with St. John’= s, Moundridge, in order to call a Pastor to serve as their part-time Chaplin to the residents at Shiloh Manor Nursing Home and Immanuel.<= /p>
1995  =         Pastor Michael Sharp, from Wathena, Ks, accepted the call to Immanuel.<= /span>

1995  =         Pew cushions were installed in the Sanctuary. A new Bible class for younger adu= lt members was organized under the name of Lightkeepers with a membership of a= bout 30 people. For the first time in years the Pastor could lead the regular ad= ult Bible class, without serving the dual-parish.

1999  =         On April 11, Immanuel dedicated a new addition. Rev. Howard Patton, Kansas District President served as the morning and afternoon preacher. The congregation utilized the Laborers for Christ program and many congregation= al members assisted in the work of building this addition of about 4500 square feet. The new addition provided a ground level fellowship hall, new handicap accessible bathrooms, new kitchen, two new classrooms, new office, and a new resource room, plus a new storage room.

  &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;   A new Cemetery Book and Plot-map of burial locations was updated.<= /span>

2003  =         Volunteers built a brick Cemetery Name sign, new sidewalks with a north entrance gate = and two benches. The sign holds a mailbox which contains copies of the cemetery plot map.

2004  =         A final farewell service for Pastor Michael Sharp, who accepted a call to Spencer, Iowa.

2005  =         Rev. Seth Meyer accepts call to Immanuel and is installed as Pastor on June 26.<= o:p>

2006  =         Elma Bolin was the last resident to be moved out of Shiloh Manor Nursing Home, <= st1:City w:st=3D"on">Canton, on Octobe= r 6. The closing of Shiloh Manor ended a= forty year partnership that had benefited not only those who were residents, but = also members of Immanuel and the city of Canton.

2008  =         The congregation celebrated one hundred and thirty years of grace and blessing = on July 13th. Celebration also for the retirement of debt on the 1998-99 new f= ellowship hall addition.