Compiled by Menard E. Bartell

Pastor Willis A. Yarian served this congregation from 1966 to November of 1972. Pastor William Uffenbeck, of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Golden, Illinois, supplied this congregation November and December of 1972 and January and February of 1973. On March 4, 1973, Pastor Floyd Ohman was installed and remained until November 4, 1979.

A Quilting Guild was organized by the church women in August of 1971. These dedicated ladies have given freely of their time, talents, and means to beautify our church property wherever and whenever needed.

In the winter of 1972 to the year 1973, the parsonage was remodeled at a cost of $3,600. In 1974 cushions for the pews were installed, and in 1975 new steel doors were installed in the entryway of the Church. Also, the entire interior of the Parochial School was renovated by lowering ceilings, plastering where needed, and completely repainting at a cost of $2,400.

Pastor Henry Flessner accepted the call to Immanuel and was installed April 20, 1980. That same year a new furnace was installed in the Church, and the School roof was repaired. A monthly newsletter, The Sun Times, was started and still continues, and a prayer chain was established and activated.

A Worship Committee was organized in 1981, and that same year a Chimes Fund for the church organ was established. 1981 was also the first year ladies served on the Church Council (Anna Wienke and Patricia Loeschen).

In 1982, Casablanca ceiling fans were installed in the Church, and a new garage was added to the parsonage. In 1983, the Holzgrafe Construction company of Quincy, Illinois repaired the south entranceway of the Church. A new roof was installed on the south entrance to the basement of the Church. The total cost of repairs was $3,000.

Information was received on a plan for the merger of several synods of the Lutheran churches in the United States in 1983, and interest continued to develop through the coming years.

The organ chimes were installed in January of 1984. Gifts in the amount of three thousand dollars were donated to establish a new mission church in Peoria, Illinois (Peace Lutheran Church). On May 20, 1984, our congregation voted to tear down the teacherage, which was no longer needed.

In June 1985, a family night was celebrated, honoring Pastor Henry Flessner on the 35^th year of his ordination into the ministry. In November and December of 1986 the congregation had a new pictorial directory made of all the members.

On June 30, 1987, Pastor Flessner retired, and his last sermon at Immanuel was preached on July 12, 1987. On August 5, 1987, Hesse Builders contracted to decorate and renovate the parsonage for the next pastor and his family.

In November of 1987, Pastor Ronald F. Graham accepted Immanuel’s call to be the next pastor. On January 1, 1988, the merger of the American Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Church in America, and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches became official. Immanuel voted affirmatively and is now a member congregation of the new Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (E.L.C.A.), Central/Southern Illinois Synod.

On February 3, 1988, a constitution committee was appointed to determine what had to be done to have the constitution of Immanuel Lutheran Church coincide with the proposed congregational constitution of the E.L.C.A. This committee consisted of Pastor Graham, Patricia Loeschen, Merle White, and Menard Bartell. From their efforts, the new constitution of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church of Golden, Illinois was adopted at a special meeting of the congregation on September 30, 1990. At this time, the name of the women’s auxiliary, formerly named the American Lutheran Church Women, was changed to Women of the E.L.C.A. Likewise, the men’s auxiliary, previously named the Men’s Lutheran Brotherhood, was changed to Lutheran Men in Mission.

In 1989, the Parochial School was tuck pointed, completely water proofed, and a new roof installed. In 1990, a new amplifier was added to the Church’s sound system, and a new cordless microphone was purchased. A new roof for the entire Church was installed by Hesse Builders at a cost of $25,191.50. At this time, the Immanuel Congregation decided to celebrate its 125^th Anniversary of organization, setting the date of the celebration for September 18, 1994.

In 1991, the size of the Congregation Council (formerly called the Church Council) was reduced from 11 to 7 members. Also, in 1991, a sump pump (120 gallons per minute) was installed in the Church basement to alleviate the damage of sudden and heavy rain storms.

The first meeting of the 125^th Anniversary Committee was held February 10, 1991. The officers and committee were: Chairman, Merle White; Assistant to Chairman and Historian, Anna Wienke; Secretary and Compiler of Immanuel Church history from 1969 to the present, Menard Bartell; Immanuel’s leader and advisor, Pastor Graham; Verna White; Vernice Bartell; John and Patricia Loeschen; and Dillard and Marie Martin.

The Congregation Council voted to establish a museum, with Pastor Graham and Anna Wienke to plan this project. The museum is located in the west end of the lower level of the Church, and is known as the "Heritage Room." It has memorabilia of Immanuel’s history, artifacts, events, and pictures, especially of the Confirmation Classes through the years.

On August 31, 1992, a special congregational meeting was held for the purpose to approve a plan for redecorating the complete interior of Immanuel Lutheran Church. The bid of $26,682.00 from Max Autenrieb Contractors, of Edwardsville, Illinois was accepted, with work to be completed by the summer of 1993.

In the summer of 1993, the Church’s pictorial directory was completed. Actual photo taking dates were July 20 and 21, 1993. The company selected to do these photos was United Church Directories, located in Galion, Ohio. Their representative cooperated with our Pictorial Directory Committee, resulting in a pleasant and successful photo taking session. Souvenir plates commemorating Immanuel’s 125^th Anniversary were ordered from Brown and Bigelow (World Wide Manufacturing Company) of Covington, Tennessee.

Many dedicated committees and workers strove to celebrate this most important occasion to the glory of God. Many plans and decisions were made. Immanuel was grateful to all who contributed their prayers, gifts, and service in various ways.

The enthusiasm and excitement for the celebration of the 125^th Anniversary built up and reached its climax on the actual date of the anniversary, September 18, 1994.

Immanuel Church will continue through prayer and divine guidance to fulfill the Lord’s Great Commission, "Go into all the world preaching the Gospel, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

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