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The Pilgrims are one of the forebear streams of the United Church of Christ. As a blend of four distinct Christian traditions -- Congregational, Christian, Evangelical and Reformed -- the UCC includes some of the country's oldest congregations and structures.
The UCC's rich historical tradition includes launching the first attempt at congregational democracy (1630); leading the movement to abolish slavery (1700) and the spiritual revival known as the Great Awakening (1730); staging the nation's first act of civil disobedience that inspired the "Boston Tea Party" (1773) and hiding the Liberty Bell when the British occupied Philadelphia (1777); being the first mainline denomination to ordain an African-American pastor (1785); forming the United States' first foreign missionary society (1810); coming to the aid of the illegally-enslaved Amistad captives (1839), an event that led to the U.S. Supreme Court's first civil rights ruling; being first to ordain a woman (1853); being first to ordain an openly gay man (1972); and coining the term environmental justice (1987).
The United Church of Christ's national offices speak to, but not for, its nearly 6,000 congregations and 1.3 million members. In the spirit of its rich tradition, UCC congregations remain autonomous, but also strongly in covenant with each other and with the denomination's regional and national bodies.
Barb Powell
Press Contact
United Church of Christ
700 Prospect Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44115
216-736-2175
powellb@ucc.org
We have been lucky as our church council, ministers and secretaries have kept record of Changes & Improvements at Immanuel Church. I found this very interesting and thought you would to. (Each month a page will be done)
1891 Friedrick Rathje, Heinrich Jacobs and John Meyer are to meet with like committees of three other churches in Peotone to discuss the compulsory school attendance law. The law was found to be worthy and unanimously accepted. A printed copy of this law is to be found on page 96 in the church records. A church deficit of $200 was discussed by the ways and means committee. Each member is to add $.30 to each dollar he gives to the church.
TOP1892 Parents who want their children baptized are to attend that service to hear the admonitions to parents and then accept that responsibility themselves. If one parent is prevented from attending, the other parent should be there. The promise to rear the children in religion and character is the promise of parents and sponsors.
TOP1893 In January, it was decided that more room was needed in the church proper. Some of the council was sent to see how other churches enlarged. In July, the committee reported that to build galleries on north and south side of the church would be best. Walls to be paneled with hard pine.
TOP1894 Collection was received for Bensenville Orphanage and Old Folks Home.
TOP1895 Many visitors in services - non-members should be visited and also asked for a contribution. The Sunday School picnic is now an annual affair and growing each year and to be held in September with lemonade free for scholars.
TOP1896 Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of Immanuel Church - all former pastors invited with travel expenses granted. If Rev. Nussbaum can come to the anniversary for half-fare - o.k.; if not then "no".
TOP1897 A new pipe organ was purchased by means of free-will offerings and assessment of each member. Contract for the organ was with a Pekin firm, Hinners and Albertsen and to be guaranteed for 10 years. Cost was $612.00. Ernest Ginder bought the old organ for $10.00.
TOP1898 H. Wendelsdorf served as custodian and was required to scrub the floors of the church and school twice a year and be responsible for pumping the new organ, all for $70.00 a year.
TOP1899 A committee was appointed to consider the installing of electric lights and gain the cost of same. The congregation turned down their recommendation of electric lights and the lighting is to remain as it is. A light was to be installed in front of the church and trustees responsible for taking care of the light. The congregation voted to purchase a strip of land just west of the church and horse sheds to be erected. The first widow accepted as a member - Mrs. Koerner.
TOP1900 Farmers with horses were assessed to pay more to the church than those who had none. Rev. Goebel resigned. On April 4, Rev. Weber was elected as pastor.
TOP1903 A resolution was passed by the congregation that the parochial school was not to be in opposition to the public schools. This resolution was based on the thought that Christian citizens were an urgent need and it would be much better for them to be able to speak both German and English languages.
TOP1904 In the years 1903 and 1904 the concern of the congregation was the construction of the new church building. Much of the information dealing with these events appears in the new Anniversary book. The new church was dedicated November 20, 1904 (Cost $24,000 plus $612 for organ). Rev Frederick Weber, Pastor.
TOP1913 New pipe organ purchased. English services were introduced and held first Sunday of the month.
TOP1914 Rev John Hoefer became pastor
TOP1919 Rev A. J. Hotz became pastor
TOP1921 Individual cup communion introduced
TOP1923 Rev. E. H. Eilers became pastor.
TOP1925 Church walls tuckpointed
TOP1926 Interior decorated by Schaunbacher ($1445.00). Took 4 men 46 days to apply 3 coats of oil and lead paint and to refinish the pews.)
TOP1927 First Union Thanksgiving service held at Immanuel.
TOP1928 Horse sheds taken down
TOP1930 New piano purchased ($295.00)
TOP1931 Constitution translated to English and revised. Stained glass windows repaired ($140.00.)
TOP1932 Rev. E. H. Plassmann became pastor. Extensive renovation - removal of the raised pulpit platform and the high choir loft with organ console and the construction of an altar-centered chancel.
TOP1936 New parsonage garage erected
TOP1942 Chancel remodeled; new pulpit, lecturn, altar, choir pews, etc. (Ossitt) Sanctuary redecorated - organ rebuilt. German services discontinued.
TOP1946 75th Anniversary celebration.
TOP1949 Fellowship hall added to church; parsonage built ($66,000). Old parsonage sold for $9,995.00
TOP1950 Interior redecorated by Alston Decorating ($2529.00)
TOP1951 PA system installed.
TOP1953 Church tuckpointed ($5,900.00)
TOP1954 Mortgage burning for fellowship hall & parsonage project.
TOP1956 Balcony rail installed by Ossitt ($1,050.00) Lord's Supper carving installed by Ossitt ($1,433.00); memorial book stand purchased from Ossitt. Property purchased for parking lot.
TOP1959-60 Parking lot built ($3,442.00); microphones installed.
TOP1961 Sanctuary redecorated ($6,475.00) New light installed ($3,000.00) Aluminum storm windows purchased for art glass windows ($194.50). Storm windows purchased for parsonage ($240.00) Sunday School class area remodeled, lowered ceilings, new lighting system; partitions added.
TOP1963 Rev Plassman died.
TOP1964 Baptismal font presented to Immanuel by the Ernest Wendelsdorf family; mimeograph purchased ($536.00). Rev Dean Plassmann installed; First Easter Sunrise Service & breakfast. Young People's Choir organized (Mrs. C.T. Singer, first director) Amplifier and intercom system installed; Extensive remodeling to the organ in the form of a new console & electrification of entire organ by Wertz ($6,789.00) Cancer Dressing Unit organized.
TOP1965 Nursery care organized (June Pollak, first chairperson); Constitution revised - now 12 members on Council; projector & sound unit purchased ($490.00); new sign on lawn ($175.00) new Communion ware ($491.00); electric typewriter purchased ($595.00), fence behind parsonage installed ($430.00); church windows repaired; ladies wash room remodeled; Evenings Women's Fellowship organized; Golden Age Fellowship organized; Men's Fellowship organized.
TOP1966 Tuckpointing & roof valley repaired. New stainless steel caps on four sides of tower ($10,000.00); per communion begun; live Christmas crèche presented.
TOP1967 Hymnals purchased; time of Sunday school & morning worship changed to 9 & 10 a.m.
TOP1969 Second balcony stairway added; closed circuit TV installed
TOP1970 "Coffee And" fellowship begun; Children's Choir organized, Dorothy Radtke, Director; by-laws changed - annual meeting to be held second Sunday in January as part of the morning worship; new carpeting in sanctuary; pews refurbished, etc. ($15,000.00); new balcony stairway paneled; Schulmerich carillon purchased; dedicated April 18, 1971.
TOP1971 Centennial year; tuck pointing of church building; new pulpit robes; two Women elected for first time to Church Council - Laverne Siemsen & Lorena Koch. Irma Siemsen retires; Beverly Thiesfeld replaced her as church secretary; TV to Bensenville home.
TOP1972 Additional hymn racks installed; parking lot enlarged; fellowship room carpeted; Building Committee appointed.
TOP1974 Renovated old garage for storage.
TOP1975 Special Congregational meeting; building program for $400,000.00 defeated. Roof repair ($5,000.00).
TOP1976 Extensive remodeling of parsonage with family room added; church office moved downstairs ($3,00.00); re-wiring of church - Lazlo electric, Joliet ($21,000.00).
TOP1977 Second session of Sunday School begun (Discontinued 1985). Two additional classrooms added in the upper level.
TOP1978 Upper level Sunday School rooms carpeted; By-laws changed - $1500.00 expenditures by council changed to $2500.00; purchased Otto Rathje property adjacent to church ($40,000.00)
TOP1979 Extensive organ repair; seat cushions purchased & presented by Women's Fellowship; new roof over fellowship room stage & cloister; repaired roof over bell tower ($9600.00); renovated lower level Sunday School rooms; chapel added; men's washroom remodeled ($53,632.00 - Building for God's Children)
TOP1980 New gold choir robes purchased for Senior Choir
TOP1982 Tower repair ($22,000.00); New Property Fund (Otto Rathje property) pair in full.
TOP1983 Ceiling fans installed in sanctuary; handicapped parking established; Building for God's Children project paid in full; Associate Pastor, Joshua Christiansen, arrived in December.
TOP1984 Sanctuary PA system upgraded, paid for by Dennis L Lalumendre; fellowship room remodeled, ceiling fans installed; two new fellowships formed - Young Couples & Agamos (Young Singles); seventh grade confirmation class reinstated; sanctuary redecorated, October-November ($13,680.00); Rev. Dean Plassmann retires, December.
TOP1985 Sharp copier leased with option to buy, April - later purchased; new glass doors, east side of church ($2400.00); grand piano for sanctuary, June ($5,500.00); three stained glass windows repaired in sanctuary; Rev Thomas Drewer became Senior Pastor, July 1st; audio-visual sound system purchased for fellowship room ($2400.00); new TV camera for sanctuary ($750.00); Christian Enlistment moved to November.
TOP1986 Rev. Dean Plassmann becomes Pastor Emeritus of Immanuel Church; friendship registers purchased; Stewardship & Mission Committee formed; Pastor Joshua Christiansen resigns; Past Elders' Committee formed; Tenebrae Service for Maundy Thursday & Good Friday; Holy Communion to be celebrated monthly; package of Maintenance & Improvement projects - tower tuckpointing, fire door for furnace room, plaster repair & painting of upper level classrooms, fire alarm system for entire church ($26,000.00). Rev Lisa Hadler arrives July 15 as Associate Pastor; new Sunday School By-Laws adopted; Joy Curriculum installed in Sunday School; Church Directory distributed; Bethel Bible Seriew initiated; parsonage windows repaired; Lisa Hadler ordained in Kewanee on September 14; Pastor Halder moved to parsonage west of the church (Rathje house); new fire door leading into furnace room installed; Christmas Eve Candlelight Service reinstated; Christmas Day 9 a.m. Service with Holy Communion initiated.
TOP1987 Church Constitution revised at a special congregational meeting March 29; Love offering to be used by the pastors for special gifts begun; the new UCC Book of Worship now used by the pastors; Lisa Hadler installed as Associate Pastor June 14. Duane Koehn becomes the Groundskeeper; new sound system installed ($5800.00); nursery equipment (4 cribs & a changing table installed in Kindergarten area to be used in the Nursery care during morning worship services); all windows in the church building were wrapped & new storm windows & screens installed ($7039.00); Constitutional change to - Church treasurer can be elected to an unlimited number of successive terms with the length of term remaining at one year.
TOP1988 Annual meeting date moved to fourth Sunday so that Annual Reports may be mailed to members; ceiling fan installed in Council room; brass candelabras refinished; Elevator Fund established; Women's Fellowship luncheons discontinued; replaced by one Annual Beef dinner held in April; The first Bethel Class graduated May 22nd; New automatic Heyer folder purchased for church office ($850.00); Immanuel UCC becomes incorporated; Rev. Alvin Siemsen, a son of Immanuel Church, celebrated the anniversary of his 50th ordination, by being recognized during the morning worshp on June 19th; new multi-colored Vermont slate roof installed during summer ($96,690.00) ($74,000.00 raised for initial payment to Mortenson Roof Inc. Committee: Maurice Soucie, Duane Giles, Cliford Oliver, Terry Siemsen, Donald Stauffenberg); windows in the upper level Sunday School rooms refinished; Mission Team established - First projects collecting baby blankets & items for health kits for Church World Service; money for Heifer Project International; second Bethel Class begun; two new mikes purchased for lecturn & pulpit.
TOP1989 Parsonage & Sunday school attics insulated; Service of Healing, April 2nd; Church Library established; Bensenville Home Society purchased the Beecher Anchorage; Peotone-Bensenville Home becomes limited care facility; organ repair 0 new lead pneumatic tubes installed; summer Bible class established; "Catch Up Sunday" held to encourage catching up on pledges; parsonage garage roof repaired - Global Roof, Inc., Momence; cookbook printed to benefit the Elevator Fund (Susan Bartels, Coordinator); Nancy Wheeler resigns as Young Christians' Choir dircector; Choir reorganization; Children's Choir, 5 yr. Olds - 3rd grade, Judy Tompkins, Director; Young Christians' Choir, 4th - 8th grades, Barbara Lohrbach, Director; Chancel Choir, Barbara Lohrbach, Director; God & Family Awards (Boy Scouts) Brad Buntenbach, Jason Froehner, Andrew Zumbahlen; Wedding Policy revise; Taking Care of our Own Campaign conducted to aid Peotone- Bensenville Home; Peotone-Bensenville Home rededicated; Rev Lisa Hadler resigned; new flag poles installed.
TOP1990 Second parsonage becomes rental property; new format for Maundy Thursday - spaghetti dinner with Communion around the table; special congregational meeting in April to elect Barbara Lohrbach as Director of Music & Youth Acitivities (Deaconsee), beginning full time in September; Pastor Drewer received his Doctor of Ministry & Theology from Eden Seminary in May; Second Bethel Class graduated; trees planted in memory of Roland Gerdes and Verlin Thiesfeld; consignment sale to benefit the Elevator Fund in June; new Toshiba copier purchased ($4182.00); new IBM typewriter purchased $700.00; new worship schedule - trial basis for one year); morning worship, 9 a.m. Sunday School 9 a.m. "Coffee and", 10 a.m. second worship service, 10:30 a.m.; Rally Day picnic instituted, third Sunday in September, noon; Sunday evening service, 6 p.m. in chapel instituted (trial basis).
TOP1991 Sunday Evening service, second Sunday of the month, 6 p.m. only; Handbells Choirs formed; organ repair - cone sleeves 9 $600.00; new sofa in "Mothers' room", $400.00; new piano in fellowship room, $2000.00 (given by Laura Behrens in memory of Anna, Fred & Walter Thiesfeld); Confirmation Class pictures permanent display on wall in the lower level of the church, beginning with the year 1899; parsonage roof replaced $3500.00, Illianna Roofing; new gutters on the parsonage $825.00, Modern Gutters; church roof & parsonage roof indebtedness retired; new video camera in sanctuary $800.00 (given by Willard Bisping in memory of Henry); God & Country medals awarded to thirteen Boy Scouts from Immanuel; Endowment & Memorial Committees established; return to one Sunday morning worship service at 10 a.m. -Sunday School, 9 a.m.; Sunday Evening Service discontinued; Cherub Choir formed, Eileen Meinheit - Director; Joyful Noise - new director, Beverly Sands, Beth Thiesfeld, Accompanist; Large inheritance received from Laura Behrens estate.
TOP1992 Endowment & Memorial Committees established; Altar Guild formed; Dr. Tom Drewer's 20th anniversary of ordination celebrated; J.O.Y. Club established; Elevator, Office, Lobby, Sunday School room addition - $98,750.00 (Knecht-Darling & Matot-Elevator) parking lot improvement, $50,000, BigZ; Slate roof on steeple - Mortensen Roofing, $55,620.00; beginning of major organ repairs - to be $20,000.00; redecorating of fellowship room, $3500.00 (paid by Woman's Fellowship); new floor in tower, $2000.00; new boiler - Harms Plumbing & Heating, $1,800.00; Mission Projects, $10,000.00 to new church in Chipinge, Africa, $10,000 to Bensenville Home Society-Life Link.
TOP1993 New phone system with intercom $300.00; humidification of sanctuary - Peotone Heating & Air Conditioning, $1800.00; Tree of Life installed $6,000.00 (given by Norbert Behrens' & Gerald Daum's); parsonage windows replaced (Jeff Ruhbeck Consturction) $8000.00; farm lands (inherited from Laura Behrens estate) sold $436,463.18 - 427,452.12 placed in Endowment Fund; church windows caulked; parking lot striped & sealed; some brick work tuckpointed & repaired; Good News Singers tour to St. Louis area; groundskeeper, Duane Koehn, resigns; David Cann family new groundskeepers; organ refurbishing completed; 200 new folding chairs purchased for the fellowship room by Women's Fellowship.
TOP1994 Church building tuckpointed $29,000 (Caruso Tuckpointing); Constitutional change - The Council may authorize any extraordinary expense, but if the expense exceeds $5000, it must receive the approval of the congregation. Transmitter and 6 hearing aids purchased (Hearing Assistance System) $704; began using disposable communion cups; front sidewalk and steps (East entrance) replaced $4,000; handicapped bathroom installed $4,000 (Jess Ruhbeck, Contractor); church grounds landscaped (Pizzo & Associates) $15,9870; sanctuary redecorated (Religious Arts) $17,800; balcony seats replaced & new carpeting in balcony. Canon 6030 photocopier purchased from McGrath-Whalen. No maintenance contract.
TOP1995 Purchased the Lindy Willis' home west of Rathje home property, $85,000 (paid from Laura Behrens' inheritance); thirty new Chancel Choir robes purchased from Memorial fund ($94 each); cornerstone opened; Heritage Sunday May 21st, special service & parade; New Century Hymnals purchased (450) cost approximately $7,000; Elevator Addition debt retired; Fall Festival in the Peotone Park as part of the 125th anniversary observance; Pictorial Directory compiled; second phone line installed; Barbara Lohrbach commissioned on Oct 1st as Lay minister of Music & Christian Education; Women's Fellowship constitution updated; Fellowship room & church kitchen air conditioned ($18,000-JTR of Peotone contractor). In July the Good News Singers toured Indiana & Kentucky.
TOP1996 Rev Tom Drewer resigns. Interim minister was Rev Richard Lewis. Honored are those who had twenty or more years of service to Immanuel Church; Joyce Werner, 25 years; Carolyn Gill, 20 years; and the Mecklenburg Family, 20 years. Air conditioning in parsonage and fellowship hall were installed.
TOP1997 Rev David M McDonald arrives January 15. Beverly Thiesfeld retires as Church Secretary February 8; Ellen Johnson is hired February 4 as Church Secretary. AB Dick Duplicator purchased; new computer is purchased for office March 31 (CB Pentium 200 mhz Desktop, 16 MB Ram, 2.5 GBHD, Fax Modem) and Lap top computer purchased ro pstor at cost of $3,962; air conditioning is added to new addition section (inclusing hallway & offices of secretary and pastor and heat is added to North entrance at cost of $13,958. A new Ford Econoline E350 Super Club 15 Passenger Van is purchased July 11 for $25,521. A service contract of $920 is added for the van bringing the total cost to $26,462 (paid from the Berdella McKay Estate). A garage addition is added to the parsonage garage to house the new van at a cost of $9400 (paid from the Berdella McKay Estate). Honored is the Dave Cann Family for having given 5 years of service to Immanuel Church. In July the Good News Singers toured St. Louis, MO and Highland, IL. Immanuel hosts Fall meeting of Eastern Association.
TOP1998 Gateway computer purchased for Barbara Lohrbach's office. In July the Senior High Youth took mission trip to Washington D.C. In August the confirmation class, along with the youth of Grant Park St. Peter's Church, traveled to St. Louis, MO. In September Barbara Lohrbach began Master's Degree program at Chicago Theological Seminary. Council requests Barbara licensure for sacramental ministry - granted by church and ministry.
TOP1999 February 7 Sandra Dzurny was hired as church secretary. In July the Good News Singers went to Wisconsin; the Senior High Youth went on mission trip to Boston. The sanctuary was air conditioned by Unique Indoor Comfort at a cost of $55,000. The roof was replaced on the educational building by Tomkat Roofing at a cost of $11,000. In November a new Duplo Folding Machine (DF-505) was purchased for the office from Gateway Business Systems, Munster, IN for $2,149. Immanuel hosts special Conference Meeting to elect the Rev Dr Jane Fisler Hoffman as Conference Minister. Plassmann Seminary Scholarship Fund was established.
TOP2000 In January a new Konika 7033 photocopier was purchased for the office from Gateway Business Systems, Munster, IN for $9,077. A maintenance contract was also purchased for $950. Total to Gateway was $10,027. Also in January the hymnal supplements TO GOD BE THE GLORY were printed for $2800. In March a fax machine ($250) and Hewlett Packard Laser Jet Printer 1100 ($600) were purchased for the office.
TOP2001 Barb Lohrbach and Rev David McDonald both resigned. In May, Pat Misner and Judy Cowger were hired for office work. Pat resigned in July and Patti Shepard was hired in September. The 'Church Windows' program was installed on the computer for records of the church and members. Rev. David Plant started in July as interim pastor.
TOP2002 The 'Phone Tree' was installed for making automated calls to members. It was purchased with memorial money from Elverda Temme ($1300). The stained glass windows were all removed and refinished with new storm windows installed by Cathedral Crafts from Winona, MN. Rev. Plant led his last service on Christmas Eve. New carpeting was installed in the fellowship hall, paid for by the Women's Fellowship. The fellowship hall was also painted.
TOP2003 Pastor Bill Riegle did his trial sermon in January and voted in. The parsonage was remodeled, parking lot resurfaced and marked. Rev Paula Comper was hired as youth leader. The library was moved into the council room. The nursery Sunday School room was the first room painted for the rotation program they wish to start. The computer room was also started. Two small color copier, scanner, printers were purchased for the office and Sunday school office. Power point was used during the Saturday evening worship. The first cookie/candy sale was held and an all church garage sale was held the weekend of the Community Garage Sales.
TOP2006 Immanuael United Church of Christ voted to be a safe church. Training to be provided for all staff working with children.
TOP2007 Congregation voted to purchase a new electronic sign with money that had been donated for that purpose. The sign installtion began in November and finished shortly after Thanksgiving. The carpeting was replaced in the upstairs hallway and classrooms, in October. The church kitchen was completely gutted and remodeled, during the months of September and October. New custom built cabinets, floors, a new island and all new counter tops were provided by the Women's Fellowship. The church website was moved from a single page on the Village site to it's own Domain and webhost. It underwent a complete redo. The office network equipment was redone and replaced.
TOP2008 Congregation voted to hire a youth minister. Search Committee was formed and began the process of interviewing for the position. Congregational vote was taken regarding housing for the new pastor. The decision was made to remodel and repair the two rental properties and offer one as the pastor's home. Repairs were needed to the exterior of the church building, bids where received and repairs where started. The upstairs bathrooms where remodeled and repairs made. New Exit lights where purchased and installed in the church.
TOP2009 The church experimented with a contemporary worship ervice. Remodeling was completed to the 315 and 325 Corning rental properties. Needed repairs were made to the church tower and to the north entrance. The congregation suspended the ongoing search for an associate pastor for a year. Immanuel participated in the first Peotone Expo. The stewardship campaign netted pledges of at least $120,000. Joyce Werner retired as chruch organist after 45 years of service.
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