THE HISTORY of immanuel
Immanuel's log cabin church with Teacher Kuch and his students
When the congregation’s worship space in the log cabin became too small, the cornerstone was laid on July 21, 1873, for a new building. The new white frame church was dedicated on November 16, 1873, shortly after the arrival of a new Pastor, Rev. J.L. Hahn.
Pipe Organ
From the time of Martin Luther in the 1500’s, Lutheran Christians have sung the hymns of the church accompanied by an organ. Thus we would expect the same tradition to be carried forward by the German immigrants who came to the Sebewaing area in the 1850’s.
Rev. J.J.F. Auch, Immanuel Lutheran Church’s first Pastor, led our members in worship in a log cabin which served the congregation for many years, during which time it was enlarged with a frame addition.
The church’s records do not state specifically whether or not services in the log cabin included an organ. However, since it is known that Rev. Auch was able to play, it is probable a reed organ was installed at an early date. When Teacher Kuch was called in 1871, he was informed his duties would include organ-playing in the church.
In 1882 our congregation purchased its first pipe organ. It had two manuals (keyboards) and was built by the Felgemaker Organ Firm of Erie, Pennsylvania. The cost was less than $1,800.00. A person was hired for $15.00 per year to pump the bellows in order to maintain the wind pressure while the organ was in use. Later, this job was a regular duty of the janitor, but in 1915 an electric blower was installed which relieved the custodian of this task. The Felgemaker organ served our congregation until 1950.
In 1951 Immanuel Lutheran Church dedicated a new brick church building and a new pipe organ built by the Schantz Organ Firm of Orrville, Ohio. The organ, which is still serving our parish today, has three manuals and 21 ranks (sets of pipes). All nine ranks (561 pipes) of the old Felgemaker organ were retained and included in the Schantz organ. All pipes, both old and new, are enclosed in two chambers, one on either side of the chancel with each chamber having a corresponding expression pedal at the console.
On September 16, 1951, during an Organ and Choir Vespers Service, the new Schantz organ was dedicated. Professor Carl Waldschmidt of Concordia University, River Forest, IL, served as the organist for that service. He chose to play J.S. Bach's Prelude and Fugue in B minor and the Gigue Fugue in G major, as well as Widor's Toccata from his Fifth Symphony. Immanuel’s Senior and Junior Choirs contributed several anthems.
In 1999 the organ console was enhanced with a Peterson multi-plex switching system, a 32-level combination action, a MIDI resource system, and a transposer. These additions give the organist more flexibility. New manuals and a new pedalboard were also updates made to our organ at that time.
Immanuel Lutheran Church has been praising our Lord for over 160 years. We look forward to many more years of praise assisted by our beautiful Schantz pipe organ.
Church Bells
With great delight we welcome the sound of Immanuel’s bells summoning the faithful to worship once again. For over one hundred years the three bells in Immanuel’s tower have sounded forth a joyful invitation, summoning all to hear the Gospel. We pray that they will continue to make a joyful noise to the Lord for many years to come!
We are grateful to God for the faithful labors of all of those who were involved in the bell tower restoration. Special thanks to those who volunteered their services especially: Troy Strieter who worked to restore the bells; Lary Houthoofd who washed the brick on the tower and church; and Larry Kuhl who helped with the bell restoration, welded new platforms for them, and who housed the bells during the tower repair.
Below is a representation of the German text found on each of the bells followed by an approximate translation.
Large Bell
THE HY STUCKSTEDE B F CO ST LOUIS MO
GESTIFTET VON DEN FRAUEN DER EV LUTH
IMMANUELS GEMEINDE
ZU SEBEWAING MICH BRINGET DEM HERRN
EHRE SEINES NAMENS
BETET AN DEN HERRN IN HEILIGEN SCHMUCK
PSALM 29 2
The Henry Stuckstede Bell Foundry Company + St. Louis, Missouri + Donated by the Ladies + of the Evangelical Lutheran + Immanuel Congregation + of Sebewaing Michigan + AD 1898
Ascribe the Lord the glory due His name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
Psalm 29:2
Medium Bell
THE HY STUCKSTEDE B F CO ST LOUIS MO
GESTIFTET VON DEN FRAUEN DER EV LUTH
IMMANUELS GEMEINDE
ZU SEBEWAING MICH AD 1898
ALLE SOLLEN DEN SOHN EHREN WIE SIE DEN
VATER EHREN
JOHN 5 23
The Henry Stuckstede Bell Foundry Company + St. Louis, Missouri + Donated by the Ladies + of the Evangelical Lutheran + Immanuel Congregation + of Sebewaing Michigan + AD 1898
That all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. John 5:23
Small Bell
THE HY STUCKSTEDE B F CO ST LOUIS MO
GESTIFTET VON DEN FRAUEN DER EV LUTH IMMANUELS
GEMEINDE ZU SEBEWAING MICH AD 1898
SUCHET WAS DROBEN IST COL 3 1
The Henry Stuckstede Bell Foundry Company + St. Louis, Missouri + Donated by the Ladies + of the Evangelical Lutheran + Immanuel Congregation + of Sebewaing Michigan + AD 1898
Seek the things that are above.
Colossians 3:1