Emanuel lutheran church to celebrate 150 years

EMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH to Celebrate 150 Years . A very special day for the congregation of Emanuel Lutheran Church, Greendale, will be the celebration of their 150th anniversary of their founding, on Sunday, August 28 th • The congregation was organized on August 28, 1866 by 26 men of Protestant faith for the purpose of organizing a German Protestant Church in Lawrenceburg. That day the church was officially organized. The lot at the corner of Main & Fourth Streets in Newtown was purchased. The cornerstone was placed on July 14, 1867, and the entire building was completed in August 1869 and formally dedicated on August 22, 1869.

The church was severely damaged by the flood of 1937. It was repaired and continued to be used. In November 1953, the building caught fire and suffered considerable damage: They held their worship services above the fire house in Newtown. At a special meeting in April 1954, it was decided to relocate in Greendale. A plot of ground at the comer of Sheldon & DeJerus Streets was donated by a family of the church for a new building.

Ground-breaking was held in April 1955 and the cornerstone was placed on January 8, 1956, with the first worship service held on Christmas Eve of 1956. During the construction, the congregation met in the gymnasium of Greendale School on Ludlow Street. The organ console and altar were saved and are still being used in the present building.

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Our congregation has been blessed so richly through the years with a lot of faithful members and some outstanding pastors. A luncheon is planned following the 10:00 a.m. worship. Hopefully, some of t~e former pastors of the congregation will be able to attend along with former members no longer living in the area.

We pray for God's continued blessings on us as we continue our worship at EMANUEL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. Emanuel means: "GOD WITH US"

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WtIO tI'(lVe ~eRVe<v eM'(lNUet, TtI'ROUGtI TtIe ye'(1'R~ - 1866 through 201' /p c. MaYflr (1866-1869 J. f. Gra~~ow {l869-1870 f. W. :B rfli tf fll d (1871-1873) T.tI. Jaflrgflr (1874-1879) tI>M> Krflutflr (1879-1880) J.M. KloPPflnlin (1880-1881) c.e. tIflrb~t (1881-1884) . J.G. Kunz (1884-1887) J. KOflnig (1887-1890) G. Wolf (1890-1891) tI. Tfl~~mflr (1894-1899)

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~flmm (1900-1914)

J. Tauru~ (1914-1915) pfldro Ilgfln (1915-1920) J.V. ~apPflnfiflld (1922-1924) tI. I. PO~Pfl~fll (1915-1927) Virgil b. YOhfl (1927-1936) John '(l. Pflttit (1936-1938) Wfl~lflY ~muzflr

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(1938-1945) eugflnfl '(l. <VflJflru~ (1945-1954) ~flminary ~tudflnt~ (1954-1956) William tI.M. ~iglflr (1956-1959) bOWflll 'R. <vallman (1960-1963) Garland'R. :Baflr (1963-1989) John f. tIawkin~ (1990-1998) Timothy f. tIunglflr (1999 - fflb. thru Oet. - Intflrim) ~upplg pa~tor~ - Jan. '99, Nov. lSi <Vfle. '99) Jflrflmy G. 'Ru~g;flll (2000 -2012) . Jamfl~ <V. Kuehflra (lntflrim - 2013 - Jan. thru <Vfle.)

JflffrflY Iaeobazzi (2014 -2015-) :Barry'Riflhlfl (2016 Intflrim)

A SUMMARY OF OUR HISTORY .. .. On August 28, 1866, 26 men of Protestant faith met together for the purpose of organizing a German Protestant Church of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and to disfUSS the building of an approp"riat.e ~difi~e. " That dayth~ church was officially organized and a building committee was elected.

Four weeks later, on September 26, 1866, the first board of deacons was elected.

At the next meeting of the new congregation the building committee reported the results of its inquiry in regard to a suitable building lot. Of three lots recommended, the members selected the one owned by the Ludlow heirs, and purchased the lot at the corner of Main and Fourth Streets in Newtown, Lawrenceburg, for the sum of $1,500. The cost ofthe"church building was $15,000, not including the interior work and furnishings . The work was done in part by contract, each contract given out to the lowest bidder, the congregation purchasing the materials. The cornerstone was placed on July 14, J 867. The lower structure was completed in November of that same year, and dedication services for that portion of the church building were on December I, 1867. The entire church building was completed in August of 1869, and formally dedicated on August 22, 1869.

For many years the congregation was an independent Lutheran Church . On November 5, 1916, the congregation celebrated its Fiftieth Anniversary. On that occasion the Sunday School presented the Church with a new Kimball Reed Organ, which was used for the services until 1929, when a pipe organ,was installed . During the years following the Golden Jubilee many improvements were made in the church property. The congregation began to suffer the loss of many members and it became increasingly difficult for the congregation to maintain itself as an independent church. So in 1921, the congregation became affiliated with the Indiana Synod of the United Lutheran Church in America as a mission congregation. In its new relationship with the United Lutheran Church, it became know as The Emanuel Lutheran Church of the Indiana Synod .

The parsonage was erected in 1928 at 221 Fourth Street, at a cost of $5,557 . Now the congregation was fOltunate in possessing adequate church properties and equipment. In 1933, the Church became self-supporting again, and the financial aid of the Synodical Mission Board was no longer needed. The spirit of the congregation was one of great hopefulness for continued success in the years ahead.

Then on January 21, 1937, very suddenly and unexpectedly the entire community of Lawrenceburg was visited with the most disastrous flood in the history of the Ohio River Valley. Overnight the accumulated gains of many years were wiped out. The rising waters reached an unprecedented height, more than ten feet deep on the main floor of the Church, and reaching into the second floor of the parsonage. Both bui Idings were severely damaged, and .their contents completely destroyed. It was a devastating blow to the congregation, .for the maj6ioity of the members had suffered the complete loss of all their possessions in the disaster. The United Lutheran Church in America sent out a calJ for Disaster Relief Funds to help meet the rehabilitation needs of those who were suffering as a result of the Ohio River Valley catastrophe. Much needed food and clothing were sent at once to relieve the physical suffering of the members, and financial resources were placed at their disposal for the same purpose, Having met the immediate needs of the members, the Disaster Relief Committee, under the direction ofthe Inner Mission Board, set about the task of aiding the flood-stricken congregation in the restoration of its propelty. The parsonage was repaired and put in good condition at a cost of $1,500. The Church building was repaired and strengthened, and the interior remodeled and redecorated at a cost of $15,000 to the United Lutheran Church in America. The congregation resumed its worship and work in a beautiful, well-equipped church building.

Then on November 2,1953, the church building caught fire and suffered considerable damage.

But the congregation continued having worship services by meeting at the Fire Engine House No .

2 in Lawrenceburg. At first, the congregation intended to rebuild the damaged church building, but at a special congregationrneeting on April 21, 1954, it was decided to relocate iriGreelldale .

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A plot of ground at the corner of Sheldon and DeJerus was donat~d by a family of the congre: gatiol1 for a new church building. Beginning on the first Sunday in May of 1954, through December23, 1956, Emanue1 Lutheran Church held its services in the gymnasium of the Greendale School on Ludlow Street. During most of that time the congregation was without a regular pastor, but with seminary students supplying on Sund~ys. A constitution was adopted Oil November 8,1954, and the Church was shortly thereafter incorporated under the name of Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The Church building and the parsonage (;m .FoUlih Street were sold to the Church of the Nazarene for $13,000, which was applied toward the new church building. Also applied toward the new building was $16,102 received from the insurance company.

A Building Committee was selected to consult with architects to decide on definite plans for a new church building. The ground-breaking ceremony was conducted on April 10, 1955. The cornerstone was placed on January 8, 1956. The first service of worship was held in the new building on Christmas Eve of 1956. Only the bare necessities of heat, light and shelter were - available for that service, but it was a memorable occasion. One of the outstanding features of the building program was the thousands of man-hours donated for work by the members. For I'nany months some of the men worked almost every evening of the week. The new church building was officially dedicated on Reformation Sunday, October 27, 1957.

Cost ofthe new building was $106,855, not including the contents, much of which have been added during the past thirty years. The sum of $35,000 was borrowed from the local banks in July of 1956. The indebtedness remaining on the church building in 1966, at the celebration of the I OOlh Anniversary was $11,125. In three years this debt was eliminated, and a special mortgage-burning celebration was held on September 7; 1969.

For three and a half years, beginning in May of 1956, a home was rented at 56 Oakey Avenue, Greendale, at $60 per month, to serve as the parsonage for the pastor and his fami ly. In 1960, plans were made to purchase a lot on Laurel Lane for $3,320, and to build a new parsonage at a cost of $18,987. Several items were added to the parsonage as donations by members. The sum of $13,700 was borrowed toward the cost of the parsonage. The parsonage at 25 Laurel Lane, Greendale, was officially dedicated by the President of the Synod on July 11, 1960. In February of 1963, the balance of the parsonage indebtedness amounted to $11,000 and it was decided by the Church Council to eliminate this debt completely by August 28, 1966, on the occasion of the I OOlh Anniversary of the congregation.

In 1961, the lot next to the church building was purchased for $3,985 for future building expansion and parking. In 1964, the parking lot was extended to the end of the new propeliy at a cost of $896, and a special building fund was started for a new church school facility. In 1967, the 450 lh Reformation Anniversary was celebrated, and the following year a MaIlifesto Study Group and task force was formed. In 1969, in addition to the mortgage-burning celebration the whole church building was redecorated, and our first pictorial directories were printed, and we began use of the Celebrate liturgies at the services. In 1970, our whole church building had four air conditioner units installed at a cost of $6,374. In 1971, we began use of church banners, and had special Spiritual Life Revival Services, followed with Spiritual Life Renewal (Charismatic) meetings the following year. In 1972, we began instructing children and their parents for First Communion before Confirmation, after two study groups had met during the previous year. KEY 73 Evangelism programs were carried through in 1973 . The Pastor's 25 th Anniversary of Ordination was celebrated in 1974. In 1975, with the use of memorial gifts, a new piano was purchased for $1,190, and our church pews were cushioned at a cost of$2,042. In 1976, a new roof was installed . In 1977, the Ordination of a member of our congregation, Steve Schwier, took place on June 19, with the Bishop and twelve clergymen participated . The Fiftieth Anniversary of Ordination for Rev. Virgil Yohe was celebrated. Pastor participated in a Word and Witness Leadership Training program and started weekly classes. In 1978, we began to see a generous increase in church offerings, with a greater percentage for benevolences . A sound system was an

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improvement that year. Introduction of the Lutheran Book of Worship with representatives from 24 area congregations took place at our church. At the same time we began .using the new service with the purchase of 230 books. In 1979, we received a $3,826 bequest from the W. Schmidt estate. In 1982, repair work and necessary improvements were made at a C,9st of $10, 318 after " some church damage due to overheated wiring on May} l,st" We celebrated JudyHall's 25 th .

Anriiversary as our church organist. Ou.r third pictorial directory was printed in preparation for the 25 th Anniversary celebration of our church building. In 1983, Rev . Yohe was honored as our Pastor Emeritus .. Our church building was Qompletely redecorated. The congregation surprised Pastor on his 20 th anniversary at Emanuel L~therarl. In 1984, we received a $50,000 request from the A. Koch estate. A new parking lot was added to our property at a cost of $1 0, 968 . In 1985, kitchen cabinets were replaced at a cost of $4,719. Interest from the Koch-Siemandal fund is making it possible to help new congregation; provide college scholarships to our members ; and sponsorship of a world missionary.

In 1987, we sent Ivan & Marty Lindgren as delegates from Emanuel to the constituting convention of the new Indiana-Kentucky Synod of the newly formed Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. A goal of $3,000 was approved for the One-In-Mission appeal. One airconditioning unit was replaced at a cost of$I,800. Sunday Church School was discontinued during the summer months of June, July and August.

In 1988, we became a member congregation of the newly formed Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We began celebrating Holy Communion twice a month . The parsonage roof was replaced and ' new blinds and drapes were purchased for the church office and assembly room. Pastor Smuzer was honored for his 50 th Anniversary of Ordination. A celebration honoring Pastor Baer for 25 years as pastor of Emanuel was held in November.

In 1989, a new roof was put on the Educational Wing at a cost of$10,000 . An organ repair! rebuilding fund was authorized by the congregation . Educational scholarships for members attending college was increased to $200 .00 from the Koch-Siemanal Fund . Pastor Garland Baer retired after 26 years as Pastor on November 1st.

In 1990, the church building roof was replaced at a cost of $5,130. The organ repairrebuilding fund was started. The organ blower was replaced at a cost of $4,000 . We participated in the Lutherfest celebration sponsored by the Conference. Many man & woman hours were spent fixing up the parsonage in anticipation oftbe arrival of our new pastor and family.

Children's sermons were begun as a regular feature of worship during the season of Advent.

In 1991, we honored Alverta Schmidt for 64 years of faithful service teach ing in our Sunday Church School. The chimes were replaced with a new system bought through the memorial fund at a cost of$I,800. We gan a summer Christian Education Time on Sunday mornings . We had the first Vacation Church School for several years with 41 children enrolled~and 20 Adults participating.

During the 1990's, continuing repairs and remodeling were done to the building. The day after Christmas, 1995, the organ was torn out and the rebuilding project began . Dave Weingartner was given the job after getting several estimates. The total cost was about $85,000 .

We used a small electric organ given to the church by one of our families . The special dedication service was held on Sunday afternoon, August 18, 1996. New doors, new carpeting, exit lights above the doors, landscaping, moving the church office upstairs into the large carpeted room at the top of the stairs are some of the many things that have been done around the church .

We purchased some new hymnals - WITH ONE VOICE- and learned a new liturgy setting which we started using the third Sunday ofthe month. We tried an 8:00 a.m. worship service on a trial basis as some members wanted to partake of communion every Sunday instead of just twice a month. It became a permanent thing a year later. We continue to be blessed with a Sr. Choir which sings at two worship services each month and with special music during the summer months. At one time we had a Jr. Choir but due to a lack of interest it disbanded in the late

-41980's. After the departure of Pastor John Hawkins in December ,1998, we were fortunate to '"have an Interim Pastor - Rev. Dr. Timothy F . Hungler ~ from February 1999 tp October 1999.

He introduced a few differencesiri the liturgy which were nice. While he was here we had an , outdoor worship in the back of the church at which time we had the Blessing of the Animals .

We bega11 having Holy Communion at every 10:30 service durl'ng the m,onth. _ We got a new Pastor in January, 2000, with his arrival on J~nuary 16t\ and moving into the parsonage on January 1ih. He is Jeremy G. Russell from Auburn, Indiana., He has made some changes in the iiturgy and introduced us to some other:neat things. _ In the fall we had "The Blessing of the Book Bags" as the children ~ent back to school. We had an optdoor service and congregational picnic at a camp grounds in Dillsboro on a Sunday in August. We also had a hayride there on a cold October night. We again had the outdoor service and "The Blessing of The Animals". The pastor's office was remodeled with new carpeting, painting and furniture. A lot of improvements were made at the parsonage also. New carpeting, painting and building a cover over the back part of house to serve as a patio.

Our church suffered the loss of many members from November 1999 through the summer of2000 . In May, 2000, we honored Pastor Lowell R. Dallman on the occasion of his 40 th anniversary of Ordination. He supplied for us at the morning worship service in the absence of Pastor Russell who was attending the Synod Assembly in Kentucky. Jack Hall & Ramona represented our congregation (7 th time for Jack). A reception in the Assembly Room followed the service.

One oftbe latest projects is one for our youth group to convert the basement into a room for the youth where they can relax and have their meetings. They have been active for several years with different activities such as skiing trip, summer camp, bake sales, pizza paliJes, etc .

We are blessed with many hard working people who give a lot oftime to see that the propeliy is kept in good shape and things are running smooth . Our ladies took turns as groups in cleaning the church and recently a group was hired to clean it every week due to the lack of enough women to due, palily due to the age of some ofthem. We have an active women ' s group who meet monthly except during the summer. They have purchased a lot of different things for the church and they prepare and serve dinners to families following funeral services in the church .

We are truly blessed and hope that God will continue to shower his many blessings on our congregation and church building. We pray that he will keep us strong as we work together as a family of sisters and brothers and to keep our building safe from harm and danger.

Our congregation is an active one and have paliicipated in the community in different activities such as the Satu~day morning Lenten breakfasts, community Thanksgiving service and the community Good Friday service. A highlight in the spring is our festive Easter celebration with Sunrise service, Easter breakfast, Sunday School intergenerational evenfs, and the festive Holy Communion service at 10 :30. In the last 7-10 years, we have changed the time of our summer 10:30 worship service to 10:00 a.m . In the later part of the 1990's we had coffee fellowship hours from 9: 15 to 9:45 during June, July & August.

We are looking forward to special events coming up in these future years ahead of us as a congregation - EMANUEL EY ANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

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A special happening in 2001 was the acquiring of the stone from our old church building on the comer of Fourth & Main streets due to the efforts by Ron Selmeyer & Pastor Russell. The old church building was going to be tom down. We held a service of peace and healing on September 13 th following the disastrous day for our country of September 11. The church was open for the observance of the World Day of Mourning. In November of 2001 , a "surprise" dinner was held to honor Pastor Russell in recognition of his "25th " anniversary of Ordination.

In August, 2002, a group of our members went to Indianapolis to attend the "25 th " anniversary celebration of our former pastor, John F. Hawkins. There was a "surprise" dinner in his honor.

In February 2003, it was voted by the congregation to remove the canopy over the walkway leading up to the church due to the condition of the canopy and possible repairs. It was taken down in May by our Property Committee. For the first time, we had a Mardi Gras night on Shrove Tuesday with a pancake supper before the beginning of the Lenten season . In the Spring new pictorial directory was made. We have done one about every 5-6 years. Bishop James .

Stuck was the guest preacher for our Reformation Day service in October with a carry-in dinner following the 10:30 worship service.

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During 2004, we obtained a new wooden rack for the wall by the Information Station, that we obtained the year before, that would hold pamphlets, prayer books, bulletins, newsletters, etc.

In January, that year, we started a "Sound System" fund to possibly replace our current system.

In September, we were given a challenge to raise $5,000 to match a gift from an anonymous donor towards a new sound system. We succeeded and a new sound system was purchased and installed in the sanctuary in December. We learned of the death of David Weingartner, the man who rebuilt our pipe organ. The Nursery was changed to the Cry Room with a painting of a mural on the wall. In December, "Mother Nature" dumped a lot of snow and ice on us and due to the extremely hazardous weather conditions, the 7:00 p.m. & 11 :00 p.m. candlelight services had to be cancelled for the first time ever. Most of the local churches did the same thing.

The old church stone was put in place in the spring of2005 and a highlight was the dedication of the stone that took place on the church' s anniversary, Sunday, August 28 th â&#x20AC;˘ Some people in the community that helped to obtain the stone attended the worship service & dedication along with some of the relatives of our members, Roy & Anna Ellinghausen, in whose memory it was named.

We are an active congregation with a variety of activities and events that take place during the months of January through December. Some of them include: an active women's group (WELCA) that sponsor bake sales, purchase items that are needed around the church, and host an occasional mother/daughter banquet; Youth groups; Adult choir; Altar Guild; various teams; an "Angel Tree" at which time the congregation can purchase Christmas gifts for area needy children. The Council later named it "Jack' s Angel Tree" after Jack Hall, who originated and coordinated the project. His family have continued on with the project in his memory; Garden Club & mowing crews who keep the outside lawn and flower beds looking very nice. We accept donations of items for a number of local organizations designated for certain months during the year.

Our office secretary, Judy Hall began working for Pastor Garland Baer, in November, 1963 doing some typing out of her home and the church, part-time. When he left, she continued working for the Pastors that succeeded him through the present time. Some of the main office

In October 2011, Pastor Russell gave the congregation some information about his retirement the end of2012. In February, 2012, Bishop William Gafkjen ofIndlKy. Synod visited our service and presented the sermon. - - We stopped the bulk mailing ofthe newsletters to cut down on ,the cost. Some would get theirs by email and others can pick up a copy at church - - We learned that Pastor Jim Kuchera would be our Interim Pastor upon Pastor Russell's retirement. Sunday, December 30th was Pastor's- Last Sunday with us as our Pastor. We had a farewell dinner in his honor.

We discontinued having the 8:00 a.m. service due to so few that attended. New furnaces had to be installed in the church building. There was also some work done at the parsonage at different times. Pastor Kuchera served Emanuel during 2013. Pastor Jeff Iacobazzi became Pastor in 2014 and resigned in September 2015 and left us in October of2015. We were once again without a Pastor and Lay Supply, Bob Young from Kentucky helped us for several months.

Pastor Matt Voyer ofSt. John's Bellaire, became our Vacancy Pastor. He called on shut-ins, hospitalized and attended Council meetings. - - Pastor Barry Riehle became our Interim Pastor in March 2016. - - Improvements made around the church were a new storage shed and a new walkway with a lighted ,rail.

Pastor Juan Guzman and his wife Lilliana Barbosa, from Puerto Rico, had been attending our church for 6 six years and he began helping with the distribution of Holy Communion each Sunday since the Lay Supply was not able to do this for which we were so thankful.

Our congregation has been very generous in helping various organizations and surrounding communities with items and monetary donations .. We began using a liturgy booklet in 2015 in the bulletins which contained the Scriptures and some of the music for the liturgy. We use the Evangelical Lutheran Worship (red hymnals) and With One Voice (blue hymnals) for singing the hymns.

Our congregation has truly been richly blessed through these 150 years and hopefully the next 150 years will be good ones for the future generations to enjoy and continue worshiping at Emanuel Lutheran Church.

EMANUEL MEANS: "GOD BE WITH US".

HISTORX OF THE ORGAN In 1929 Emanuel Lutheran Church, on the corner of Forth and Main Street, Lawrenceburg, IN replaced a Kimhall Reed Organ that had been given by the ¡ Sunday School Department in 1916 with a pipe organ. In its .origina l design, this organ was ' a "box tracker organ". It sat rn the from of the church near the chancel. This box tracker organ served the musical need of the congregation until the flood of 1937. No one expected the flood waters to go as high as they did. This flood covered part of the Drgan and destroyed the interior of the church. Following the flood, the box organ was disassembled and sent to Kilgen Organ Company for rebuilding. When the church was remodeled the pipe organ was put in chambers on both sides of the chancel. This is where it stayed until 1953 when the church at Forth and Main was extensively damaged by a fire ~ following the fire it was decided to move the congregation to its present location here in Greendale. The organ was once again disassembled only this ¡ time it was stored in the Schenley Warehouse. While it was being stored at Schenley it was damaged by water from a leaking roof. Kilgen Organ Company once again had to remanufacture sev~ral of the pipes for the organ. When this current building was built, Kilgen Organ Company accepted the challenge of installing the pipe organ in very limited space. When worship began in this current house of worship, only six ranks from a much larger organ were installed. This Kilgen organ served from 1957 until 1990 with regular maintenance. In 1990 the blower was replaced and the congregation informed that the organ was in need of a maj or overhaul or rebuilding. At that time an "Organ Rebuilding Fund" was started. From 1990 until 1995 this fund grew, but it was not until we were blessed with a major bequest from Norma Keotkemeyer Jacobs that we could seriously consider a complete rebuild. Today, the organ that we are rededicating still has five of the original six ranks installed by Kilgen plus eight new ranks and chimes built and installed by D. Weingartner Organ Company. This gives us a total of thirteen ranks. \