A story of faithfulness Palatine's Immanuel Lutheran Church celebrates 150 years of caring for community's spiritual needs

Not every day is a church blessed with 150 years as a congregation. On Sunday, March 3, Immanuel Lutheran Church, in Palatine, commemorated its 150th anniversary with a special worship service and luncheon to kickoff a yearlong celebration entitled, "Living a Legacy of Faith." The church was officially established on March 1, 1869.

The "Living a Legacy of Faith" theme is based on Psalm 100:5, "For the Lord is good, His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations."

Serving as guest preacher was Rev. Dr. Allan Buss, president of the Northern Illinois District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

"It is an honor to be here," said Buss. "Here God meets you in a unique and holy way, and for 150 years, God has blessed Immanuel and I'm humbled to be a part of your story. Your story is really his story. Your story has meaning, your story has life, and your story has new beginnings because he brought you into His story when you were baptized. You not only have a story, but you have a song."

"Today, we sing of how God has used you and how God has used this congregation," said Buss. "Yes, we sing. We sing the song of salvation. And when you sing, you tell his story - that he is preparing a place for you in Heaven because you confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, crucified and risen."

"We are a part of a church family, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod," Buss continued. "We have a clear, truthful song to sing to the world. We bear witness to Jesus Christ, to his word and to his truth."

Immanuel's history started on Feb. 20, 1869, with a meeting that was held on the platform of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, in Palatine, to consider formal organization of a Lutheran congregation. The Battermann, Engelking, Grebe, Hartung, Knickrehm, Prellberg, Senne, Schirding and Schroeder families met on March 1, 1869, to officially organize a congregation and constitute membership to be known as the Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Congregation Unaltered Augsburg Confessions of Palatine. The congregation joined The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod on May 4, 1873.

In the early years at Immanuel, women sat on one side of the church and men sat on the other side. Women could only take communion after all the men went through the line. There was no parking lot - just a stable for the horses and buggies. And all instruction was in German.

However, German services were stopped for good during World War II because of the anti-German sentiment. Offering plates were actually a bag on the end of a long handle. The church was heated with a potbellied stove. Music was made on a pump-organ, where a person, hidden behind a door, would pump throughout each song while the organ was played. The segregation of men and women sitting on opposite sides of the church ended around 1930. Communion was held once a month and people had to visit the parsonage to register on Friday or Saturday if they wished to commune. There were no carpeted floors or kneelers - parishioners knelt on the bare floor.

At least 10 sons of Immanuel have gone on to become pastors. This perhaps is due to the influence of the pastors of their times. One of these "sons" is the Rev. Warren Schilf, the current senior pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

"It truly is an amazing thing to consider Immanuel has been a part of the fabric of Palatine for 150 years," said Schilf. "It's hard to comprehend the impact that Immanuel has provided to individuals, families, our community and our ministries throughout world. Our story is one of faithfulness, particularly the faithfulness of God abundantly blessing us to accomplish much for the Kingdom of God in that time. It is truly an honor and joy to be a part of Immanuel's story that has a hope and a future in our Lord."

An overflow crowd of nearly 500 people attended the anniversary worship service. Local dignitaries, including Palatine Mayor Jim Schwantz, also were present. Mayor Schwantz presented a proclamation honoring Immanuel Lutheran's commitment, history and dedication to the spiritual needs of the greater Palatine community.

Immanuel Lutheran Church provides the Palatine community with distinctive worship styles (traditional, blended and contemporary); adult education; youth, women's and men's ministries; community service through Good Samaritan Ministry; web-broadcasts of worship services; an award-winning school (preschool through eighth grade); and, 50s Plus, an active, older-adult ministry.

For information, contact Immanuel Lutheran Church at (847) 359-1549 or visit www.immanuelpalatine.org.