As we review these past 125 years and dig into the pages of the past we find that there were very few Lutheran Pastors this side of the Mississippi in the late 1800’s and so Lutherans living in the Willamette Valley were served by the Rev. G. Meyer on a monthly basis. On his visits Rev. Meyer would hold services, visit the sick, offer communion, and teach Confirmation classes, leaving instructions with Mr. C. Wetzel to teach the class on subsequent Sundays. This resulted in our first catechumens being confirmed in April 1890. Local Lutheran really wanted to have their own congregation, and so on February 18, 1891; the organization of Immanuel Lutheran Church was formally effected. On May 22, 1891, the following name was adopted: “Deutsche Evangelisch - Lutherische Immanuels – Gemeinde zu Albany, Oregon.” The first celebration of the Lord’s Supper after the formal organization was on April 12, 1891. A Mission Festival is recorded at Hackelman’s Grove on Sept. 18, 1892. Treasurer records show a collection of $11.05. Travel expenses of $3.30 were deducted for the guest speaker and $7.75 was sent to the then California-Oregon District.
On April 16, 1893, the congregation resolved to call its own pastor and on September 12, 1893, a call was extended to the Rev. H. Hagist. Pastor Hagist conducted about four communion services a year. One Confirmation Class was recorded during this time, a class of seven on April 13, 1898. Shortly thereafter Rev. Hagist asked for a release. Immanuel had no pastor for the next six years. They also had no property. Services were held in homes, in the old First Presbyterian Church, in the W.C.T.U. Hall and in Peirce Memorial Church on 3rd and Ellsworth. On May 8, 1904, the Rev. C.J. Beyerlein was installed as Pastor of Immanuel there.
Now the members felt they needed a church building. On February 3, 1905, it was decided to purchase two lots, the present parking lot, and the adjoining one where the old parsonage stands. $200 was paid down and the remaining $200 to be raised in 30 days. A building committee of 5, the greatest part of the Voting assembly, was asked to look into building a church. At the March meeting it was voted to build the church during the summer months and within 4 ½ months, on August 13, 1905, the church was dedicated to the service of the Lord.
Not only did Pastor Beyerlein serve members of Immanuel, with his faithful horse and buggy, and with an occasional assist from a bicycle, but he gave time to members of Zion, Corvallis, and Bethlehem, Lebanon, so that they could organize their own congregations. Immanuel continued its zeal for missions, helping start new preaching stations, working in evangelism, and giving with regularity to district and synodical treasuries for home and foreign mission programs.
Pastor Beyerlein was very active in seeing opportunities in nearby towns. He began servicers in Corvallis and soon organized Zion Lutheran Church in that city. A few years later Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Lebanon was started. All this was done in the horse and buggy days and even a bicycle did the service to the cause of the busy pastor. By June 1910 Immanuel became entirely self-supporting.
On October 18, 1908 the first parsonage was finished and dedicated at a cost of $1,400. In the early years one of the concerns of the pastor and the congregation was the need for Christian training for its children and youth. Pastor Beyerlein began teaching Christian Day School classes in the church building class rooms in 1913. Not satisfied with inadequate school facilities the voting assembly resolved in May 1916 to purchase for $3,000 two lots with buildings which now are the site of the present Immanuel. One building was converted into a one-room Christian Day School and was dedicated on September 24, 1916. Pastor Beyerlein served as pastor-teach for several years before accepting a call to Zion, Tacoma, Washington on November 18, 1923.
On April 16, 1893, the congregation resolved to call its own pastor and on September 12, 1893, a call was extended to the Rev. H. Hagist. Pastor Hagist conducted about four communion services a year. One Confirmation Class was recorded during this time, a class of seven on April 13, 1898. Shortly thereafter Rev. Hagist asked for a release. Immanuel had no pastor for the next six years. They also had no property. Services were held in homes, in the old First Presbyterian Church, in the W.C.T.U. Hall and in Peirce Memorial Church on 3rd and Ellsworth. On May 8, 1904, the Rev. C.J. Beyerlein was installed as Pastor of Immanuel there.
Now the members felt they needed a church building. On February 3, 1905, it was decided to purchase two lots, the present parking lot, and the adjoining one where the old parsonage stands. $200 was paid down and the remaining $200 to be raised in 30 days. A building committee of 5, the greatest part of the Voting assembly, was asked to look into building a church. At the March meeting it was voted to build the church during the summer months and within 4 ½ months, on August 13, 1905, the church was dedicated to the service of the Lord.
Not only did Pastor Beyerlein serve members of Immanuel, with his faithful horse and buggy, and with an occasional assist from a bicycle, but he gave time to members of Zion, Corvallis, and Bethlehem, Lebanon, so that they could organize their own congregations. Immanuel continued its zeal for missions, helping start new preaching stations, working in evangelism, and giving with regularity to district and synodical treasuries for home and foreign mission programs.
Pastor Beyerlein was very active in seeing opportunities in nearby towns. He began servicers in Corvallis and soon organized Zion Lutheran Church in that city. A few years later Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Lebanon was started. All this was done in the horse and buggy days and even a bicycle did the service to the cause of the busy pastor. By June 1910 Immanuel became entirely self-supporting.
On October 18, 1908 the first parsonage was finished and dedicated at a cost of $1,400. In the early years one of the concerns of the pastor and the congregation was the need for Christian training for its children and youth. Pastor Beyerlein began teaching Christian Day School classes in the church building class rooms in 1913. Not satisfied with inadequate school facilities the voting assembly resolved in May 1916 to purchase for $3,000 two lots with buildings which now are the site of the present Immanuel. One building was converted into a one-room Christian Day School and was dedicated on September 24, 1916. Pastor Beyerlein served as pastor-teach for several years before accepting a call to Zion, Tacoma, Washington on November 18, 1923.
Immanuel’s history shows these important dates, too:
- October 18, 1908 – First parsonage finished and dedicated at a cost of $1,400.
- 1913 – Pastor Beyerlein begins teaching a Christian Day School in the church
- May 1916 – Two lots with buildings, where the present church stand purchase for $3,000. One building converted into a 1 room school.
- April 2, 1934 – The Rev. Ralph Heins installed.
- January 14, 1940 – German Services discontinued.
- June 15, 1941 – 50th Anniversary of congregation celebrated at Miller’s Grove.
- July 9, 1944 – Resolution to build present church building adopted.
- July 8, 1945 – The Rev. R.H. Weiland installed.
- December 1, 1957 – The Rev. Arnold J. Abel installed.
- 1961 – Congregation votes to start a new Mission in South Albany – Good Shepherd – which was dedicated July 1, 1962.
- August 15, 1965 – Rev. Herbert F.W. Boehne installed.
- September 18, 1966 – 75th Anniversary of Congregation. Rev. Richard Weiland and Rev. Dr. Carl W. Bensene were guest speakers. The Chancel Window dedication during services.
- January 1, 1967 – 101 Communicants and 71 children released to Good Shepherd so that they might become an established congregation.
- May 9, 1976 – Dedication of Sanctuary Windows.
- November 25, 1978 – 1st playing of pipe organ.
- October 28, 1979 – Organ dedication.