Immanuel Lutheran Church

Our History:

From the earliest days of Cedarburg, when horse-drawn wagons worked their way through the mud and mire of Washington Avenue, Immanuel Lutheran Church has been an important factor in the local community.  The original Immanuel congregation was established in 1852.

In the beginning, Immanuel was organized as a congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.  By 1919, the affiliation had changed to the ALC (American Lutheran Church), which evolved into the present ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) organization in 1988.

The congregation's first meetings were held in a small building just south of the current site.  The present church building, built in 1883, cost only $7,745 to construct.

Our Mission:

Welcome to the Journey of Faith.

People of all ages and life stages worship, grow in faith, and serve together at Immanuel Lutheran Church.  Children, youth and family ministry is emphasized and opened to all in the area.  God’s love, revealed in Jesus, helps up care for one another and stay open to new friendships.  With deep roots in historic Cedarburg, the congregation builds on the strengths of experienced members and newcomers in meeting today’s opportunities to thrive in God’s grace.  The church invites all to discover and use God-given abilities individually and in relationship with others.  The Lord’s Spirit calls us together in a Holy Communion of forgiveness and hope.  You are welcome to visit, sing, play, celebrate, search, test, struggle, and discover the joy of life with us and with our gracious God.

Partner churches:

We, at Immanuel, have committed to be partners in Christ with Incarnation Lutheran Church (15th and Keefe) in Milwaukee. The relationship we have with our partner church is reciprocal, meaning that we learn from each other as sisters and brothers in Christ.  Our needs may differ, but we grow in our relationship to God and God's people, from being the Church together.  Most recently, we shared an outdoor worship and a picnic with Incarnation.  The children played games as did the adults.  Our HandBell Choir has traveled to Incarnation to play, and their Gospel Choir has praised God with us at Immanuel.

We are very pleased to work in partnership with our neighboring ELCA churches. We share a common youth program with Trinity Cedarburg, Faith Cedarburg and St. John of Grafton. We share special common worship services, partner for confirmation classes, and do mission trips and outreach together also with these churches, as well as members from Advent Cedarburg, Living Hope Saukville and Grace Thiensville. A mutual ministry delegation meets quarterly from these churches and we have recently begun to invite our councils to come together to share information, resources and greater chances to do mutual ministry! 

Mentoring and tutoring have also been part of our ministry together.  If you would like to learn more about partnership relationships, please call the church.  We're happy to share any information we have about the blessings of partnerships.

Team Bio:

		Pastor Vicki - Pastor: Welcome to Immanuel! Your presence is a blessing and we open our hearts to you with God's extravagant welcome. Please get involved in whatever catches your attention and imagination and share with us whatever gift and talent that you may bring to Immanuel.   We extend to you a loving kindness blessing for your spiritual journey: May you be safe. May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you live with ease. May you ever be aware  of the peace that passes understanding that surrounds you that is in Christ, and may you know it holds you and is available to you at all times.
		Holly Hupfer - Council President: God’s peace to you. I am very honored to be in this leadership role and I have a great team working alongside of me. When you enter the doors of Immanuel, you will feel the warmth of love and compassion, the sense of community, and the commitment of other’s to serve. Immanuel holds a very special place in my heart. I hope it does for you too. My heart is joyously singing ...."God is on the move, Hallelujah!"
		Sandy Arndt - Secretary: Immanuel is a growing and active church and I enjoy working with both its staff and its members.  I feel blessed in having been a member of Immanuel for over 40 years and I take my service to the church in this capacity very seriously.