Immanuel Lutheran Church

I can say that I have had a great experience brought onto me by a member whose birthright was recorded here. . Christmas is a very special experience. . what is utmost is it still lives in my heart.

new pastor is awesome. got my blood fired up at my dad's funeral and graveside service. hi jack.

Immanuel is a small congregation when it comes to numbers but its congregation at worship is open and friendly. There is plenty of on street parking and also additional easy to access parking behind the church. The structure is small by most standards but the sanctuary is well air-conditioned, the pews are comfortable and padded and the building is very clean. Outside the flowers are beautiful and the neighborhood is situated in a beautiful small community with many public amenities, clean sidewalks, streets and curbs, beautiful parks and excellent park and gym facilities. You will find a new village administration building built at a cost of over $6 M, a fitting war memorial and a great public library. The village is one of the prettiest and most modern in the area. It sports a large shopping center with such occupants as Sam's Club, Wal-Mart, Kohls, Target Greatland, Menards, Catherines, Lonestar Steaks House, Salerno's Restaurante, several large auto/truck dealerships, a fourteen screen Cimena, Baskin Robins, Applebees and much, much more. The police and fire departments are both in separate large modern facilities with well trained, friendly, full time personnel. Paramedics can be at Immanuel church in five minutes. The village is also home to the world's largest UPS transfer facility, home base for Mr. Z drapes and blinds, the midwest's newly reopened Hostess Bakery, Cummins Automotive and Certified Food distribution center and scores of other thriving businesses none of which make the living area where the Immanuel is located seem industrial, dirty or overcrowded. The Hodgkins public school is a beautiful facility as well as is the "Old Village Hall & Fire Station museum and meeting center just across the street.

Immanuel is a congregation of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. It was organized in 1911 and now worships in it's 1951 well-maintained white structure with its steeple visible inviting all to join in worship. It uses it's original swinging bell as a call to worship and also utilizes a new electronic carillon which rings hymns at certain times for all the community and plays the Westminster Chimes for calling out the times of the day. The congregation has an excellent organist who plays an excellent new Rogers Digital organ to lead the congregation tastefully in worship and song.

Immanuel is known as a theological confessional and Biblically conservative congregation adhering to God's clear Word. Worshipers will not, however, find a stiff group of people in the pews but a very friendly and welcoming group of Christians who feel that "God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son the WHOSOEVER believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. They do not gather to judge but to worship and praise the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Their pastor for the past two years recently retired because of age. I have had the privilege of growing up in Immanuel's pews as a child and now, as a retired Lutheran pastor myself, I have spent the month of July, 2013, filling it pulpit and leading worship. Jesus once said that, "A prophet is not welcome in his own home town." Certainly many of the people who still fill the pews at Immanuel remember me as a child or young man. They know very well that I was not a perfect person but they have welcomed me with open arms and have shown me how beautiful forgiveness truly is. If you come to Immanuel you will see and experience that love and forgiveness as you join in the worship and the sacraments. I must be truthful, Immanuel if filled with sinners, hypocrites, and imperfect folks (of which I am the chief) but if you come with a mind to, "...see nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified,' you will leave forgiven of all your sins and very happy, thankful child of God. God Bless you in all of your endeavors to glorify His holy name!