|
|
Chicago, IL
Ascension Lutheran Church is located at 0S850 Wenmoth Rd in Batavia, IL. They are served by Pastor David Baker. Worship Service - 9:00 am. Sunday School & Bible Study 10:15 am.
Pastor David P. Baker (630)879-9455
A Brief History of Immanuel Seminary graduate David Lau was ordained and installed as the pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church, Hales Corners, Wisconsin, on September 18, 1960. Shortly after this he became aware of the fact that several persons who were members of other CLC churches lived in the Chicago area, as well as non-members interested in our church body. Pastor Paul G. Koch of La Crosse, Indiana (then a member of the CLC, but now a member of the Lutheran Churches of the Reformation) was contacted about this, and he said that he was already planning to begin services in the Chicago area. It is possible, therefore, that the first CLC services in the Chicago area were held as early as November or December of 1960. The Fuller family renovated the basement of their home into a chapel which was used for worship at the beginning. Services were held on Sunday afternoons at their home in Hinsdale, a west side suburb. Sometime in 1961, the then pastor John Lau moved from the La Crosse, Wisconsin area to the Chicago area. He had found employment with the Social Security Administration. Naturally, he and his family attended our services, which were being held at the Fuller home in Hinsdale. Soon afterward, pastor John Lau was asked to conduct the services. When he agreed to do so, pastor Paul G. Koch relinquished the spiritual leadership of the group, and pastor John Lau became the shepherd of the group, although they had not yet formally organized. Independent of this group, a second group had begun holding lay services in a rented hall on the north side of Chicago. They met on Sunday mornings. The nucleus of this group was the Maurice Tretbar family from Ponsford, Minnesota. They were members of St. Paul's, now a CLC church, and Mr. Emil Ruch, who had been a member of Peace Lutheran Church, Tinley Park, of the Concordia Lutheran Conference. When this second group heard of the presence of pastor John Lau in the area, they also requested his services. For a time, then, there were two tiny CLC groups in the Chicago area, one having a morning service and the other having an afternoon service. In the summer of 1965 pastor John Lau accepted the call as professor at Immanuel Lutheran College, Eau Claire, Wisc. Before he left, arrangements were made to unite the two Chicago area groups into one group, to be served by pastor David Lau from Milwaukee, Wisc. The first such service was held on Sunday afternoon, September 5, 1965 at 4:30 pm at a room of the YMCA, 3333 N. Marshfield; on the north side of Chicago; not far from Wrigley Field. Sometime in 1966 the decision was made to formally organize into a congregation and elect officers. A constitution was drafted and adopted. The name "Immanuel" was chosen over the name "Peace" by a narrow margin. In October 1966, David Lau accepted a Call and moved away. Soon after the departure of pastor David Lau, pastor Bert Naumann accepted the Call to Messiah, Hales Corners, Wisc., as well as the responsibility for Immanuel, Chicago. By the end of 1966 the freeway (tollway) system was completed. This made it possible for pastor Naumann to conduct two Sunday morning services; 8:00 am at Milwaukee and 11:00 am at Chicago. Although a precise date cannot be located for the formal organization of Immanuel, it appears as if it took place in the late fall of 1966. Immanuel, Addison, Illinois would have been accepted into membership in the CLC at the 1968 convention. The first full time pastor of Immanuel was the next pastor, Seminary graduate David Schierenbeck. He arrived at Immanuel after graduation in 1968. Our present property (pictured in this display) was purchased in 1970. Over the years, Immanuel has considered several relocation opportunities but none of them have come about. We look to the Lord of the Church and wait on Him regarding this matter. Other pastors of Immanuel who have served Immanuel are James Sandeen, Doug Libby, Ted Barthles, Mark Bohde (extended vacancy), David Schmidt, and the current pastor, David P. Baker.
|
