History of the Church

On October 24, 1948 our church was officially organized by Dr. S. C. Siefkes, district president, with twenty-two charter members in the Ritz Theatre building where we had been led in worship by Rev. Raymond Pfluegar, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Ephrata. Out call to Rev. Chester Patten was answered and he was installed as our first pastor on November 14, 1948. The following month on December 5, Reb. Patten officially named this congregation the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Moses Lake, Washington.

March 20, 1949 a cold and windy day, the first "Building Fund Treasury" was started by dedicating the church sign on the lots at Lakeside and A streets which we were purchasing and prayed some day, the Lord willing, that we would build an edifice there to His glory.

The parsonage was built and on April 30, 1950 was dedicated. The following April in 1951 Rev. Patten accepted a call as Assistant Youth Director of the American Lutheran Church. Rev. A. O. White, a retired pastor, ministered to us until July 8, 1951 when Rev. Arthur Baehmann was formally installed as our pastor. A real highlight during this time was the monthly family nights which helped draw our fellowship together.

On March 15, 1953 after our morning worship service at the Ritz Theatre the congregation attended the ground breaking ceremony for the Parish Education unit. Less than six months later on September 6 our own home of worship was dedicated -- What a glorious experience.

The membership of Immanuel Lutheran Church was growing steadily and on December 6, 1953 we had our first double service schedule. During this period every available space including the parsonage living room was being used as Sunday School Classrooms.

Ground breaking ceremonies for our new church with only the basement to be completed at this time, were conducted on October 20, 1957. The tenth anniversary of Immanuel Lutheran Church and the firth anniversary of the dedication of our educational unit was celebrated September 14, 1958.

A note burning ceremony for the parsonage and deucation unit dept was conducted on June 11, 1961. The cornerstone was laid on August 26, 1962.

On November 4, 1962, the prayers of the members of the church are answered as we dedicated our own church to the glory of God.