Immanuel Lutheran Church
1505 West Michigan Avenue,
Jackson, Michigan 49202
Phone 517-782-6081 Fax 517-782-7408

The congregation of Immanuel's first home was a house at 321 West Cortland Street, purchased in March of 1926 and remodeled for church use. This served as the sanctuary until June of 1945, when it was sold and lots were purchased at the corner of Higby and West Michigan Avenue.

After summer services at the Patience-Montgomery Chapel, the congregation spent the next three and one half years in worship at the St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church.

On Saturday, September 11, 1948, articles and documents were laid in a cast black cornerstone for the church at Michigan and Higby. In the metal box are placed a church hymnal, the Holy Bible, coins of tithing, a National Church magazine, a copy of the Jackson Citizen Patriot and a complete history of the church from its incorporation here in 1926, until the present.

On February 20, 1949, the congregation, now numbering about 150, held the first worship service in its own church, built on the West Michigan Avenue property. This structure, now remembered as the Chapel, was designed for 125 persons per service and was soon outgrown.

The congregation subsequently had a much larger building constructed west of the chapel. The first service in the new church building took place in November of 1958. Designed to seat about 400 worshipers in the sanctuary, with additional space for church school, a kitchen, meeting place and offices, this structure still serves as the main church building.

The block between Higby and Brown streets fronting on West Michigan Avenue comprises the church property today. West of the church building is the parking lot. The congregation also purchased three homes just south of the parking area. The larger house was at 109 S. Brown Street, which served for many years as the parsonage, was purchased in 1955, and later removed for parking lot expansion. The bungalow at 115 S. Brown was purchased in 1970, as a youth center, and until 1998, housed the church office.

During the construction project, the house at 117 S. Brown came up for sale and was purchased by Immanuel. During construction of the Alice Wiltse Educational Wing, the house was used for Sunday Church School classes and the summer worship services. Once complete, the house at 117 S. Brown, along with the bungalow at 115 S. Brown were torn down and the parking lot expanded.

Immanuel Lutheran Church has had twelve pastors in its 74 years of existence. Reverend Raymond E. Peterson served the longest, 14 1/2 years, from July of 1973 until January of 1988. Reverend David A. Mann retired August 31, 1999. Immanuel was pleased to have Interim Pastor Nancy Eaton-Reding for our Interim Pastor. Pastor Nancy died suddenly in January 2000. While Immanuel searched for a new paster, we welcomed Interim Pastor Donald W. Herdman. On May 14, 2001 Pastor Erick Johnson arrived as Immanuel's new pastor. We welcome Pastor Johnson and his family to our family of belivers.

In May of 2007, the house at 106 S. Higby was purchased and donated to Immanuel during our Capital Campaign. This house will be used for an associate or intern pastor.

Now the members of Immanuel stand at yet another point on the road to spreading God's word. With His help, the congregation that began in a tiny house will again reach into the community and embrace the next phase. It is again time to join together and experience: