Nine second-generation German immigrants founded the church in 1916.[/caption]

Founded by a group of nine second-generation German immigrants 100 years ago, Immanuel United Church observes its centennial year this July.

The church’s first meeting took place in 1913 in a congregation member’s home.

“In July 1916, the charter was granted by the state, and we began a full-fledged church,” Centennial Team Leader Diana Haude said.

With a membership of about 200, of which seven are the founders’ grandchildren, the church has had many renovations and additions.

It began as a sanctuary with a single spire and stained glass windows as the only ornamentation. A white fence in front of the church kept the hogs from rooting around under the structure, which threatened to ruin its foundation, wrote Margaret Smith, author of “Immanuel United Church of Christ: Celebrating a century of Christian Service 1916-2016.”

“It was just a little white wooden church built by the founders of the church,” Smith said.

In 1948 a parish hall was added, but in 1953 a fire burned both.

“The workers used flammable material, and that material caught on fire,” Smith said. 

At the time, there was no fire department.

“Spring was a tiny little town in 1953, maybe 500 people or so, and there was no fire department,” pastor Ron Krueger said. “After that the people rallied together and said, ‘We can’t just have no fire department.’ This is the reason they started the fire department.”

The stained glass, pews and communion chalice were saved. Ten months after the fire, a new church was constructed, Smith wrote.

In the ’60s a four-bedroom parsonage was added, and in 1975 a day care building was built. In 2006, an annex was built that accommodates office space and a conference room. Upstairs classrooms were added as well. 

Fire struck again in 2008, but this time, a fire department came to the rescue.

Today, the church is oriented with outreach and mission work, Smith said.

Immanuel United’s first sanctuary was dedicated in 1916. In the 100 years since, it has seen two fires and many additions and renovations.[/caption]

“New Beginnings was initiated a year ago, where we become a more intensely outreaching church than we had been,” she said.

The church supports Northwest Assistance Ministries Interfaith Hospitality Network. It is also active with NAM to provide assistance for victims from the April 2016 storms, Krueger said.

“Immanuel was one of the founding churches for Habitat for Humanity,” he said. “[The church has] been very active.”

July 17 is the final centennial celebration event, which will include choirs and music, Haude said.

Smith said she is especially proud of the church’s program called Senior Day Out.

“On the third Thursday of the month, all senior citizens in the Spring area are invited to have a home cooked lunch, to enjoy a time of fun and fellowship and to play a variety of games.”

26501 Border St., Spring, 281-288-3199, www.immanuelspring.org