Immanuel Lutheran School: Then and Now

I’ve asked my friend, Pastor Warren, Immanuel’s Associate Pastor, to join us as a guest blogger and share his thoughts and Immanuel experiences.  As a lifelong Immanuel member (student, volunteer, athlete, spectator, son, father, husband, congregational officer, elder, pastor, you name it), he certainly has a unique perspective…

What does Immanuel Mean to Me?
By Pastor Warren Schilf

I can’t help but recall the fun and memorable times I had as a student during the ‘70’s.  Thinking back on those days, I realize that Immanuel was quite different in many ways than it is today.  When I was in kindergarten, I can remember the old church, which was on the corner of Wood St. and Plum Grove Road, being demolished by a huge wrecking ball.  We all watched with our eyes peeled out the classroom window.  I can remember attending chapel on Wednesday mornings in the ‘new’ church.  It seemed huge!

When I went to school, there were no middle school classrooms and church offices that exist today.  No Fellowship Hall, just a parking lot between the ’57 building and the ‘new’ church.  We did not have a gym until I was in the 8th grade.  We rented the gym at Paddock School.  The site of the current ILS gym was a parking lot/playground.  The existing library was the cafeteria, and the preschool rooms across the hall were more like an activity area, where our famous scooter races were held for gym class.  And oh yes, that’s where we did square dancing too!  Believe me, square dancing was just as fun then as it is now for current students.  Back then, the student enrollment was a bit smaller…our 8^thgrade class only had 13 students.

Even though some things were a bit different back then, there are some incredible things that haven’t changed at all and that still exist today.  The greatest similarity that I see is the dedicated teachers and staff who care deeply for the children they teach.  Teachers took time to get to know each student in their class, and I see the same level of care existing today, as my fourth child, Ben attends as a 7^th grader.  I know the teachers today care greatly for him, in much the same way my teachers cared for me.  The teachers at Immanuel are truly humble servants for the Lord who become etched into their student’s hearts as people who made a difference in their lives.  It has always amazed me how God has gifted these wonderful people, and uses them to bring Christ into the hearts of the children on a daily basis.

The main thing that we still see today, and completely answers the question of “What does Immanuel mean to me?” is the word ‘Family.’  I know this as someone who:

• was baptized at Immanuel.
• attended the school from K-8^th grades.
• went to Walcamp, as a child and as an adult.
• played all the school sports, even before there was a Bobcat Nation.
• got married at Immanuel.
• had all my children baptized at Immanuel.
• sent all my children to the school.
• served Immanuel in many ways, from usher to Congregation President.
• now serves as Associate Pastor.

Yes, it all comes down to one word – “Family.”

Early on, my parents showed me how much the people of Immanuel were actually part of our extended family.  They were involved in ‘Couple’s Club,’ played cards together, and went to “Baker’s Dances” with friends from Immanuel, many of which were parents of my fellow students.  It was as if we all knew one another.  It was more than just being cordial with one another, we were a community.  If a family had a need, other Immanuel families stepped up to help.  When a family was struggling, there was definite concern, and the larger Immanuel family rallied to help.  Amazingly, this still exists today, even though we have grown, both in terms of the physical building, and in enrollment.

As I mingle among various groups at Immanuel, I find that the very same sense of ‘Family’ and ‘Community’ that existed in the ‘70’s is very much alive today.  While the family dynamic/routine has changed quite a bit over the last 40 years, there is still a lot of caring going on today.  Though there may not be “Baker’s Dances,” people are dancing in the stands during Bobcat sporting events.  While there may not be a ‘Couple’s Club,’ people still get together for small groups for fellowship and bible study.  While there may not be many people getting together to play cards, (even though I saw a euchre game breakout at the State basketball tournament), people still gather at Fuddruckers at the conclusion of a state athletic competition – win or lose.

Immanuel – we walk together, we encourage one another, we grow together, we eat together, we worship together, and we live together as a ‘Family’.   I can’t think of a better place to raise my family.

In Christ,
Pastor Warren
PastorWarren@ilcp.org
twitter.com/PastorWarren14