[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 87 (Thursday, June 11, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S6539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF CANOVA, SOUTH DAKOTA

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I recognize Immanuel 
Lutheran Church of Canova, SD, on reaching the 125th anniversary of its 
founding. This historic church has been a cornerstone of both the 
community and the Synod. Immanuel Lutheran Church has seen its share of 
struggles, but has always grown stronger from them. Today, I pay 
tribute to both the anniversary of the church and to the members who 
have kept its traditions of service and faith alive for 150 years.
  The church was founded in 1884 with Rev. J. Reyhout as its pastor. 
The members, mainly German immigrants, joined the Ohio Synod and built 
the first church in 1891. The current church was completed in 1914. 
Known as the ``German Church'' or ``German Lutheran'', the 
congregation's welcome spirit for recent immigrants led to services 
being held in German. In 1940, they transitioned to every other week in 
English and German. In 1952, German services were discontinued. 
Immanuel joined the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 1988 on 
its founding.
  Although changes have been coming to this community since its 
founding, Immanuel Lutheran Church has held steady to the core values 
that it was founded on. With outreach to the prison, food shelters, and 
the community, these members have maintained the initial ideals of 
service and devotion. I congratulate this congregation on reaching this 
monumental anniversary, and look forward to the future as they continue 
their traditions.

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