Milestones

All are welcome at the baptismal font – from infants through adults. Baptism is a gift from God that is pure grace. Since it is God who makes the most important promises at baptism, and God is faithful in keeping promises, only one baptism is needed in a person’s lifetime.

In baptism promises are made by the church community to support the person in their growth in faith. Because baptism brings people into church membership, baptisms are generally held during worship services where the community of faith is gathered. It works best to hold baptisms on non-communion Sundays – the second, fourth, or fifth Sunday of the month, as possible.

Baptismal sponsors play an important part in supporting the growth of faith of the person who is baptized. Please prayerfully select sponsors who are active in the life of faith, who will be there with the person baptized to celebrate faith life milestones and encourage growth in faith.

To prepare for baptism we hold a baptismal class for the person who will be baptized, if they are old enough to participate in a class, and for parents of infants or children who will be baptized. This class is about an hour long and scheduled based on the mutual availability of those attending the class and the pastor.

Individuals who are baptized become members of Immanuel Lutheran Church and are encouraged to continue as active participants in the congregation. Parents do not need to be members of Immanuel to have a child baptized, although family members may join the church at the same time (please ask if you would like additional information). Church membership can be transferred to or from another congregation upon request.

To request a baptism, please complete the baptismal form below and submit it. It is helpful to have months’ notice to allow time for those in the congregation to prepare the handmade gifts that will be given at the time of the baptism, though baptisms can be performed more quickly if needed.

Jesus said: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)

Congratulations on your engagement! A wedding ceremony a special and sacred event that initiates your new life together drawing on the love of God, family, and friends. We look forward to working with you to prepare for your special day.

Immanuel welcomes weddings for members and non-members. Weddings held at Immanuel are to be officiated by Immanuel’s pastor. Additional clergy are also welcome to be part of the ceremony.

In planning a date for a wedding please be aware that Immanuel’s sanctuary is not air conditioned. A comfortable amount of time to prepare for a wedding is at least six months, though there can be flexibility to work with a shorter time frame if needed.

We want every couple who is married at Immanuel to be as prepared as possible for a happy and lasting marriage. Pre-marital counseling is part of that preparation. This is a time to come together with the pastor to discuss topics that prepare you not only for the wedding but also for the married life that follows. Because the State of Minnesota seeks to support couples in preparing for healthy, lasting marriages, participating in the pre-marital counseling qualifies you for a $75 discount on your Minnesota marriage license.

Immanuel seeks to keep costs associated with the wedding as reasonable and fair as possible. Click below see a list of wedding fees.

Please start by talking with the pastor to confirm availability on your preferred date. Pastor Justin Fenger can be reached by phone at 651-308-7717 or email. In addition, please download and complete the wedding form below to reserve your date.

Where to Begin

If a loved one has died and you are seeking to plan a funeral, please start by calling  Pastor, Justin Fenger 651-308-7717  or the church office 651-583-2340 or The Administrative Assistant at 651-431-8941. We will walk with you through every step of planning a funeral that honors the unique memory of your loved one as we commend them to God’s loving care.

Important Funeral Planning Items

• Some of the things to think about as you prepare to meet with the pastor to plan the funeral are:
  Any favorite hymns or scriptures of your loved one. Our pastor will also have suggested hymns and scriptures to help in selecting which ones to use during the funeral.
• People who may have memories to share. It could be friends or family members. Usually, it is nice to have 1 to 3 people share memories during the funeral.
• What about your loved one’s life would be appropriate to highlight – important experiences, themes, and personality characteristics that capture what made your loved one unique.

Costs

Immanuel’s Recommended Funeral Donations are available here. Please note that these are recommended donations – not a bill! If money is tight, we will be honored to provide a very nice, personalized funeral service for your loved one at whatever you can afford including free of charge if needed.