About Our Worship
In Hebrew, Immanuel means God with us. God comes to us in this sacred space, and is fully present.
Here are Word, water and table.
Here is God’s message from generation to generation.
Here is the invitation to go deeper in holy communion with God.
Here is the intimacy of God’s love that makes us all part of each other.
J.S. Bach said that the sole purpose of all music was for the glory of God, and the edification of humanity.
Immanuel is a singing church. We make use of Lutheranism’s rich liturgical heritage, both saying and singing the story of God’s redeeming love for the world. For centuries the pipe organ has been particularly suited in leading the liturgical song of God’s people. Today, in addition to the pipe organ, the use of piano, handbells, brass, percussion, and a variety of wind instruments also give life to our song. Along with our body of hymnody and world music, we sing songs in the oral tradition (paperless music), further connecting our minds and bodies to sound and community. Come and join in singing the hymn of all creation.
Immanuel Choir
The core musical instrument at Immanuel is the voice of the assembly. The Immanuel Choir assists the cantor in leading the assembly in song. The choir is composed of both volunteers and professionals who come from various levels of musical experience. The choir’s repertoire draws from plainsong to the twenty-first century, encompassing a wide range of expression. Choir members are encouraged during their musical development, while preparing for their liturgical role as leaders in worship. The choir rehearses every Sunday morning at 9:00 am in the choir room on the lower level and leads worship every Sunday at 10:30 am from early September through late May or early June. For more information on how you can get involved with the Immanuel Choir, contact Cantor Ricardo Ramirez at cantor@immanuelchicago.org.
Stained-glass window of J.S.Bach (1650-1750) located off the organ loft.
” The stained-glass windows magnify the light, one of God’s first creations; but the organ brings to the church something similar to light that yet surpasses it: the music of the invisible. It is the wondrous overture to the Beyond.”-Oliver Messiaen
Organ Specifications
IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, Chicago, Illinois
Schantz Organ (1976)
The church’s pipe organ was constructed in 1976 by the Schantz Organ Company of Orrville, Ohio. Designed in the Neo-Classical style, the organ consists of three manuals and Pedal division. The Great organ, Positiv organ, and Pedal organ are exposed. The Swell organ is enclosed under expression in the Swell box on the left side of the balcony. It also houses the exposed Trompette-en-Chamade and the turning Cymbelstern star. There are 46 ranks of pipes plus 8 extensions and 1-half rank for a total of 2,663 pipes. The pipes vary in length from the smallest which is the size of a lead pencil, to the longest which is eighteen feet. The console features English draw knobs, 45 thumb pistons, 21 toe pistons and 24 couplers, with a combination action of 100 memory levels. This versatility allows for a broad range of repertoire to be played on the instrument, as well as providing ample accompaniment for robust congregational singing and nuanced support for the Immanuel Choir.
| GREAT | SWELL | POSTIV | PEDAL | COUPLERS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16' Quintaton | 8' Gedackt | 8' Gedackt | 16' Principal | Great to Great 16' |
| 8' Principal | 8' Viole | 4' Flute | 16' Bourdon | Great to Great 8' off |
| 8' Quintaton | 8' Viole Celeste | 2-2/3' Nasat | 16' Quintaten | Great to Great 4' |
| 4' Octave | 8' Erzhaler | 2' Principal | 8' Octave | Swell to Great 16' |
| 4' Flute | 8' Erzhaler Celeste | 1-3/5' Terz | 8' Quintaten | Swell to Great 8' |
| 2' Super Octave | 4' Principal | III Zimbel | 4' Choralbass | Swell to Great 4' |
| IV Fourniture | 4' Flute | 8' Krummhorn | 4' Bourdon | Great to Pedal 8' |
| III Scharf | 2' Flute | 4' Schalmei | III Mixture | Great to Pedal 4' |
| 1-1/3' Larigot | 8' Trompette en chamade | 32' Posaune | Swell to Swell 16' | |
| IV Plein Jeu | Tremulant | 16' Posaune | Swell to Swell 8' off | |
| 16' Fagotto | 16' Fagotto | Swell to Swell 4' | ||
| 8' Trompette | 8' Posaune | Postiv to Great 16' | ||
| 8' Fagotto | 4' Posaune | Postiv to Great 8' | ||
| 4' Schalmei | 4' Fagotto | Postiv to Great 4' | ||
| Tremulant | Swell to Pedal 8' | |||
| Swell to Pedal 4' | ||||
| Positiv to Positiv 16' | ||||
| Positiv to Positiv 8' off | ||||
| Positiv to Positiv 4 | ||||
| Swell to Positiv 16' | ||||
| Swell to Positiv 8' | ||||
| Swell to Positiv 4' | ||||
| Positiv to Pedal 8' | ||||
| Positiv to Pedal 4' |
Getting Here
Public Transportation: We are conveniently located one block east of the #22 Clark bus, three blocks from the Metra UP-N Peterson station, and a ten-minute walk from the Thorndale red line station.
Parking: Unrestricted street parking on Elmdale, Norwood, and Thorndale Avenues. An accessible drop-off location is located directly in front of the church entrance on Elmdale Ave.