Immanuel First continues to share that never-changing Good News with the community just as we have since that first service at the mortuary on Glendora Avenue. While the world is always changing, Jesus and His love are the same yesterday, today and forever. Rather, through faith in the saving work of Jesus we have eternal life. Jesus is the one who died that we might not be cut off from God. What is needed is a relationship with Jesus Christ. Like the title of a classic song by the rock band U2, our neighbors still haven't found what they are looking for. Nor can they answer questions we all ask, such as "What is the meaning of life?", "Why do bad things happen to good people?", "What do you mean I am a sinful person?", "Does God really love me?". Traditional markers of success and well-being, such as a good education, respectable career, healthy family or strong moral principles, cannot fill the deep needs of the soul. Parks include the historic Hurst Ranch on Orange Avenue, Orangewood Park's popular roller hockey arena, Ridge Riders equestrian center, Galster Park wilderness area and Big League Dreams sports park.Īnd yet while the West Covina area has changed in so many ways, the spiritual needs and social concerns of our friends and neighbors remain the same. West Covina now boasts a huge Edwards Theater by "The Lakes" office development, the Westfield regional shopping center, Queen of the Valley Hospital, the busy Auto Plaza and Restaurant Row, and the Little Manila shopping district at Azusa Avenue and Amar Road. The 10 freeway runs through the heart of town and provides convenient access to our church at the Vincent Avenue exit. West Covina today has grown to be a prosperous, ethnically diverse city of 108,000 people covering 17 square miles. Sharing God's Unchanging Love in Changing Times In 2014, Immanuel First will be celebrating it 60th anniversary - 60 years of serving God's people and the community! It earned the church a city beautification award in 2007 for its design and contribution to improving the quality of the community. In 2006 the northwest corner of the church property was developed into a lighted, landscaped parking lot and leased to East Valley Community Health Center for daytime use on the weekdays. The original sanctuary was entirely renovated into a Fellowship Hall, with a 100 seat capacity meeting area, Sunday school rooms, kitchen, all internet capable. In 2002 it was renovated with new carpeting and amenities to further enhance the worship atmosphere. In 1970 a second cornerstone was placed to begin construction of a beautiful 300-seat sanctuary. Young families of the congregation wishing to provide Christian education for their children formed the first school in 1957, which later with a preschool served the community for over a half century. Construction of the original chapel began three months later with the laying of the first cornerstone. The name of our church has a dual meaning: "Immanuel" in reference to one of the many names for Jesus given in the Bible, meaning "God is with us" and "First" for being the first congregation of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in the city.Įight months later, the young congregation purchased six acres of land on the corner of Walnut Grove on the banks of the Walnut Creek Wash, near the business center of the developing community. In 1954, amidst all this rapid change, 22 Lutherans gathered at a mortuary chapel on Glendora Avenue for the first services of what was to become Immanuel First Lutheran Church. In fact, West Covina grew so fast that new homes often had to wait up to two years to be wired for landline telephone service because utilities couldn't keep up with the construction boom. According to the official city website, it was at one time the fastest growing city in the United States. In the 1950's West Covina transformed from a farming community into a rapidly growing Los Angeles suburb due to the housing boom which followed the end of World War II. Tensmeyer, when Dwight Eisenhower was president, Americans were driving big cars that had big tailfin lights, television was analog and black-and-white, and everyone was laughing at Lucy Ricardo " 'splaining " to her husband Ricky all her crazy housewife antics. The church was founded nearly sixty years ago under Pastor W. West Covina- in the San Gabriel Valley- is the home of Immanuel First Lutheran Church.
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