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Seventy-five years ago, in the spring of 1890 several families moved from Scotland, South Dakota, and settled in the community which they called the "Settlement," about 18 miles northwest of Burlington, Colorado.  Small adobe houses and barns were erected and small tracts of land put under cultivation.

Love of Christ and His Church had been deeply ingrained in the hearts of these people.  After a short while, because they had no pastor they began to meet in the home of Christian Dobler for reading services.  The fathers Dobler and Strobel usually alternated at leading these services.  People nearly always walked to attend these Church services.

But reading services alone did not satisfy these early pioneers.  There were children to be baptized, and they longed very much for the blessings of the Sacrament of Holy Communion, So they called on Rev. D. Maier, who served a congregation about 12 miles northeast of them and also one at Idalia, to come to minister to them.  He was able to serve them every third Sunday of the month.  On the rest of the Sundays of the month they had their usual reading services.

In the fall of 1892 several more families moved into the area.  Rev. A. Leupp was then called to serve the congregation.  During the spring of 1893 a decision was made to build a new Church.  The dimensions of the new church were 24 x 40 x 10 feet.  Because it was built of rock each married man was required to get eight loads of rock, and each single man had to get four loads.  Mr. Dobler was the carpenter of the building.  All labor was given as a donation.  In October of that year the Church was dedicated.

Rev. Leupp soon left the field and then Rev. G. Janssen was called to serve them every third Sunday.  He remained until May 1903.  Rev. Janssen was then succeeded by Rev. R. Ackermann.  He was installed as their pastor in the early part of August.  Rev. Ackermann resigned in May of 1906 and was succeeded by Rev. A. Stein who served the congregation until July 1909.  Rev.  M. Jansen was then called.  He accepted the call and served until 1912.  In the spring of 1913 the Church bought its first organ.

Rev. N. Brun served Immanuel Lutheran Church from 1913 until the fall of 1915.  He was succeeded by Rev. G. Adolf.  Rev. Adolf remained with the congregation until the fall of 1921.  At that time Rev. O. Kloeckner became the pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church.

During the pastorate of Rev. Kloeckner, a new Church was built.  This building is our present Church.  It was a building 32 x 60 feet with a steeple 55 feet high, erected at the cost of $7,500.00. With the unity and cooperation of the congregation and of many in the community the entire building cost was paid on the day of dedication September 26, 1926.  Much of the credit belongs to Rev. O. Kloeckner who gave untiringly of his efforts to see that all necessary things were done.

Rev. Kloeckner resigned his charge on the last Sunday in November 1928.  Succumbing to ill health he passed from this life on August 17, 1931 at the age of 74 years.

After the resignation of Rev. Kloeckner, the Church was without a pastor until January 1930, when Rev. R. L. Woelber of Loveland, Colorado accepted the call to Immanuel Lutheran Church.  He served long and faithfully through bad times and good, and through the time of the second World War.

Early in 1947 Rev.  H. L. Woelber moved to Loveland, Colorado and was succeeded at Immanuel Lutheran Church in February by Rev.  Lester C. Johnson.  The future outlook of the congregation during his entire ministry was encouraging.  He served the congregation well.  He accepted a call to Sterling, Colorado and the Burlington-Bethune area in June 1954.

St. Paul Lutheran Church of Burlington and Immanuel Lutheran Church of Bethune shared the same pastor from 1930 until June 1954.  The spirit of independence again asserted itself.  Immanuel Lutheran Church reached a decision to build a parsonage and call its own pastor.  The parsonage was dedicated in 1955.

For a short time Immanuel Lutheran Church was served by Rev. Dennis Mueller of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Burlington.  Pastor A. F. Boese was installed as pastor of the congregation in August 1955 and served the congregation until his death in December of 1961.

Early in 1962 Pastor Herbert J. Schauer from Wymore, Nebraska was called.  He was installed June 3, 1962.  He is presently serving the congregation.

In recent years a number of improvements have been made-the Church was remodeled and enlarged in 1953; a new parsonage was dedicated in 1955; and the Church basement floor was tiled in April 1965.

Immanuel Lutheran Church has been without a pastor a number of times during its history, but even during vacancies services were regularly scheduled and held.

The congregation has two sons who, are serving in the active ministry.  Rev. Ivan Amman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Amman, Bethune, is presently serving as a missionary of the American Lutheran Church in New Guinea; and Rev. Henry G. Stolz, son of Mrs. Bernice Stolz, Burlington, Colorado, is pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church, Minden, Nebraska.

In the last ten years the total membership of the congregation has fluctuated very little.  On December 31, 1964 the baptized membership of the congregation was 231 and the confirmed membership 166.

All of the old pioneering families are now gone, but their descendants are actively upholding the traditions of the Church.  Mr. A. W. Adolf, the first child born and baptized in the congregation, is still a member of the congregation.

Much of the 75 years of history of the congregation can be characterized by the word "struggle." At one point in its early history a split within the congregation took its toll.  At times drouth and hail brought great losses to the congregation.  During the "dust bowl" years of the 1930's many families moved away and never returned.  The many abandoned farm buildings scattered throughout the area is also an indication that the "Settlement" has not been immune to the trend of fewer and larger farms.  Irrigation in some areas of the congregation may stabilize the farm population at least for the present.  Whether the irrigation water supply will remain adequate no one can tell.  It has been a hard lesson to learn, but the people in the congregation have learned to live a year at a time with a firm trust that God their "help in ages past" is also their "hope for years to come."

In the former American Lutheran Church, Immanuel Lutheran Church held the distinction of being the oldest active congregation in the State of Colorado, and in its 60th anniversary year of 1950 was presented a bronze plaque in recognition of this fact by the Central District of the American Lutheran Church.  Immanuel Lutheran Church still holds the distinction of being the oldest active Colorado congregation in our present The American Lutheran Church.