Immanuel United Church of Christ

Immanuel United Church of Christ

Immanuel United Church of ChristThe Immanuel United Church of Christ building was purchased in 1874 from the English Methodist Church. The church was founded by 60 members of a Wisconsin Lutheran Synod who formed their own independent Lutheran Church.

In 1922 they joined the Evangelical Synod of North America and started services in English instead of German. In 1961 the name Immanuel United Church of Christ of Neenah was sent in to be registered as our official church name.

On October 10, 2004 the church celebrated it's130th anniversary.  Currently, Rev. Dr. Tom Fritz is our pastor (more about Pastor Tom is below).  IUCC has a bright future in front of us, please join us to be a part of this great church.

IUCC holds a local Community Meal program twice per month with the partnership of New Hope Lutheran Church in Neenah. We host a Holiday Fair and participate in the Neenah-Menasha Boys/Girls Brigade Christmas gift program.  Immanuel's Endowment funds have contributed to the Neenah Public Schools to provide assistance to low income youth for any needs they have and gives them an opportunity to attend all activities.  Immanuel participates in each of the five special offerings of the UCC.   

 

Mission Statement

As members of Immanuel United Church of Christ, we affirm the United Church of Christ "Statement of Faith."  We seek to participate in God's mission.  The Holy Spirit gives us strength while we attempt to follow our Teacher and Lord, Jesus Christ.

God calls us to do the following:

  • We will be a welcoming and serving church.
  • We will be a church striving to be accessible to all.
  • Thus, promoting the special offerings of the United Church of Christ, we will give Help, Hope and Life to those in need.
  • Inspired by our heritage we confront our future with hope and confidence in God's purpose.

 

Church Staff

Pastor:  Rev. Dr. Tom Fritz

Pastor Tom is serving Immanuel Church of Christ as our Interim Pastor as we prepare to open a new chapter of ministry with our next Settled Pastor.

Pastor Tom grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, and met his first wife, Darlene, in high school. He attended Elmhurst College and earned his BA in 1971, got married, and moved to St. Louis to attend Eden Theological Seminary. While there he and Darlene started their family, bringing daughter Kelly into the world in his first year, and son Jason in the second year. Darlene died in 2007 after battling ovarian cancer for over six and a half years. Pastor Tom also now has two granddaughters.

After seminary Pastor Tom served two yoked churches in Iowa for almost ten years. Then the Spirit called him to serve a church in Appleton, Wisconsin, where he served for over thirty years and from which he retired in 2015. Since retirement his has done interim ministries when openings have presented themselves.

Pastor Tom has a doctoral degree in stewardship, and he enjoys helping churches and individuals to learn about the joys and benefits of living generously. In addition to pastoring congregations, he has done consulting work with many churches across Wisconsin and has seen them prosper when they have embraced Christian stewardship with open minds, open hearts, and open hands. He looks forward to serving for the greater good of God!

Council Chairman/ Treasurer:  Robert Vande Hey

Bob Vande Hey retired as General Manager from Vande Hey Raleigh Mfg in Little Chute, WI in January of 2010.  At that time Bob decided to become more involved with church activities.  He soon became a member of the council and now serves as President, is a member of the building and grounds committee in charge of construction and landscaping projects and took over as the treasurer.  He was ordained on line to officiate his God daughter's wedding.  He has officiated at several family weddings and is also pulpit supply at IUCC when needed.  

Music Coordinator:  Spencer Jones

Spencer Jones is our Organist, Choir Director, and Music Coordinator at Immanuel UCC.  Spencer graduated from UW-Oshkosh for Music Education with emphasis in both Choral and General Music Education.