Around 1908 Lutherans stopped using the sod church and began worshipping in a school house until 1926 when they purchased the white frame church at 13th & Sherman from the Catholic Church for $2,750.  Two years later the congregation also bought the parsonage from the Catholics for $2,600.

The official beginning of Emmanuel, now spelled with an E instead of an I, was in 1922 when its constitution was adopted under the guidance of a seminary student, Carl Busse.  The Rev. F. E. Bloede became the first resident pastor, selling from 1922-1924.  Church membership increased rapidly after that, and a Luther League for young people and a Ladies Aid (later called the Women's Missionary Society) were organized in the mid-1920’s.  During that time, the church records show strong support for orphans.  After World War I many orphans from Germany were sent to relatives in America or were put on the Orphan Trains to be adopted by people at train stops across the country.  If they weren't adopted, the children had to fend for themselves, and that is who the Offerings for Orphans were supposed to help.

January 14, 1945, the congregation voted to become self supporting and would no longer receive financial assistance from the Mission board.  This was a major turning point in the life of the congregation.  The church membership grew steadily after that.

When the Rev. Ludwig Scholl became pastor, the present parsonage was constructed in 1947 for $12,000 and the old one was moved and sold.  Most of the work on the parsonage was donated by the church members, approximately 75 days of labor in all.   The frame church was moved to a temporary site and used until the present church building was completed.

To prevent carrying a large debt, the building committee decided not to start building the new church until 75% of the cost had been raised.  Fund raising activities were frowned on, so many members made large donations.  Farmers would donate loads of wheat to the church.  Even people who were not members contributed to the building fund when asked.  The church was built by Olson Construction Company of Lincoln, Nebraska and dedicated May 1, 1949, and a year later a Reuter pipe organ was donated to Emmanuel.

Membership growth and a need of space for the Christian Education program resulted in the addition of an Educational Unit attached to the east side of the church in 1968.   Rhoads Construction Company Inc of Goodland built it.

Emmanuel celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 1997.  Fourteen pastors and one worker/priest have served as spiritual leaders for the people of Emmanuel since 1922, including Rev. Scott Grimshaw, present pastor.

Regular Sunday worship services begin at 10:00 A.M. from September through May and at 9:00 A.M. during the summer months.