Frederick Kogler - Pastor
Rev. Frederick A. Kogler, B.A., M.Div., M.A. (Social gerontology), served as a pastor in the public ministry for 33 years, during which time he became particularly interested in the impact of aging on all phases of life.
Pastor Kogler chose to redirect from full time pastoral ministry to re-enter the field of academia in 1999 at the age of 59. He returned to college, enrolling in the Masters of Social Gerontology program at Bethel University.
He re-entered the ministry after accepting Emmanuel's call and was installed as the new pastor on June 3, 2007.
Fred has published several articles in the international magazine, Forward in Christ, the popular journal of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. He has appeared in recorded interviews over the Dobson network discussing intergenerational living, learning, and universal building concepts. He has written a booklet on bereavement, authored many articles for newsletters, pamphlets, and brochures. Currently, Kogler is an adjunct professor at Bethel University teaching the graduate level course “Spirituality and Aging.”
Fred is married and lives with his wife of 27 years, Janet, in West St. Paul, MN. Together, their blended family numbers five children and 11 grandchildren.
His interests include learning, teaching, sharing the Gospel, fishing, developing new friendships, woodworking, and his grandchildren.
Our History
1975 - First organized by three families; first services at Elk's Club in Hudson, Wisconsin
1976 - Mission status granted; Emmanuel chosen as name for new church
1977 - Dale Schliewe was installed on July 17 as Emmanuel's first full time pastor; purchased three acres of land for church and parsonage
1979 - Parsonage completed; groundbreaking for church
1980 - Church completed and dedicated on September 14
1981 - Pastor Schliewe accepted a call to Graceville, Minnesota; Pastor Glenway Backus accepted Emmanuel's call and was installed as the new pastor on July 12
1986 - Pastor Backus accepted a call to Castlegar, British Columbia; Pastor John Dorn accepted Emmanuel's call and was installed as the new pastor on December 7
1989-1990 - Pastor Dorn accepted a call to South St. Paul, Minnesota; Pastor Thomas Kutz accepted Emmanuel's call and was installed as the new pastor on January 14, 1990
1999 - Became a dual parish with Grace Lutheran of rural Osceola, Wisconsin
2000 - Joyful Noise preschool opened in September with a maximum total enrollment of 16 students; Emmanuel celebrated it's 25th anniversary
2002 - New addition with preschool room, kitchen and offices completed with assistance from Builders for Christ
2005 - Joyful Noise preschool expanded it's maximum total enrollment to 30 students and added a teacher's aide
2006 - Pastor Kutz retired at the end of October; Pastor Frederick Kogler accepted a call to be vacancy pastor
2007 - Pastor Frederick Kogler accepted Emmanuel's call and was installed as the new pastor on June 3
Why We Are Here
Emmanuel Lutheran exists to prepare people for eternal life. The Bible presents two possible destinations when we die: one is hell; the other is heaven. While people follow all sorts of ideas and philosophies to gain heaven (self-denial, being a good person, etc.), the Bible gives us the only pathway to heaven: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). Emmanuel Lutheran proclaims the truths of Holy Scripture, pointing always to Jesus Christ as our only Savior from sin -- our only path to heaven.
What Is A Lutheran?
The name “Lutheran” comes from the great reformer Martin Luther. In a period in history when the Church had lost sight of its Savior and the truth of His Word, Martin Luther boldly challenged these errors and preached Jesus Christ as Savior. We are proud to remember his work in bringing to light the truth of God’s Word by using his name to identify ourselves.
Emmanuel Lutheran Church is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). This church body is so named because it was formed in Wisconsin in the 1850’s. Our membership in this Synod unites us with Christians across our country and the world. It allows us to pool our resources for mission work as well as for writing hymnals, Bible classes, and other materials. But above all, we can be comforted by the fact that we know there are Christians throughout the world who share a common faith with us.
Our congregation and Synod are solidly based in the Bible. We believe that Jesus is our Savior and the only way to heaven. Through faith in Jesus we are united to him and each other.
The Wisconsin Synod Lutheran Church believes that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God and the only source of teaching. This is what we teach and believe, contrary to many churches today which abandon the Bible in favor of popular opinion.
Two teachings are primary in the Wisconsin Synod:
- That we are saved entirely by God’s free grace given to us in Christ Jesus
- That we receive salvation simply by faith in Christ and not by anything we might do
We know for sure that, when we die, we will be in heaven, because our salvation depends entirely on what Jesus did for us.
The Wisconsin Synod is a Christ-centered, gospel preaching church. The good news of the forgiveness of our sins through the redeeming work of our Savior, Jesus Christ, permeates our worship, ministry and life.
About the Wisconsin Synod
Emmanuel belongs to the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).
In the year 1850 the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin by a few pastors who had come to America to serve the many Lutherans who had immigrated to the United States from Germany. Today, the church body still retains the place of its origin in its official name.
The headquarters of the WELS is still in Milwaukee, WI. The president of the synod is Rev. Karl Gurgel.
The WELS is divided into 12 districts. Emmanuel is one of the over 160 congregations making up the Minnesota district of the Synod. The president of Minnesota District is Pastor Larry Cross of Resurrection Lutheran Church, Rochester.
The WELS is a Lutheran Church of just under half a million people with congregations throughout the United States. As a Synod (Greek for “walking together”) we do ministry an individual congregation would find difficult to do by itself, namely, establish missions around the world and maintain high schools, a college and a seminary to train future pastors and Christian teachers.
WELS is a church with a worldwide outreach ministry. We have missionaries in the USA, Native America (Sioux & Apache), Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, India, Taiwan, Indonesia, Africa, Europe, Russia, Mexico, the Caribbean and South America.
Membership
Because we are people who take to heart the Bible’s words, “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” (2 Peter 3:18) we strongly encourage all our members to be regular in worship and Bible study.
How To Become A Member:
- Baptism: We offer the Sacrament of Baptism in the name of the Triune God to infants, children, youths and adults.
- Transfer: If you are presently a member of a Wisconsin Synod Lutheran congregation, we ask that you seek a letter of transfer from your former congregation.
- Profession of Faith: If you are presently a member of a Lutheran Church of a different denomination (LCMS, ELCA, CLC etc.), Pastor will speak with you about the differences between those church bodies and the WELS. If after that discussion you wish to join Emmanuel, you will be received by the fact that you profess the same faith which we profess.
- Lutheran Confirmation: If you have no church background, or if you are a member of a denomination that is not Lutheran, we ask that you attend Bible Information Classes to become acquainted with the teachings of the Wisconsin Synod Lutheran Church. At the conclusion of this class, if you wish to become a member, you will be received by the rite of confirmation. All sixth, seventh and eight grade students attend a catechism class in Christian doctrine. At the end of eighth grade, they are received as communicant members by the rite of confirmation.
Serving Your Personal and Family Needs
Baptism: We are eager to offer baptism to anyone who desires it. If you have children who have not been baptized, please contact our pastor about arrangements.
Weddings: If you have no church home and would like to have a pastor perform your wedding, please contact our pastor about arrangements. A premarital class (3-4 meetings) gives the future bride and groom the opportunity to talk over all the important aspects of marriage with the pastor.
Special Prayers: In each Sunday service, opportunity is given for special prayers for people who are in need of prayer. Special prayer requests should be communicated to Pastor before the service begins.
Counseling: We are interested in your life and your needs. Our pastor is here to help counsel you with God’s comforting Word. Please consider contacting him:
- Before your marital relationship is in danger of being broken
- When you would like to talk or pray about something that is bothering you
- When substance abuse is a problem for you or someone you love
- When you have family problems
- When you have a spiritual problem or a question about a Bible teaching