Local church celebrates 125 years with performance on Colorado’s largest theater organ

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - The Immanuel Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs started its service in 1901 in German. 125 years later, the language has changed, but the congregation's love for music has not waned.

“We’ve literally gone from steam locomotive to putting people on the moon," council president Karl Fruendt said.

The church celebrates its 125th birthday on Sunday, half the age of the United States of America. It will host a hymn festival at 2 p.m. with six different Lutheran churches from around town, led by guest organist Benjamin Kolodziej, traveling from Dallas.

“He’s going to literally pull out all the stops on our church organ," Fruendt said.

At 4 p.m., the church is partying like it's 1925. Immanuel Lutheran will screen the 1925 silent film "Seven Chances" while Kolodziej plays the accompaniment music on Colorado's largest theater organ.

The hymn is in the main church, while the silent film and Colorado's largest organ are in their gym next door.

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