Our Mission As Christ’s servants on earth,

Lutheran Homes of Michigan serves the elderly and their caregivers with compassion, respect, spiritual support and an unwavering focus on

independence, personal dignity and service excellence.

Our Values Excellence • Christ-centered • Integrity

Empowerment • Sanctity of Life

Text by The Reverend John SchinkelPhotos by Michael Robb, The Reverend John Schinkel and Todd Seibt

Design by Ohno Design, www.ohnodesign.com

Copyright © 2009

Chaplains who have served at the Chapel

1893 - 1895 The Reverend Carl Franke 1895 - 1934 The Reverend Henry Frinke 1935 - 1942 The Reverend T.C. Haessler 1942 - 1982 The Reverend Herbert B. Fehner 1982 - 1988 The Reverend David E. Hollender 1989 - 1998 The Reverend Carl F. DeMeritt, Jr. 1999 - 2000 The Reverend Craig Dunn 2000 - 2007 Area pastors from the Monroe Circuit of the Michigan District, LCMS 2007 - The Reverend John A. Schinkel

Lutheran Home Monroe

is very thankful for the extraordinary

blessing of the Chapel,

its incredible witness to Christ

and the way it serves our residents,

families and workers.

Tucked away inside Lutheran Home Monroe is an extraordinary gift: An amazing chapel, perfect in

nearly every detail, and all generously donated.

The Chapel before renovation.

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The renovation of the Chapel and the pipe organ were gifts to the residents of Lutheran Home

by Edwin J. Shoemaker in loving memory of his wife, Ruth (Buck), who died on Easter Monday 1991.

The Shoemakers’ son, Dale, did the planning of the renovation. Mr. Dale Shoemaker traveled the world researching famous cathedrals in order to bring together the finest craftsmen in the United States and Europe. The restoration took nearly three years to complete, and the Chapel was dedicated in December 1994, with The Reverend Carl F. DeMeritt, Jr., chaplain, officiating.

The Chapel interior today.

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In its design, no detail was overlooked. To ensure its acoustical quality, hard reflective surfaces

were used throughout. Walls were re-plastered and the ceiling replaced with oak rafters. The chancel and both the front and the back walls of the Chapel are lined with hand-carved, seasoned English oak. The floor is covered in blue pearl granite and heated from below. The temperature is controlled by computer in order to maintain proper humidity.

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A view into the Chapel.

Around the impost on the front and sides of the organ is an inscription, applied in gold leaf, from

Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

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The pipe organ was built by J.W. Walker & Sons, LTD., Suffolk, U.K. (www.jwwalker.co.uk)

The Altenheim (German, “old folks home”) was

the very first Lutheran Home, built in 1893 in Monroe. Three items from the original Altenheim chapel still remain:

• The side wall painting of Jesus sustained a large tear when it was hung for the dedication ceremony. It was repaired by the Toledo Museum of Art. The repair is almost invisible today.

• The Altar was sandblasted and cleaned, which lightened it from gray to white.

Items from the original Altenheim include the painting above and this Altar.

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• The front stained-glass window, a “painted window,” was believed to have originally come from an old Catholic church. The window portrays Mary, Joseph, Jesus and Simeon, with the caption in German from Luke 2:29-30.

The third item from the original Altenheim is this stained-glass window.

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The King James translation of the Luke passage is: “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

for mine eyes have seen thy salvation ...”

The three windows on the south side of the Chapel were made in California by Judson

Studios (www.judsonstudios.com.) The stained-glass artisans traveled here to study the front window in order to match the style of three new windows to the old painted window. They depict Jesus in the Temple, Jesus in the Garden and Jesus at His Ascension.

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Jesus in the Temple Jesus in the Garden

Edwin Shoemaker did not want

recognition for his gifts. But the stained-glass company showed the plans for the windows depicting a cobbler in the lower right corner (representing Mr. Shoemaker) and the biblical character of Ruth in the lower left corner (representing his wife, Ruth). As Mr. Shoemaker reviewed the plans, he wept at this gracious remembrance and approved the plans.

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Jesus at His Ascension

Ruth (left) and the cobbler (right) appear in the bottom corners of all three windows. They represent the Shoemakers.

The mosaic artwork was also done by Judson Studios. It is Italian in origin and design, with depictions of

stories from the Bible. The center mosaic, depicting an angel with the scroll (left) and the beast (right), is found in the book of Revelation.

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Left mosaic work: The Lord is my Shepherd

The wooden cross, at the highest point in the Chapel, above the front stained-glass window, is said to be

one of the best carvings by that particular woodworker — even though he was an outspoken atheist.

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Right mosaic work: This is My Beloved Son

The carved wooden circles on each side of the pulpit represent the four Apostles: Matthew, Mark,

Luke and John. Also adorning the pulpit are uniquely carved flowers that symbolize every European country.

The woodwork was done by Robert Thompson’s Craftsmen, Ltd., (www.robertthompsons.co.uk) from the small village of Kilburn, York, in England. Some of the flat wood was carved to create a honeycomb effect known as an adzed surface.

All woodwork was hand-carved, including the pulpit.

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Carved into the wood throughout the Chapel are mice, which serve as a registered trademark of

the Robert Thompson’s Craftsmen company. There are 47 mice in the Chapel.

An adze was used to create the honeycomb effect around the Altar.

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There are three columns on each side wall, for a

total of six. At the top of each column are twelve carved shields with the emblems of the twelve Holy Apostles, including Matthias and excluding Judas Iscariot. All emblems are poly-chromed with a gilt border line around the edges of the shield. A mouse is carved on the top of each shield.

Three columns on each side of the Chapel are flanked by shields representing the twelve Apostles.

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Because of the

acoustics, the Chapel is an excellent venue for concerts. Schoolchildren, church groups and many visitors have come to see and enjoy the Chapel. It is literally meant to be shared.

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A view of the Chapel from the Altar area.

This chapel is not about beauty, but

the mission of bringing and preserving faith in Jesus to the residents, staff and guests.

Over the years, several people have come to faith because of the Chapel of the Incarnation. There are many different services held each week by area churches, and the Chapel has also been used for weddings, baptism and funerals. It is a dynamic witness to our Christian faith.

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The Chapel offers a quiet place for residents and guests to reflect.

Ruth (Buck) Shoemaker was born in Laurium, the copper-mining country of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula in the Upper Peninsula, on Nov. 30, 1909.

She was the only child of Harry G. and Mary G. (Laws) Buck. When she was nine, she moved with her parents to the Detroit area and later moved to Carleton.

It was in the Carleton area that she met and became engaged to Edwin Shoemaker. They were married June 8, 1935, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Monroe, by The Reverend Herbert B. Fehner, past chaplain of Lutheran Home Monroe.

She died April 1, 1991.

This chapel was renovated in loving memory of

Ruth M. Shoemaker1909 - 1991

To view photos of the Chapel online, please go to www.AgingEnriched.org.

Click on Monroe and a link to “Chapel Photos” will appear.

1236 S. Monroe StreetMonroe, MI 48161

Phone: 734.241.9533Web: www.AgingEnriched.org