Renewing Work Begins!
RENEWING FOR GOD'S MISSION
Happening Now:
- The downstairs meeting and storage rooms are getting carpet installed, which has temporarily relocated items to the Fellowship hall.
- Plumbing and electrical work continue in the combined 111/112.
- Outdoors, cleaning and tuck pointing of brick continues, and glaziers are beginning on resealing leaky windows.
- Special thanks to our members who have already given their time and talents in our planning and painting projects.
Get IN on the Action!
To help reduce costs, volunteer teams will be tackling several projects.
A Painting Team has already completed the LFC and several classrooms.
One need we will have throughout the project will be to help with the moving and rearranging of furniture at each stage. Often we will only know a day or two ahead of time which rooms need to be vacated, so we are creating a list of people to reach out to specifically when the need arises instead of texting the entire congregation.
The biggest project that will need the most help will be removing, refinishing, and re-hanging classroom doors. This too will be an on-going need throughout the fall and into winter.
If you want to assist with these projects, or in other ways,
What's Happening Next: (all dates are approximations)
• July 10 - Sept. 3 — The parking lot and new entrance plaza area will be demolished, regraded, and resurfaced. The entire parking area east of the portico entrance and building will be fenced off
and all traffic flow through the parking lot will cease at that time.
Find details for parking while our lot is being renewed here: Parking
• July 20 - Aug. 20 — Work on stairwells and the office-end of Level 2 will receive paint and carpet.
Bell Tower bracing and repair work will also take place during this time frame.
• Sept. After the parking lot and welcome plaza are complete, then the east-end lot will partially reopen, and work will begin on the flat roof and HVAC systems.
Check back for updates here, and watch for photos on Instagram and Facebook!
Why the project? Renewing for God’s Mission means providing a place of welcome for all people, just as Christ welcomes us into God’s grace. It's about sustaining the incredible ministries of the church, taking care of our building, and setting the stage for the next chapter of growth. We are always being renewed by God. We are always renewing our ministries and facilities to be more effective in making a difference.
or scroll down for more details.
Discover More
Find out how our project will help us reach out to the community and how you can help make a difference below.
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Throughout the Winter and Spring 2023/24 the Building Committee held several forums as well as publishing articles and a pamphlet outlining the needs of our facility and the options we had to meet them. Initially a new entrance was considered but removed from the proposed project due to inflated costs in spring of 2024.
At a congregational meeting on June 9, 2024 the Congregation authorized the Church Council to contract with The James Company to conduct a capital campaign to raise funds for the following: -
Purpose #1: 2025 Annual Stewardship. We are asked to support the everyday mission and ministry of the church with our annual stewardship commitments. We do every year, and it is vital for us as a congregation.
Purpose #2: Capital Campaign. We are invited to support the capital campaign with a three-year commitment that is over and above our regular annual stewardship giving, with the purpose to:
+ Repay debt on sanctuary project.
+ Repair necessary building items, including flat roof, AC, and worn carpet and finishes.
+ Renew how this building welcomes people. Children’s Ministry Area, Expanded Youth Room, Parking Lot, Welcome Area using current entrances.
+ Reach out beyond ourselves with substantial gifts to targeted ministry partners as outlined below.
Hear your fellow members Mark & Marti Marz talk more about Priorities
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1. Pay off the remaining balance from the sanctuary project of $545,000 and any additional interest.
2. Address necessary repairs and maintenance including:
a. Replace the flat roof facing the parking.
b. Replace aged-out AC units and necessary HVAC repair.
c. Repair brick and mortar at bell tower and exterior of sanctuary.
d. Repair rust damage on exterior surfaces and replace leaking window seals.
e. Replace wind damaged entrance doors at 3rd Avenue and Drive-Through.
f. Refurbish the elevator.
g. Replace worn carpet/tile areas on all 3 floors.
h. Paint walls and stain doors/trim woodwork to match new sanctuary décor.
3. Renew Key Ministry Areas:
a. Parking Lot
b. Narthex/Welcome Area
c. 3rd Floor Ministry Area for Children
d. 1st Floor Youth Room.
e. Using existing entries, provide clear welcome for newcomers.
4. Reach Out. Our Church Council approved our H3GO (Outreach) Team's recommendation to give a total of $100,000 to two designated ministry partners: a $50,000 to our Lutheran global partner congregations in Samé Tanzania for three building projects and a $50,000 grant to Wellington Heights Community Church in Cedar Rapids for identified necessary repairs for their buildings and a Flourishing Community Index project to support the neighborhood. Find out more about our Outreach component here.
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May 18, 2025 - Full congregation votes at 10:10 a.m. Sunday, May 18 on finalized budget in order to move ahead
May 19, 2025 - Construction Begins
2025-2027 Congregation fulfills 3-year commitments
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Join the Mission! We invite you to prayerfully consider how can support the work of this congregation with a pledged or unpledged gift during the duration of the project to help meet our goals. The Renewing for God's Mission project is funded over and above our regular annual giving to the mission and ministry of First Lutheran Church.
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This will complete our 7 year effort to renew the building from end to end without incurring any new debt. The possibilities are endless for ministry moving forward into the future.
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An Idea is Born Read about it here.
Congregation Votes to Move Ahead Read about it here.
Project Kicks Off Read about it here.
Proposed New Plaza Guiding People to Existing Main Entrance
Proposed Youth Room combining current space with Room 111 next door
Proposed Narthex eliminating unneeded columns and raising ceiling to 10 feet
Renewing for God's Mission
Meet the Team!
Thanks to our incredible church members serving our entire congregation as part of our Renewing For God's Mission Core Team. They are... Co-Chairs: Lois Buntz and Tom Schamberger. Pacesetter Team: Doug Pauls, Tom Wolle, and Bruce & Judy Barnes.
Events Team: Brent & Dawn Foss, Jenny Bosking, Dan Baty, Mark & Marti Marz, and Mary Van Houten. Communications: Chris Ackmann, Devin & Kristen Wagner, Michelle Kline, and Mark Fersdahl. Children/Youth: Rachael Cogdill, Matt Moore, and Nicole Keating. Prayer Team: Edna Mator, Suah Borsay, Bill Klein, and Linda Klein.