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

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.

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

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.

Pledge Your Support Today

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.

An Idea is Born Read about it here.

Congregation Votes to Move Ahead  Read about it here.

Project Kicks Off Read about it here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – ALL AREA MEDIA 

For more information or interviews contact: 

Pr. Craig Brown, Lead Pastor for Outreach 

First Lutheran Church 

1000 3rd Ave SE 

Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 

(319) 310-6888 Cell 

Details: Join us for a brief ribbon-cutting at 3-3:30 p.m. Friday, May 1 at First Lutheran Church at 1000 3rd Ave SE Cedar Rapids to celebrate the completion of our $7 million renovation project. There will be brief remarks by Senior Pr. Steve Knudson, Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell, and a member of the Cedar Rapids Economic Alliance. We will have appetizers, a ribbon, a giant pair of scissors, and YOU! No RSVP is necessary. This event is free and open to the public.

Overview of Renovation Project at First Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids: 

+ Recently reinvested $7 million into SE Cedar Rapids with building renovation 

+ Vital part of the Med Quarter, hosting large-scale events for medical community 

+ Provides worship for 500 people from 30 miles in every direction weekly 

+ Meal site for up to 200 people in need every Saturday 

+ Produces $400,000 in meals a year to the wider Cedar Rapids community 

+ 20 outside groups use the building for their meeting space 

$7 million renovation is completely paid for debt-free by our members in two phases: 

Phase 1: (2017-2020) “Renewing God’s House”   

+ Renovate the sanctuary with custom built pipe organ, new chancel area, real hardwood floors, modern lighting, and raise the false ceiling. 

+ Replace the pitched roof from end-to-end of the building. 

+ Install energy-efficient heating and cooling in sanctuary.

Phase 2: (2024-2026) “Renewing for God’s Mission” 

+ Repair necessary building items, including flat roof, AC, and worn carpet and finishes. 

+ Renew how the building welcomes people. Children’s Ministry added sensory room & expanded preschool area, doubled Youth Room, leveled parking Lot, and renovated Welcome Area.

+ Reach out beyond ourselves with a gift of $50,000 for three building projects in Samé Tanzania and $50,000 to Wellington Heights Community Church in Cedar Rapids for building upgrades to the Paul Engle Center and support to the neighborhood. 

Dedication Weekend Details: 

Friday, May 1:  

3-3:30 p.m. Ribbon-cutting by the Cedar Rapids Economic Alliance outside on our new sidewalk with brief remarks by Rev. Dr. Steve Knudson and Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell.  

We will have appetizers, self-guided building tours, a ribbon, and a giant pair of scissors.  

Saturday, May 2:  

4:30 Saturday Evening Meal Program

5 p.m. Traditional Worship  

Sunday, May 3:  

9 a.m. Traditional Worship

10-11a Scavenger Hunt  

10-11 a.m. Guided Building Tours

11 a.m. Contemporary Worship.  

11:15a-1p Indoor Picnic Downstairs

12:15 p.m. Prizes awarded for Scavenger Hunt

History of Renovation to First Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids:

In 1868, just 22 years after Iowa became a state, Pastor Cephas Baird and 30 charter members organized First English Evangelical Lutheran Church and constructed a building at Third Avenue and Third Street (near Guaranty Bank today). From its start, the language of worship was English and diverse ethnicity was First Lutheran's intention, unlike most Lutheran parishes of northern European extraction.

In 1911 the church moved to its current site. In 1958 a major expansion was added to create our foyer and classrooms, and in 1996 we expanded again adding offices, music, and utility spaces.

The interior of the worship space has seen three major remodels over the last 100 years to maintain the upkeep, add technology, and capture the majestic feeling of a space dedicated to God for each generation. Our dining hall has seen two major revisions, and has served millions of meals to our community for over 50 years.

Each of these improvements has allowed us to serve our community in new ways and establishes our commitment to being a place to Discover More Together in the heart of Cedar Rapids.