Renewing Work Begins!
RENEWING FOR GOD'S MISSION
Happening Now:
• Official start of construction was May 21 when contractors cleaning and tuckpointing the brick moved in. They will be using the northeast corner of our parking lot to store their pressure washer lifts and trailers.
• Rinderknecht's onsite office trailer has been located to the west side of the portico drive-through where our dumpsters were located.
A construction dumpster will be moved in next
to the large overhead garage door soon.
• Work inside our building is starting this week with carpet. Level 1 rooms will be reworked first, starting on the east end where rooms 111 & 112 will be combined into the new youth space, and then continuing on west including all the rooms along the Level 1 corridor and finishing in the Fellowship Center, rm. 104, in August.
• Outside of the contractor's work, our volunteers are beginning work on painting rooms and refurbishing doors.
• Room 116 has been set up as Rinderknecht’s inside tool storage and meeting room for the duration of the project.
What's Happening Next: (all dates are approximations)
• June 11 - July 22 — The flat roof above the Administrative Entrance will be replaced and old heating and air conditioning equipment which sits on that roof will be replaced.
• July 23 - Sept. 15 — 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.
• The parking area west of the portico drive under will remain accessible from 10th Street and will become the drop off zone for persons needing to use the elevator.
Work on Level 2 rooms, including the narthex, will be next on the schedule starting in August and finishing in mid-November. Level 3 will be worked on in late November through mid-January.
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.