Advent at First Lutheran

A Holy Darkness

As the cold and dark set in, we lift our eyes to the skies as we watch and await the signs in the heavens. The signs of a Savior born. God's promise - God's own Son made flesh - sent to teach, instruct, disrupt the old ways, and make us all born again in redeeming grace.

Join us in these coming weeks as we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ.

Sunday Worship in Advent: More to Hope

During Advent, we pay attention to both the now of God’s promise given in Christ, and the not yet, that is our waiting for God to bring those promises to completion. Between the now and the not yet, we name what weighs down our hearts in the time of waiting, we look forward to what we shall see, we rejoice in anticipation, and we name our deepest hopes and longing. God will respond to our deepest hopes and longings in the birth of the Christ child.


Join us in Worship each Sunday in Advent.
5p Saturdays; 9a Sundays, or 11a Sundays.

Four Oaks Gift Tags

Give a Merrier Christmas to Youth in Four Oaks Residential Facilities.
Details Here.

“Holy Darkness"

Service of Word and Prayer
Midweek Advent Worship services at 6:30 p.m. December 1, 8, & 15

(In-Person, & Live streaming)

25th Season of

Lunch in the Loft
holiday music Concerts
December 8 & 15 at 12:05 p.m.
(without lunch this year).

Chorale Midwest
Christmas concerts Saturday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 12 at 3:00 p.m.

Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale

Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale -Pinkham “Christmas Cantata” and Britten “Ceremony of Carols” Saturday, December 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Children's Advent Program Recording

*No Audience- recording only*
On Sat. Dec. 18 at 9 a.m. Our Children's Ministry will be preparing a special Advent Video that will be released for the congregation and public.

"Holy Light"

As the Holy Darkness of Advent relents near Christmas, our Adult Choir and musicians will present excerpts of Hobby's "Holy Light" in worship at 9 a.m. on December 19.


Christmas Eve Worship

Children’s Services
2p.m. (Cherub and Chapel) and 4 p.m.(Middle School Choir and Youth Handbells)-


6 p.m.-Contemporary Service;
Traditional services
8 p.m. (Adult Handbells) and 10 p.m. (Adult Choir)