Donations help church fund $3 million project
Photo
The altar at the front of a new chapel, part of the remodel at First Lutheran Church in Janesville.
JANESVILLE — More welcoming.
More accessible.
And definitely cooler.
In about two months, First Lutheran Church, 612 N. Randall Ave., will be all of those things—and a lot more.
On May 18, the church will celebrate completion of a renovation/building project that cost more than $3 million.
Barb Tapovatz, church council member, reeled off a list of improvements.
“We’re going to have a new roof and a new boiler,” Tapovatz said. “And we’re going to have air conditioning—which we haven’t had in the past—and an enhanced entrance and a new gathering place.”
The Rev. George Bauman, the church’s acting senior pastor, added to the list: Everything was painted; a chapel/
multi-purpose room was built, and the library moved.
For Bauman, the most meaningful changes include the new 100-seat chapel and the gathering space.
The space just outside the sanctuary had been small and cramped. The new gathering space will be a large open space with room in the corner for a library and space for post-church chat.
“It’s going to be a nice mixing place, not just a place to grab your coat and hat and leave, but to have a cup of coffee with your neighbors,” Bauman said. “What’s happened in society is that people have become really isolated. This is place where they can meet. Some people might not see their neighbors until next week.”
To make room for the gathering space, the small chapel near the sanctuary was moved. The new chapel will seat 100 people and be used for smaller weddings, funerals and other services. The main sanctuary holds 900, and small groups tend to get lost in it, Bauman said.
Although the church already has an elevator, a second one will be added to the main entrance. In the past, people who couldn’t use the stairs traveled to the other end of the building, used the elevator, and then walked the length of the building to get back to the sanctuary.
The project is funded primarily through the donations of parishioners. Church member Ken Hendricks, the owner of ABC Supply who died in December, contributed enough to cover the costs of the roof project—nearly $500,000, Bauman said.
Another individual donated $100,000 to help with the cost of the elevator, he said.
“We had many generous donations from our members,” Bauman said.
First Lutheran, which is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, has about 3,000 baptized members.
Mar 25, 2008 at 2:43 p.m.
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come on people. Whoever wants to donate money to a place has every right and if you had money to donate just donate it where you want it to go and shut up about it. Just because you think that is where our money should go is not always right. We all have our opinions so quit cutting down those who wish to donate their money to their church to fix the building and add things that it needs. When you have money to spend, like i said before, donate it where you wish and quit criticizing others where they spend their money!
Mar 21, 2008 at 8:48 a.m.
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Yeah, we've gotten so far from whats really important.....on that note, I demand that all Christians quit their jobs, put on robes and sandals, and get out there and start evangelizing! Maybe then jrwilliams will be happy!
Mar 21, 2008 at 12:18 a.m.
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jrwilliams asked: "...but what do we do after we leave the doors???"
Exactly! My favorite church-related sign reads "Servant's Entrance", and this is on the way OUT of the parking lot.
Mar 20, 2008 at 9:17 p.m.
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Deltafox5674,
It's news because those involved want to be praised for the investment, beautiful building, and be recognized for all their contributions. There is a place for church buildings but what do we do after we leave the doors???
Mar 20, 2008 at 9:10 p.m.
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The Bible says the "Church" is the body meaning every Christian in the entire world. Our purpose for living is to be Christ-like and serve God completely. The first Century church, in it's beginning, never had or was intended to have buildings, paid pastors, staff, etc. It was to BE the Church. We have gotten so far from whats really important.
Mar 20, 2008 at 9 p.m.
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My only question is: why is this even news?
Mar 20, 2008 at 4:47 p.m.
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Okay keepitreal... obviously you are not a member of First Luthern Church or you wouldn't be saying why do we need to spent that much money on a church. Yeah I think 3 million is a little excessive but do you know how old that church is or what it looks like inside?? It is a beautiful church but things were falling apart and without donations the celing would have caved in on us. Lets just say if you don't agree with the donations then donate money to your favorite charity and be done with it. Just know inside that you did your job at helping others you thought needed help.
Mar 20, 2008 at 3:46 p.m.
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Charity starts at home, does it not?!
Mar 20, 2008 at 3:39 p.m.
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Haha. I don't, however, think attacks on organized religion is a good way to spread the love we're suggesting "organized religion" show the rest of the world. :) Perhaps following Gahndi's advice by "being the change we want to see in the world" is a better option. I hope those who have judged this church are assuring that they are not equally hypocritical as they are accusing this church to be, and have all made their donations to charity this month. ;)
Mar 20, 2008 at 3:35 p.m.
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I certainly fall into a number of those categories. As Mother Theresa stated, "God made the world rich enough to feed and clothe all human beings," and "When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her. It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed."
Mar 20, 2008 at 3:33 p.m.
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A quote that strikes me while reading this is St Basil: "The bread which you do not use is the bread of the hungry; the garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of him who is naked; the shoes that you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot; the money that you keep locked away is the money of the poor; the acts of charity that you do not perform are so many injustices that you commit.”
Mar 20, 2008 at 3:32 p.m.
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I certainly don't disagree, but are we really quoting "the body" in reference to religion. Oh dear.
Mar 20, 2008 at 2:52 p.m.
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2 things. a) dont tell me organized religion isnt about the almighty dollar and 2) as the great jesse 'the body' ventura said while he was governor of MN, 'religion is for the weak minded people'.....
Mar 20, 2008 at 2:26 p.m.
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Keepitreal-nice to see that you are not judging people by where they choose to donate THEIR money. You are free to do with you money as you see fit, as am I.
Mar 20, 2008 at 2:16 p.m.
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edubswoman68: Thank you for your comment. I also believe in God but do not feel the need to have to praise him in a church. Don't get me wrong, I do belong to a church, I just don't feel that I have to attend in order for God to here me.
Mar 20, 2008 at 1:57 p.m.
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What bothers me about some of these churches (and don't get me wrong I am a believer in God I just don't have to go somewhere and have someone tell me how to believe) is that you see such a beautiful church from the back side and as you are coming towards the front there is a HUGE neon sign blinding you! Since when did the churches feel the need for a neon sign to get people to join? Is that next for this church?
Mar 20, 2008 at 1:53 p.m.
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Why should I donate to people who claim to be poor when they smoke and drink. I would rather give money for cancer research.
Mar 20, 2008 at 12:58 p.m.
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If there is one homelesss hungry person we as a community should do something about that before we worry about air conditioning our churches shame on all of you...
Mar 20, 2008 at 12:56 p.m.
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PEOPLE PEOPLE PEOPLE ru absoluetly serious how screwed up in the head have you got to be to see a 3MILLION dollar need for a church should be for food, how about an in church homeless center,free flu shots, clothes, wow how about a car pool for the economically challenged so they can get to work..!! no lets get a/c and move the library so we can fit more people to dOnate in the church.. this is why we have problems in the community because we as a people would rather spend 3 MILLION on the church instead of the people.. FAKE, WEAK, and ready to condemm me for not being devout judge me but give 10% of your yearly income to people and 3 million dollars to the church then sit around and complain the world is going to hell people wake up get a mirror start to evaluate what you can do for people not what you can spend on your church do any of you have a clue what 3 million dollars would have done for the fourth ward comunity or for homeless shelters you give those places minimal and keep huge gains for church. why do churches here have to have gold crosses, communion plates of gold, air conditioning, there are devout churches all over the world that are no more extravegant than the sheds we keep our tools in and they find god and happieness. you all flock to give to the church hoping to get into heaven but wouldnt stop on the street to give five minutes of your time to something that matters outside of your own little possesion filled worlds. i work at the mall and they have a christ-mass tree up every year with childrens names on it. they are from families that cant afford to have gifts and you know what people it hasnt emptied out in 2 years but we have given millions to churches amazing isnt it
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