Bittersweet emotions for church opening at new location

CEDAR RAPIDS - Chairs still were stacked in the center of the sanctuary, many still wrapped in plastic, early Wednesday morning. A team of sound experts was huddled around the new audio system as the team worked to get it installed, and men outside were building entries into two buildings that will serve as classrooms.

Despite the seemingly disorganized chaos, the Rev. John Louk is confident services will go as scheduled Sunday at Salem United Methodist Church's new home, 3715 33rd Ave. SW, in Cedar Rapids.

'I think there's a lot of anticipation and a lot of excitement,' he said.

The services, at 9 and 11 a.m., will mark the first time the Salem congregation has been in a building it could call 'home' since losing its downtown building when it was destroyed by floodwaters in June 2008.

'It's been a long road,' Louk said. 'I know the people of Salem have been waiting for this day.' The congregation was invited to share space with Lovely Lane United Methodist Church im­mediately following the flood, Louk said, but the former Kenwood Presbyterian/Echo Hill Presbyterian Church became available within a few weeks after being displaced. The congregation remained there for about a year until that building sold. At that time, the congregation began sharing space with Kenwood United Methodist Church, 175 34th St. NE.

Salem's new building is the former New Creation United Methodist Church. That congregation decided earlier this year to close the church because of finances and offered the building to Salem's congregation. Louk said Salem's congregation will take over New Creation's mortgage, which had a balance of about $312,000.

The Salem congregation has also brought in two temporary buildings and placed them behind the church. One building will serve as the church nursery, Louk said, and the other will have four classrooms.

Louk said Sunday will be a day filled with mixed emotions.

'I think there's going to be a sense of relief and a sense of hope for the future,' he said. 'But at the same time, there will be some sadness for some members; there were some members who really wanted us to stay downtown.' Although the congregation will have its first service Sunday, the grand opening is scheduled for the following week, Nov. 28.

Louk said that date holds particular significance for the church.

'It's the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the Christian new year,' he said. 'What an appropriate time to celebrate this new beginning.'