608-752-7434 | office@flcj.org
612 N. Randall Ave. Janesville, WI 53545
This church has long been a place of comfort, learning, and community for so many families. After the recent flood, those spaces were deeply impacted—but we are moving forward with hope, rebuilding together.
You can be part of that effort. If 100 people give $5, $10, $50, or $100, it quickly adds up and brings us closer to reopening our doors. Will you be one of the 100?
WAYS TO STAY UPDATED
Weekly updates will be sent via email on Wednesdays and shared on this page, Facebook, and Instagram. To be added to the email list, contact Office Assistant Nan Bandt at 608.752.7434 x15 or NBandt@flcj.org, or sign up at the bottom of our homepage under the “Staying Connected” section at flcj.org.
STAYING CONNECTED WITHOUT INTERNET ACCESS
If you don’t use the internet or aren’t receiving our updates, please contact Office Assistant Nan Bandt at 608.752.7434 x15, or speak with her when you see her at Good Shepherd. We will make sure you stay informed. If you know of members who may not see this message in the bulletin, please reach out to Nan on their behalf.
WORSHIP
While we work toward returning to our church building, Sunday worship will be held at 8am and 9:30am at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (700 N. Wright Rd., Janesville). Enter on the east side of the building (large parking lot).
EVENTS & MEETINGS
Most of our events and meetings will take place at Good Shepherd during this time. Please check with your group leader for new location details. Enter on the south side of the building (small parking lot).
MEDICAL LOAN CLOSET
The Medical Equipment Loan Closet is closed until further notice. We cannot accept donations at this time.
Here are this week’s updates:
This Sunday marks the first month since the flood. These have been intense weeks for us as a congregation. The work has focused on cleaning out the first level of the building and protecting our facilities from further damage. We’ve done great work together. We ‘ve also established a team to lead the recovery work and have reached out to our contractors and to the city to understand the damages and the cost of the work needed to restore the systems that were destroyed.
The next stage will require less intense, hands-on work, but it will still need our engagement together. Now, we start to find the path forward, which isn’t clear yet.
As we listen together for the Spirit’s leadership, these are some things you can hold in your prayer:
Special Congregation Meeting, Monday, May 18
At our congregation meeting a week ago Monday, we raised some big questions for the future.
Do we simply want to restore what we had before the flood? Since that would already cost several million dollars, should we not consider taking this opportunity to redesign the building, as we have been talking about for years? Or would it make sense, given the level of spending required, to consider a more radical rebuilding project to create a space that could serve more effectively the needs of our ministry in 2026 and into the future? Could it make sense even to relocate and design a new building from scratch?
We agreed to gather again at Good Shepherd on Monday, May 18, at 6:30pm, to begin to explore next steps.
I am consulting this week with our own leadership and others in the wider church to get their wisdom about how to enter this next phase. We will need to be honest about our grief and what we’ve lost. We will need to listen for the Spirit’s creative voice and talk together about how we can imagine our building serving our mission into the future. We will need to research the implications and costs of various options. I hope we can soon develop a road map for the process forward, so that we can be confident that we are listening, deciding, and acting together toward a vibrant, faithful future.
Graduation Sunday at Good Shepherd Lutheran, 700 N Wright Road
This Sunday, May 17, we will celebrate our graduates. A cake reception in their honor will be hosted in the fellowship area between services. The graduates are all invited to wear their graduation gowns and sit together at the 9:30 worship service. The sermon for this day will be delivered by the team of Renee Engen, Lexi Frank, and me.
We continue to worship together with the people of Good Shepherd at our regular worship times, 8am and 9:30am, with Sunday School beginning at 9:30am. Have you noticed anyone missing from worship since the flood? Reach out and invite them to join us at Good Shepherd!
We continue to give thanks for the members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church who have generously invited us into their space.
Child’s First Child Care Center Has Reopened!
Child’s First opened again on Monday! They have temporary space in two suites on the lower level at One Parker Place downtown. This is exciting, good news for the families and the staff, and we celebrate with them.
First Lutheran Building Updates
Temporary Electric Service
The generator that we have needed to run dehumidifiers throughout the first level has been very costly. We have taken action this week to install temporary electric service to the building, which can power fans and dehumidifiers, security lighting in the building and the parking lot, and other things needed to maintain the climate and safety within the building while it is shut down.
No Workday this Saturday
Last Saturday, a great volunteer crew once again came together and did an amazing job. They completely cleared out the parsonage to create temporary staff office space! Old and damaged items were sorted out, and things for storage were moved to other locations. A small team kept busy sweeping floors and wiping down walls.
Next steps, including some painting, cleaning and repairs, can be done by smaller teams. Office equipment will need to be moved over, and internet access will need to be established before the staff can move in. But we don’t need a major workday at this point. We’ll take a break this Saturday and let you all rest!
Thank you to all who have participated these last four weekends. You have made a tremendous impact! Thanks again to new members Mark and Beth Stibbe who grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for the lunch last Saturday.
Meeting with City Officials
Members of the Flood Recovery Task Force met last Thursday with the city manager and key leaders related to building safety. We named our intent to work in partnership with the city to accomplish our goals. Together, we gained clarity about codes and certifications that will need to be met to regain occupancy of the building and for using the parsonage as staff office space. We also discussed briefly some initial ideas for avoiding future potential flood damage.
WCLO Interview
Tim Bremel at WCLO interviewed me last Friday about our experience with the flood. If you missed it, you can hear it here: https://www.wclo.com/episode/5-8-26-pastor-michael-mueller-senior-pastor-first-lutheran-church-janesville/
The interview begins at 18:28 in the podcast recording.
Reminder about Phone Access
The following staff members have call-forwarding. If you call First Lutheran at 608.752.7434 and choose our extension, your call will be forwarded to our personal cell phone:
Jeanie Pomplun, office administrator; Nan Band, office assistant; Arwen Twitchett, business administrator; and Pr. Michael Mueller.
Prayer
This week I was reminded again of a prayer by the 20th century mystic Thomas Merton, from his book Thoughts in Solitude. It speaks to some of my concerns, and perhaps yours also. May it express our collective desire to trust God amid all the uncertainty we face.
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think that I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always,
though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
I pray for you, as I know you are praying for me.
Pr. Michael Mueller
Changeless and calm, deep Mystery, ever more deeply rooted in Thee.
Here are this week’s updates:
Special Congregation Meeting, Monday, May 4
Nearly 200 of us showed up on Monday evening! That level of turnout demonstrates the depth of your commitment to the life and the future of this congregation. Thank you!
In the meeting, leaders of the recovery process laid out what we have learned so far about why the flood occurred, the impact of the damage, the efforts we have made to protect the building from further damage, and what we can project as we move forward.
In short, most of the mechanical systems will need to be replaced and the electrical system to the whole building will need to be rebuilt at a projected cost of about $2M. The cost just to restore the building as it was before the flood would be several million dollars.
That gives us pause to discern our direction. The Council called this special meeting a couple weeks ago with the intent to vote on a not-to-exceed spending limit for the initial recovery plan. What we’ve learned in the last two weeks changed that purpose. This will be a months-long project, rather than weeks, and it will be a multi-million-dollar project whatever we decide to do. Before we start spending anything on restoration, we need to first determine our goal.
Do we simply want to restore what we had before the flood? Since that would already cost several million dollars, should we not consider taking this opportunity to redesign the building, as we have been talking about for years? Or would it make sense, given the level of spending required, to consider a more radical rebuilding project to create a space that could serve more effectively the needs of our ministry in 2026 and into the future? Could it make sense even to relocate and design a new building from scratch?
These are big questions. Before we determine a direction, we must ask together what we need and want from our building. The current building was created for a different world in 1954. What has changed in the meantime? Who are we now, and how does a building relate to our purpose and our vision for life and ministry, now and into the future?
On Monday evening we agreed to meet again to explore these questions. We will gather again at Good Shepherd on Monday, May 18, at 6:30 PM.
An additional action from the meeting was approval to spend no more than $25,000 to recondition the parsonage for temporary office space. We will work to keep that expense as minimal as possible. This will provide space that is easily accessible to the main building and to members, and it will allow staff to work and communicate together well until we are able to return to the building.
Sunday Schedule at Good Shepherd Lutheran, 700 N Wright Road
We will welcome new members into the First Lutheran community this Sunday: Mark and Beth Stibbe, Amber Wiest, and Richard Rapant.
It will be Mother’s Day, and special refreshments are planned.
We continue to worship together with the people of Good Shepherd at our regular worship times, 8:00 AM and 9:30 AM, with Sunday School beginning at 9:30.
We continue to give thanks for the members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church who have generously invited us into their space.
First Lutheran Building Updates
Saturday Workday
Another workday is being organized for this coming Saturday, May 9, beginning at 9 AM. This week we will be clearing space for staff offices at the parsonage. Materials stored in the parsonage will need to be moved to the second floor of the church, so we will need people who can carry thing up stairs. The parsonage also had 2-3 feet of water in the basement. The electrical system was not damaged, but clean-up is needed and some drywall needs to be removed.
Mark and Beth Stibbe will provide a meal of grilled hamburgers and hot dogs.
Thank you to all who have participated in these weekly Saturday workdays. You have made a tremendous impact!
Moisture Remediation
Our initial contract with ServPro has been terminated. Corporate Contractors, Inc. has supplied dehumidifiers, large fans, and a generator to continue the remediation process until all the moisture has been drawn out of the walls. Deeper cleaning will wait until we have decided how we want to move forward with the building.
Meeting with City Officials on Thursday
Members of the Flood Recovery Task Force will meet on Thursday morning with the city manager and city engineers to learn what codes and certifications will need to be met to regain occupancy of the building. We hope that this will give us a clearer timeline for when we might return to use of the second and third floors.
Fundraising Strategy
A team of communication and finance leaders met last week to begin planning for an eventual capital campaign. A representative from the Small Business Administration visited this week to let us know about low-interest loans that may become available as the damage assessment continues in Rock County. We have also investigated loans available through the ELCA Mission Loan Fund. We will explore all the funding options available to us, while we keep asking the questions about what restoration should look like.
Child’s First Child Care Center
The Child’s First Center has secured temporary space in two suites on the lower level at One Parker Place downtown. They are currently making upgrades to meet code and intend to open again soon.
Phone Access
The following staff members have call-forwarding. If you call First Lutheran at 608-752-7434 and choose their extension, your call will be forwarded to their personal cell phone:
Jeanie Pomplun, office administrator; Nan Band, office assistant; Arwen Twitchett, business administrator; and Pr. Michael Mueller.
Prayer
Here is the text of the chant I shared on Sunday, which we sang at the beginning of the meeting on Monday:
Changeless and calm, deep Mystery, ever more deeply rooted in Thee.
May this prayer lead you deep into the mystery of God’s love for all of us in this moment. Continue to pray for wisdom and guidance as we seek the way forward together. Pray also for staff and leaders who are giving themselves far beyond the usual expectations during this time.
Thank you for your support in words and action!
I pray for you, as I know you are praying for me.
Pr. Michael Mueller
To begin this update, I want to thank you for your patience and good spirits. I know that we’re all carrying grief for what has happened, but the work together and the opportunities to gather for meals and worship have provided valuable opportunities to connect and encourage one another.
I am grateful for the many people who have stepped up to offer their talents, experience, time, and labor. We have become more organized this week for the steps that are still ahead of us. Our leadership groups are seeking to think clearly, explore carefully, and ask the right questions as we plan a strategy for recovery.
We want to know the questions you are asking. Please let us know, so that we can do our best to provide timely responses.
Here are this week’s updates:
Special Congregation Meeting next Monday, May 4
By now, you should have received notice in the mail that the FLC Council has called a special congregation meeting on Monday, May 4, 6:30 PM, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. This meeting will give us the chance to hear more detailed updates and to confirm a not-to-exceed spending limit for the initial recovery plan. It is important that we have strong attendance to be able to authorize the spending needed to get the mechanical systems back online, so that we are able to return to using the upper levels of the building.
Sunday Schedule at Good Shepherd Lutheran, 700 N Wright Road
We continue to give thanks for the members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church who have generously invited us into their space.
While we are still discovering what it will take to return to regular gatherings in the building at First Lutheran, we and the people of Good Shepherd will join together at Good Shepherd for our regular Sunday worship schedule: 8:00 AM and 9:30 AM. To lessen the commotion between services, Sunday School will shift to 9:30 going forward. The Foundation Board will provide refreshments and host the fellowship time this Sunday.
Revised Plans – 4H Fair
As a consequence of the flooding, the Council has voted to cancel the 4H Fair food booth for this summer. I know that this will be another grief for those who have been committed to pie-baking or serving each year at the food booth. We have lost our kitchen, including freezers and a three-door refrigerator, as well as the food preparation and serving equipment used at the fair. Organizing the many shifts of volunteers, gathering donations, buying food, and then serving throughout Fair Week is a major effort in a normal year. Recognizing that we would face an even greater challenge to accomplish this after the flooding event, Council determined unanimously that we must focus on the more immediate priorities.
We will still provide our parking lot for the fair, so we will shift our volunteer focus to signups for serving in the parking lot. We can also think creatively about what else we might do to communicate our mission and to serve the community, as people walk from the parking lot to the fair entrance.
The 4H Concessions Manager has assured us that they understand our situation and are thinking of us during this time. They have graciously offered to hold our space open for us if we choose to return to it in 2027.
First Lutheran Building Updates
Last Saturday, an energetic crew of volunteers worked to deconstruct damaged cabinetry, doors, shelving, flooring, etc. A small group also began cutting out water-damaged dry wall. Once again, much work was accomplished in a short space of time. The volunteer efforts in the last two weeks have saved a significant amount of the cost for removal and cleaning. Thank you to all who have participated!
Another workday is being organized for this coming Saturday, May 2, beginning at 9 AM. Work will include more drywall removal, some frame removal, removal of the stage deck, and general cleaning.
ServPro is now scheduled to take up the next stage of cleaning and remediation, beginning Monday.
We are still exploring what it will take to get the electrical system restored. We are also getting quotes for the cost of cleaning, repairing, or replacing each of the building mechanical systems. This is a complex set of challenges and will take some time. We will share more detailed information at the congregation meeting on Monday.
Flood Recovery Task Force
The Flood Recovery Task Force established by Council has formed and will hold their first meeting this evening. The group includes Nathan Anderson, Tim Drinkwater, Kevin McMullen, Kristi Reuter, John Westphal, Jude Tropp, Arwen Twitchett, and Pr. Michael Mueller. The task force reports directly to Council and is empowered to manage the restoration and reconstruction process.
Fundraising Strategy
Funding the renovation project to get our building’s mechanical systems working again and to eventually restore the first level will require a capital campaign. A group that includes members of staff, Council, the Communications Team, and the Finance Team is beginning this week to develop a strategy to lay the groundwork for the eventual capital campaign
Child’s First Child Care Center
The Child’s First Center is working to secure a temporary space to be able to reopen and keep the families and the staff together. In the meantime, they have been receiving generous donations and strong support from the community to be able to rebuild their program. Samantha Zbigniewicz, the center’s director, says they are “staying hopeful, grateful, and arms wide open!”
Phone Access
The following staff members have call-forwarding. If you call First Lutheran at 608-752-7434 and choose their extension, your call will be forwarded to their personal cell phone:
Jeanie Pomplun, office administrator; Nan Band, office assistant; Arwen Twitchett, business administrator; and Pr. Michael Mueller.
Prayer
This prayer from the Lutheran service of Morning Prayer speaks to this time of transition and uncertainty:
O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Do not let your hearts be troubled! I pray for you, as I know you are praying for me.
Pr. Michael Mueller
As First Lutheran Church begins the flood recovery process, we will need generous support from our own congregation members and beyond. The cost estimate to get back into our building again is up to several hundred thousand dollars. Utilities must be safely restored, motors cleaned or replaced, boilers cleaned, fire panels replaced, HVAC controls replaced, elevators repaired — it’s a long list. And that initial cost figure doesn’t include renovating the damaged parts of the building or replacing all the contents that could not be saved.
Your generous donation today will help us to get back into our building soon and empower us to keep serving our community. Please share this email message with others you know who would also like to give.
We prefer to receive gifts through the link below, rather than through outside funding appeals like GoFundMe. The link will take you directly to the giving page on our website to support Flood Repair. That way, you know that your gift is coming directly to the church. Thank you for your generosity!
Child’s First Childcare Center is a separate nonprofit organization, which has been based at the church and housed on the first level. They lost everything in the flooding. If you wish to support their work also, you can find donation information on their website at childsfirstjvl.com.
Donate Today!
https://secure.myvanco.com/YKJM/campaign/C-16CVA
As you all know, a major storm caused serious flooding in Janesville last Friday evening. The city’s sewer system was overwhelmed, streets became rivers, and the FLC parking lot suddenly transformed into a lake that poured into the lower level of our building, filling it over four feet deep.
The losses from this event have been devastating. Area schools, businesses, homes, and our church have been profoundly impacted. Reality is settling in after several days of feverish work to clear out flood-damaged properties and begin the cleanup work. How are you feeling? Most of us are probably feeling a strange mixture of grief, gratitude, anxiety, and uncertainty about what comes next.
Clear communication and up-to-date information will help to calm our anxiety, so that we can focus on the priorities and the things that we each can do to help recover from this storm.
FLC’s leadership team will seek to be transparent, providing weekly updates on Wednesdays. You can also check our website for updates. When you go to www.flcj.org, a pop-up page will provide the most current updates.
In these last days, we have needed to make many decisions quickly. Council met in emergency session on Saturday and on Tuesday evening for the regular April meeting. We are trying to stay calm, think clearly, and ask questions, so that we make good decisions. Please share with us your questions, so that we can provide timely responses.
Here are some current updates:
New Temporary Location
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 700 N Wright Road has generously invited us into their space. We filled the house last Sunday for a shared worship service, and we enjoyed a meal together afterward, prepared and served by Chad Measner (and his family) of our congregation. It was encouraging to find strength in one another.
It will likely take one to two months before we can resume regular gatherings in the building at First Lutheran. In the meantime, we will maintain our regular Sunday worship schedule at Good Shepherd: 8am and 9:30am, with Sunday School at 9:15am. The Good Shepherd congregation will worship with us at 9:30am. Refreshments and fellowship time will follow both services.
Most of our regularly scheduled meetings and gatherings will take place at Good Shepherd, until we can get back into First Lutheran.
First Lutheran Building Condition
In the first two days after the flooding, we removed and hauled away nine dumpster loads of water-damaged and contaminated items. The experience was devastating. The Child’s First child care center lost virtually everything, including their kitchen renovation that had been completed only a few weeks earlier.
Encouragement came from over two hundred volunteers from our own congregation, other churches, and from across our community. Our spirits have been lifted by the many people who came out to help and by all those who continue to pray for us that we find wisdom and strength for the steps ahead of us.
At this point, the first level of the building has been completely emptied, and the remediation work has begun. The FLC Council contracted with ServPro to do the moisture remediation and cleaning work. Dehumidifiers have been running since Monday. Water service was restored to the building today, but no hot water is available until gas and electricity are back. ServPro will set up a temporary generator-run water heater so that they can begin cleaning the first level on Monday.
Electrical systems are currently being assessed. We hope that power can be restored to the building by the end of the week or early next week.
Steve Shulta was traveling through Janesville on Tuesday morning and stopped to help us evaluate and clarify the steps to restoring our mechanical systems. Steve was our facilities maintenance specialist on Council until he and his wife Kathy moved to Wausau last year. It was reassuring to have his knowledge and experience on hand to give direction.
Both elevators were flooded, and the boiler room was totally under water. Fire panels will need to be replaced, motors replaced or repaired, and utilities and mechanical systems restored. Until these are back up and running, we won’t be able to return to having gatherings in the upper floors.
Flood Recovery Task Force
The Council took action at our meeting on Tuesday to establish a Flood Recovery Task Force. This group will manage the restoration and reconstruction process. They will direct the ongoing cleanup and storage of property, recruit volunteers, and guide the recovery effort.
Fundraising Efforts
It is apparent that $10,000 is the limit of what we can expect from our insurance for flood damage. The coverage is minimal and was not designed for this unexpected catastrophic loss. We are exploring every option for disaster relief through the wider church and government channels.
We have also set up to receive donations for our flood recovery efforts. Anyone who visits flcj.org/rebuilding will find a “Donate Here” button at the top of the page. This takes you directly to our donation page for flood repair.
Child’s First Child Care Center
The Child’s First Center is a not-for-profit childcare center that has been housed at First Lutheran Church with 73 children enrolled, from six weeks to six years old. They are starting over, having lost everything. The center is seeking temporary space to be able to reopen and keep the families and the staff together. They are also seeking funding support to be able to rebuild their program.
Special Congregation Meeting
The Council has called a special congregation meeting on Monday, May 4, 6:30pm, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. This will give us the chance to gather in-person for updates and to confirm a not-to-exceed spending limit for the initial recovery plan.
Prayer
A couple days ago, my mom shared with me this quote from the April 19 reflection in her devotional: “God’s help is timely. He places himself between you and the need. And at the right time, he gives you what you need.”
Jesus taught us to pray for daily bread, so let us pray that God will provide what we need at each step. Even as we are taking needed action, we can trust, wait, and watch for the gift to be given.
I am grateful for your love and faithfulness. I pray for you, as I know you are praying for me.
Pr. Michael Mueller