First Lutheran Church

06/01/2026

What a fun feature & photo of First Lutheran Church shared over the weekend! If you zoom in, you can see this photo is recent, showing the removed 2nd floor classroom in preparation for our elevator!

Decorah has no shortage of beautiful views — but this one comes with a lot of history.

This is First Lutheran Church, located just below Phelps Park in Decorah. The congregation traces its roots back to 1854, when Rev. Vilhelm Koren conducted Lutheran services for Norwegian settlers in a log schoolhouse on this same site.

Today, the church’s brick building, tall bell tower, and steeple are easy to spot from several directions as you come into town. From above, you can also see downtown Decorah, the surrounding bluffs, and the layers of history that make this town such a special place to explore.

It’s another reminder that in Decorah, the scenery and the stories are often found side by side.

📍 First Lutheran Church
Decorah, Iowa

📷 Brian Abeling / Iowa Road Trip

06/01/2026

Last Wednesday, after spending the day creating Lutheran World Relief quilts, four of FLC's Do-Day Quilters shared even more love by visiting some of our members in assisted living for afternoon coffee and conversation. They enjoyed time with Diann Marten, Marilyn Larson, and Ann Glesne, bringing smiles, fellowship, and friendship along with them.

These ladies are a wonderful example of what it means to Share God's Love—not only through the quilts they make, but through the time and care they give to others. Thank you for being such a blessing to our church family!

05/31/2026

No outdoor worship today! See you in the sanctuary at 9am with cake & fellowship to follow.

05/27/2026

Kicking off summer in the best way possible!

05/21/2026

THANK YOU, First Lutheran! Your generosity this spring has been truly remarkable. Two special appeals not only met their goals — they far exceeded them!

🎶 Worship Music Leader Trainees (March)
$4,710 raised (goal: $3,000)
Supporting the young musicians who help lead our worship life.

🌍 ELCA World Hunger / Easter Appeal (April)
$6,233 raised (goal: $3,000)
This already surpasses our entire annual World Hunger goal of $5,000!

That’s nearly $11,000 given in just two months — in addition to your faithful weekly offerings and ongoing Capital Campaign support.

Thanks be to God for your generosity, compassion, and commitment to ministry. And thank you, First Lutheran, for the many ways you continue to share God’s love in the world. ❤️

05/20/2026

Did you know FLC WELCA hosts bingo at local care facilities throughout the year? 🎉

A big THANK YOU to Coleen, Linda, Ingrid, and Donita for leading yesterday's Bingo at The Highlands! The four shared that they had lots of appreciative participants, plenty of smiles, and a wonderful time together. ❤️

Want to get involved? Small prize donations are always welcome! Little stuffed animals — like Beanie Babies — are always a hit with the residents! 🧸

05/19/2026

☀️ Our Summer Worship Schedule begins this weekend! ☀️

Join us at First Lutheran Church in Decorah, Iowa for worship:
⛪ Saturdays at 5pm
⛪ Sundays at 9am (livestream available!)
☕ Fellowship & coffee will follow on Sundays at 10am

We look forward to worshiping with you this summer!

05/18/2026

The FLC Women’s Group had such a wonderful time Saturday morning visiting Nancy & Neal’s beautiful flower garden just outside of Decorah! 💐

The fellowship, flowers, and fun were abundant as the group enjoyed time together surrounded by God’s beautiful creation. Nancy and Neal have truly been given a special gift for caring for nature and for one another, and we are so grateful they share those gifts with us. Especially through the beautiful weekly altar bouquets they provide for worship! Thank you, Nancy & Neal, for your hospitality and generosity! 🌸

We want to be sure you know about two upcoming FLC Women's events:
1 - Join FLC WELCA for a 10am meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, May 19, at Impact Coffee.
2 - Watch for more information about the next FLC Women’s Group event later this summer — a flower arrangement gathering you won’t want to miss!

05/18/2026

Construction Update 🚧 Progress continues on our building project at First Lutheran Church! Last week, work began removing the old main entrance and the 2nd floor classroom area to make way for our new elevator installation.

05/18/2026

God bless all the new graduates & their families in this season of transition! Today we celebrated FLC’s DHS graduates with a special 10:30am baccalaureate worship & reception. ❤️💙