A Cedar Valley Congregation Rooted Since 1867
On College Street in Cedar Falls, just one block south of the Sartori/MercyOne hospital campus, St. John Lutheran Church has gathered for worship and service for more than 150 years. It is one of the longest-serving Lutheran congregations in the Cedar Valley, begun in 1867 by a determined cobbler named G. Boehlmer who believed that God's Word and the Holy Sacraments were needed in the small community. The congregation has carried his goal forward ever since: "inviting and equipping people of all ages to be and become disciples of Jesus Christ."
What is known about St. John today goes well beyond its history. The congregation is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), working within the Northeastern Iowa Synod. It runs a licensed Preschool and Childcare Center. It is a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation, publicly affirming the gifts of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. It maintains a longstanding partnership with ThreeHouse Campus Ministry near the University of Northern Iowa. And it runs two distinct Sunday services, one traditional and one contemporary, along with a music program that includes choirs, a bell choir, and a full band.
Two Services, One Message
Sunday morning at St. John offers two services at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. Both are held in person and livestreamed on the congregation's Facebook page. The sermon is the same at both, but the feel is different.
The 8:00 a.m. service is held in the Sanctuary and follows a traditional ELW order of service. The pastor wears vestments, and the liturgy has the cadence many Lutherans grew up with. The 10:00 a.m. service meets in the Faith & Life Center, or outside in the courtyard during the summer months, and uses a contemporary order of service that incorporates traditional elements. The pastor does not wear vestments at the 10:00.
Communion is a weekly part of both services. After the 10:00 concludes, the recording is posted online and broadcast on CFU Channel 18 (Cedar Falls Utilities' public access) on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. and Sundays at 7:30 a.m., so the preceding week's service is also available on local cable. During Advent and Lent, a midweek worship service is added on Wednesdays in the Sanctuary.
The Building at 715 College Street
St. John's home is a three-story building in the heart of Cedar Falls that holds two worship spaces: the Sanctuary for traditional services and the Faith & Life Center for contemporary worship, fellowship, and children's programming. In 2017, the congregation marked its 150th anniversary with a year-long celebration that culminated in a church-wide worship service and meal. New paraments were commissioned for both worship spaces, and a new altar was added for the Faith & Life Center.
The building's history mirrors the congregation's. Over the years, St. John has had three church names and three buildings. It moved from German-language preaching to English, weathered multiple building programs, and grown from a small to a medium-sized church and back. Today the building houses classrooms for the Preschool and Childcare Center, gathering space for fellowship and small groups, and the offices that support a sizable ministry staff.
A Story That Began with a Cobbler
The founding is recorded plainly: "St. John Lutheran Church has served the people of Cedar Falls since 1867. Started by a determined cobbler who believed that God's Word and the Holy Sacraments were needed in the small community, we still seek to live out the same goal of 'inviting and equipping people of all ages to be and become disciples of Jesus Christ' that influenced Mr. G. Boehlmer."
Three changes have shaped the modern congregation. The 1976 addition of a preschool gave St. John a ministry of Christian education for families in the area. In August 2012 the preschool expanded into the St. John Preschool & Childcare Center, adding wraparound childcare. And in May 2019 the Transition Task Force introduced a new mission and purpose statement, a new organizational chart built around four ministry teams and four resource teams, and a shift to a congregation-led model.
The mission statement is short enough to memorize and is at the center of every program. It reads: "CONNECTING Christ's community by building relationships among all people, fulfilling the call of the gospel of Jesus Christ through CARING Nurturing and supporting one another according to each one's needs by SHARING God's love and grace through acts of service while GROWING in faith through lifelong learning."
Children, Youth, and the Preschool
Children are at the heart of St. John. The congregation's children's ministry is built around the conviction that the Bible is full of interesting stories that matter in kids' lives, that fun and games are allowed at church, and that worship can include loud music and silly dancing. Sunday School meets from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. for all children from Pre-K through sixth grade, with classes for the youngest focusing on classic Bible stories and older grades following the weekly Gospel reading.
Vacation Bible School is a centerpiece of summer. Kids ages three (and potty-trained) through completed fourth grade spend a week together, usually in mid-July, mornings from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., exploring Bible stories through games, music, and hands-on activities. Older students and adults serve as crew leaders. The nursery next to the Faith & Life Center is open during Sunday services so parents have a place for little ones who need space and time to play.
Confirmation at St. John uses the Colaborate curriculum from Sparkhouse. Junior high students gather on Sunday mornings, while both junior high and high school students come together for Youth Group Night every other Wednesday. The program includes small group discussions, large group community building, retreats, lock-ins, and outings.
The Preschool and Childcare Center is licensed by the Iowa Department of Human Services and serves children ages three through five during the academic year and ages three through eight during the summer childcare program. Director Kathy Thompson leads a staff that uses The Creative Curriculum with theme-based units and child-directed projects. Morning classes run 9:00 to 11:30 and afternoon classes 1:00 to 3:30, with childcare available before and after preschool and on non-preschool days. Children pray together, hear Bible stories, sing Christian songs, and attend "Children's Church" twice a month. The program is open to all families; church membership is not required.
Music that Spans Generations
Music is woven into almost everything at St. John. The 8:00 service has its own Music Minister and is accompanied by a pianist; the 10:00 service has multiple Music Ministers and Worship Team Leaders, with a band that includes voice, guitars, drums, bass, keys, and the occasional brass instrument.
For those who want to make music themselves, there are several groups. The Intergenerational Choir, directed by Steve Peters, is open to anyone high school age and up and rehearses on Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Jubilation Ringers, the adult bell choir, also led by Steve Peters, rehearses Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and welcomes ringers of any experience level, even those who can only commit to a single month. Children's Chimes, under Carolyn Jensen, gives children in grades 2 through 6 a chance to play handchimes and is rehearsed on Sunday mornings at 10:30. Mike Best leads the 10:00 worship team and oversees the multimedia and audio technicians who run the slides and sound during the contemporary service.
Adults: Bible Study, Book Groups, and Fellowship
Adult ministry at St. John meets people in many of life's seasons. Bible studies, book studies, a quilting group, a cancer support group, men's fellowship, and gatherings for those in their fifties, sixties, and seventies give adults multiple ways to connect.
The weekly rhythms include a Tuesday morning book study led by Arleen Burkhardt, a Thursday afternoon book study led by Don and Sandy Kohagen, and the Thirsty Thursday Men's Bible Study at 7:30 a.m. led by Steve Ferguson. A women's Bible study meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. using ELCA Gather magazine, with Gloria Tollefson as the contact. The Do-Day Quilters gather on the second Monday of each month at 8:00 a.m. to cut, iron, stitch, and tie mission quilts for Lutheran World Relief, and no sewing experience is required. Barb Feuerhak, Joan Baumgartner, and Sue Holm coordinate periodic fellowship events for the 50-and-beyond crowd. A community-wide cancer support group meets at NewAldaya Lifescapes Main Street, with Carol Menefee as the contact.
Young Adults and UNI
St. John's relationship with the University of Northern Iowa goes back generations. The congregation has long supported Lutheran Campus Ministry near UNI and continues to partner with ThreeHouse, the ELCA-affiliated campus ministry in Cedar Falls. The partnership is described this way: "Both directly in the St. John community, as well as through our partnership with ThreeHouse, there are plenty of opportunities to start putting faith into action for young adults. St. John also relies on the young adults of our community to help teach and lead in the Jr. High and High School ministries." Mission trips, service projects, and special worship opportunities at ThreeHouse are all hallmarks of the Young Adult ministry at St. John.
The Mission that Ripples Outward
The service ministry uses the image of a stone dropped into water: "even the little things we do can create ripples in our own life, the lives of those around us and beyond, in places we never imagined the ripple to reach." The congregation supports a wide range of local, national, and global partners.
Locally, St. John supports Habitat for Humanity through its Endowment Fund and with volunteers, and partners with Love Inc, a clearinghouse that networks Cedar Valley churches to serve neighbors in need. A newer Linen Ministry collects sheets, comforters, and towels year-round for Love Inc. Food for the Northeast Iowa Food Bank is collected year-round in a bin by the main elevator, and twice a year St. John volunteers assist residents of NewAldaya Lifescapes on their way to and from Sunday chapel. Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) is supported through Endowment Fund gifts, and Lutheran World Relief receives both quilts and money from the congregation.
Globally, St. John supports ELCA missionaries Patrick and Jackie Bencke, who serve at Kyushu Lutheran College in Japan. Patrick teaches English, and Jackie assists with music programs and music ministries. The congregation is also part of the wider ELCA global community of more than 70 million Lutherans in 79 countries.
Reconciling in Christ
St. John is recognized as a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation, having affirmed through a congregational vote in May 2024 its commitment to welcome and include LGBTQIA+ people in the full life of the church. The welcome statement is repeated across the church's literature: "Wherever you are on your journey, you are welcome here in the name of Jesus Christ. We celebrate that each person is loved by God. We affirm the gifts of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, and are committed to working for racial equity."
As an RIC partner, St. John has committed to being open to calling an LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC rostered leader, allowing sanctuary and community space to be used for LGBTQIA+ weddings and blessings, and making a meaningful annual contribution to support the national program. A Reconciling in Christ Team continues to walk the congregation through the work of extending specific hospitality and broader welcome.
Racial Justice
The Racial Justice Team is rooted in the belief that all people are created in the image of God and called to live in genuine community. The team's mission is to inspire and equip the congregation to dismantle racism and promote racial equity through awareness, relationships, and action. Activities have included book studies on racial justice, movie screenings, participation in the MLK Freedom Bus Ride, hosting a Juneteenth Service of Repentance, fellowship meals with Le Christopher's in Waterloo, and outings to diverse-owned restaurants and businesses. The team is facilitated by Pastor Brian and includes Samantha Pfab, Gary Sheetz, Bill Bass, Steve Ferguson, Bonnie Smith, Steve Smith, and Jean Morehouse.
Care for Creation
The Environmental Stewardship Team frames its work theologically: as Lutherans, members are called to care for others and for all of God's creation. The team's vision is "to inspire and inform the minds, hearts, and hands of St. John Lutheran Church with opportunities to exercise our environmental stewardship." Practical efforts have included Earth Care cleanup days and an LED lighting makeover. The team links members with resources from Cedar Falls Utilities, the UNI Center for Environmental Education, the ELCA's social statements on civic life and climate, Project Drawdown, Citizens' Climate Lobby, and the Lutheran Action Team. Anyone with an interest in creation care is welcome to join in whatever form it takes, including reducing waste, gardening, energy stewardship, or simply prayer and presence.
Leadership and the Congregation Council
Senior Pastor Brian Julin-McCleary leads the congregation with a staff that includes the Director of Preschool and Childcare, music ministers and worship leaders, a Director of Office Operations, a Pastoral Ministry Assistant, a Bookkeeper, a Maintenance Manager, a Custodian, a Kitchen/Ministry Assistant, a Sunday School Coordinator, a VBS Coordinator, and Youth Group Coordinators. The music program is led by Steve Peters (Intergenerational Choir and Jubilation Ringers), Mike Best (10:00 worship team), and Carolyn Jensen (Children's Chimes).
The Congregation Council serves as the chief governing body of the congregation. Current officers are Blake Borwick (President, term ending 2029), Shawn Smeins (Treasurer, 2028), and Josh Green (Secretary, 2028). Members include Kathy Diehl, Andrew Bruns, Jen Hartman, John Kohagen, Laura Homewood, and Joyce Riley.
In May 2025, the congregation approved entering a call process to search for an Associate Pastor. A Call Committee was elected in August 2025 with nine members: Rod Hamer, Jen Hartman, Alex Heinen, Josh Hones, Danielle Jennings, Jim Korte, Kristin Moser, Scott Striegel, and Pastor Brian. The committee is working in collaboration with the Northeastern Iowa Synod on a Ministry Site Profile.
Giving and Joining
St. John offers several ways to give: secure online and mobile giving (one-time or recurring) through the congregation's giving system, text giving by texting an amount to 319-727-1001, traditional giving envelopes mailed bi-monthually, and gifts of appreciated stock or other securities. The St. John Lutheran Church Mission Endowment Fund accepts immediate gifts through the weekly offering and planned gifts through wills, life insurance beneficiaries, and retirement account designations. Anyone interested in joining can fill out a participation form at any time. The congregation notes that there is "no need to wait for a special event" to make St. John home.
Life Events and Pastoral Care
The pastoral staff at St. John walks with members through the major moments of life. Baptisms can be scheduled during any worship service, after a conversation with the church office. Weddings are held at St. John, with couples meeting with the pastor across several sessions. Couples interested in joining the church are encouraged to attend and become part of the community first. Funeral planning forms are kept on file in the church office so that a person's wishes are known before they are needed, easing the burden on families in the moment of loss.