ROCK ISLAND -- Go to church Sunday, shed a few tears, and then move forward.
That's the advice Immanuel Lutheran Church member Linda Haake wants to share with fellow parishioners gathering Sunday, July 18, for the final service at the church's downtown Rock Island cathedral, ending a 114-year history at the 5th Avenue and 20th Street site.
The 9 a.m. service will include the rite of ''Disposition of a church building,'' which is necessary when a Missouri Synod Lutheran congregation vacates one building to move into another.
Church members stopped meeting in the downtown Rock Island building in November when the furnace broke.
They've met at its school building, at 3300 24th St., and have broken ground for a new church near the school.
The old church was such a beautiful building, ''it was sad to hear it had to close,'' church member Velma Soyke said. ''But it shouldn't be about where we worship. What's important is that we do worship together.''
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Ms. Soyke, 98, has belonged to the church since 1928. She was married there, and all three of her children, including Ms. Haake, and five grandchildren were baptized there. Her father also served as a teacher and organist at Immanuel.
She remembers celebrating the church's 1956 centennial, and said she hopes to live long enough to attend the dedication of the new church once it's completed.
The old cathedral's cornerstone was laid June 28, 1896, and was dedicated Dec. 20, 1896. It's among the oldest churches in Rock Island County, but records can't confirm or deny that, Ms. Haake said.
''The church, 102 by 62, was built in pure Gothic style,'' according to a centennial booklet shared by church member Lois Schrage. ''Its two steeples are 162 feet and 108 feet in height. The entire cost of the edifice amounted to $25,000.''
''My family goes back a long way here, too,'' Ms Schrage said.
Her grandfather, J.L. Moeller, was the first teacher hired at the school, Ms. Schrage said, showing historical documents and photos, including her black-and-white confirmation class picture.
It's very hard seeing it all come to an end, she said. ''And it feels like we're trading a cathedral for a chapel.''
The new church, being built just north of the school, will be a 7,000-square-foot building capable of seating about 250 people and will feature a kitchen, large narthex area and meeting room.
It will be handicapped accessible, unlike the old church, and will cost about $1.5 million to build, church pastor the Rev. Stephen Gallo said in an earlier interview.
Stained-glass windows, which may have been part of the original building, have been removed and stored, for later use in the new church, he said.
''Sure we wanted them still in for our final service,'' Rev. Gallo said. ''But the restoration project had to get started.''
The church's pipe organ will not be taken to the new church, according to Vern Soeken, a church member and former teacher, youth director and principal at the school.
The decision to leave the organ was made after discovering it would cost $490,000 to restore it, he said. Church leaders will buy a new electric organ which, thanks to technology, will match the sound of the pipe organ, Mr. Soeken said.
While the church has advertised the pipe organ for sale, it didn't have to advertise the church for sale to find a prospective buyer.The sale is pending.
Attending the last service leaves Mr. Soeken with ''mixed feelings like Velma's,'' he said. ''I like the old church, of course, but I think you always have to be careful that you're not worshipping a building, no matter how beautiful it is.''
Nothing could take away the memories of such things as how tall the pulpit stood or the years spent singing in the choir, performing in the bell choir and giving children's ''sermonettes,'' he said.
Another memory he had dates back to 1972-1973 when the church was repainted.
''We noticed something was missing when it was done,'' Mr. Soeken said. Stars once painted on the ceiling were gone, he said.
Ms. Schrage's memories will include Christmas Eve services, during which candles were passed out to church members as they sang ''Silent Night.''
Jackie and Bill Nesseler also have plenty of memories to fall back on, including their marriage. They will celebrate their 58th wedding anniversary Aug. 3, ''so we'll just miss out celebrating it here,'' Ms. Nesseler said.
''This must feel a little like it did when people moved out of the old country into the new,'' she said. ''It's a little scary, so all I can do is ask the Lord to hold my hand and walk with Him in faith.''
She can't imagine at this point what the new church will look like, but hopes it may help the church grow by bringing in new members.
''It's a good idea to leave it in God's hands,'' Mr. Soeken said. ''If the Lord decides he wants a new church here, here is where it should be. My concentration Sunday will be giving thanks and praise for the Gospel. That's the important thing.''
