First Lutheran Church breaks ground on renovation with a focus on community

First Lutheran Church of Waltham held a groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 27 for a major renovation of its building at 6 Eddy St.

Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy attended to congratulate the congregation and recognize its contributions to the wider Waltham community.

More than eight organizations use the church building, with activities taking place nearly every day of the week. Programs include a parent-infant and toddler co-op, music lessons and classes for children and youth, English as a Second Language classes for adults, and worship services in English, Spanish and Korean.

The renovation will replace a deteriorating wall on the Eddy Street side of the building. The congregation will also replace opaque glass with clear glass, which it described as a sign of its vision to be not only “in the community” but “for the community.”

Brad Nederhoff of Nederhoff Architecture, who is also a church member, designed the project. Montenegro Builders will do the construction.

The Rev. Thomas Maehl has been pastor of First Lutheran since 1999. The congregation is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

First Lutheran Church is at 6 Eddy St., Waltham.