After a long and dreary 19 months of rebuilding, members of Augsburg Lutheran Church are ready to celebrate the restoration of the church that was heavily damaged by a fire in May, 2005.

"This has been a very long road. It's been very tough. But now there is a lot of joy," said Heather Meyer, 38, a lifelong member of Augsburg and one of 12 members of the church's restoration committee.

Fire officials believe the fire in the church at 1342 West Sylvania Ave. was caused by an electrical problem and burned for several hours before being reported by a neighbor at 4:30 a.m.

The building was filled with smoke, the stained-glass windows cracked from the heat, and walls and ceilings melted into smoldering ruins.

The restoration project cost $2.5 million, most of which was covered by insurance, and for 19 months the congregation of 250 and the church's various ministries were forced to find temporary homes.

The Rev. Chris Matthy, pastor, said Augsburg's congregation worshipped at Reformation Lutheran Church on Douglas Road for the first nine months, until they were able to move back into Augsburg's basement in February.

"It's been an adventure," Mr. Matthy said.

The church was the local Feed Your Neighbor site but moved the food pantry across the street to Pilgrim Church.

The annual German Christmas Service, held every year since 1948, was presented at Grace Lutheran Church on Monroe Street last year.

Augsburg Lutheran Church was founded in 1914 by six persons who met above a grocery store at Sylvania and Lewis avenues. A wooden chapel was built in 1916, and the current church, with walls of Indiana limestone, was dedicated in 1922.

When news of the fire was broadcast, Mrs. Meyer said she took off work and gathered with other members of the congregation outside the building.

"It was like a vigil. We just kind of stood by the old fortress, finding comfort in just being together. It's like home to us," she said.

When it came time to assess the damage and make rebuilding plans, the church council appointed a 12-member restoration committee.

"We served the congregation. We would make recommendations and those recommendations ultimately were OK'd by our council," Mrs. Meyer said. "But this was a perfect opportunity for us to make some changes we normally wouldn't be able to do."

They decided to modernize the worship space slightly and improve the welcoming space and offices, Mr. Matthy said.

The congregation also opted for a

state-of-the-art sound system and a video screen, Mrs. Meyer said.

The 11 stained-glass windows in the sanctuary, made by Von Gerichten Art Glass of Columbus and installed in the original construction of 1921, were removed pane by pane, then completely restored.

"The windows are pretty awesome," Mrs. Meyer said.

"The real crowd-pleaser is the Garden of Gethsemane, situated above the altar area. A lot of folks in our congregation were very concerned whether that window would return because it serves as almost a focal point of the church. I'm very pleased to say that it's back, in all of its splendor."

A lot of the finishing touches have come together in just the last few weeks.

"The last month has just been wonderful as all the components make their way back into the sanctuary," Mrs. Meyer said. "Especially the last week. It's been magical."

Augsburg Lutheran Church, 1342 Sylvania Ave., will hold a rededication service at 10 a.m. tomorrow. The Toledo Symphony will perform a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, but tickets are required by calling the church office, 419-478-2374. The 49th annual German Christmas Service will be held at 4 p.m. Dec. 17.

Contact David Yonke at: dyonke@theblade.com or 419-724-6154.

First Published December 9, 2006, 6:45 p.m.