COEUR d'ALENE - The last time it happened, it was 1932.

It happens again at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

Community United Methodist Church, at 1470 W. Hanley Ave. in Coeur d'Alene, is burning its mortgage, taken out in 1994, said Pastor Heather Seman

There will be a blended worship celebration, combining both traditional and contemporary worship with music by a specially formed choir.

"It's important to celebrate milestones," said Seman.

By paying off the $800,000 mortgage, the church can start funneling more resources toward ministry, outreach and missions, she said.

The church can "pour it into God's people, instead of brick and mortar."

She said many people gave generously to pay it off.

"It was a group of people writing checks across the congregation," she said. She estimated the church has 250 members.

"It was the effort of a lot of people," said Bill Tarnasky, a member of the church and its finance committee.

Church members are very satisfied with the accomplishment, which frees up money every month, he said. He said the monthly mortgage payment was $3,500.

"It's tough economic times, and a tough time for churches to meet their budgets," Tarnasky said. "We have a lot of other places to put our money now."

The first burning

Community United Methodist Church hasn't always been the name. And the church hasn't always been at the southeast corner of Ramsey Road and Hanley Avenue.

The Methodist church was first listed in the Spokane district of Methodist churches back in 1883, when the U.S. president was Chester A. Arthur.

In 1906, the lot at the southwest corner of Seventh Street and Wallace Avenue was purchased for $350 by the church. A church was built there, and dedicated in 1909, and still stands today.

The mortgage burning celebration for that building was in 1932.

In 1953, the name became First United Methodist Church.

Nearly 30 years later, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the federal government.

Fast forward to 1991, and the church purchased property at its current location.

The church needed to expand, and buying a new site was a better investment than expanding at Seventh and Wallace and adjacent lots that the church owned.

Also, demographic studies showed the growth of Coeur d'Alene was to the north and out Ramsey Road.

The new building was constructed in 1994 and was renamed Community United Methodist Church, to reflect the new location and its service to the entire community.

Sunday celebration

The church won't be burning the official mortgage document, as it may be needed someday.

But a copy will be set to fire, Seman said.

Special guests Bishop Grant Hagiya, of the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church, and District Superintendent Dale Cochram will be giving a celebration message, Seman said.

"For Methodists, that's kind of the tippy top," Seman said.

She said the public is invited. A potluck lunch will follow the ceremony.

Information: (208) 765-8800, or www.cumccda.org