News : Bethlehem Lutheran Church plans to celebrate '100 years in the Light of God'

The First Bethlehem Church building is remembered in a model made for the 50th anniversary.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church, in its 100th year.

Bethlehem Lutheran church will celebrate its centennial on Sunday June 9th 2013 with a worship service and a congregational meal. There will be an open house for the public on Monday June 10.

It was June 10th 1913 when 47 members signed the charter that established the Swedish Evangelical Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Originally Bethlehem worshiped at a church 6 miles south and 1 mile west of Vinton at a church that according to the Swedish Language minutes was purchased in 1914 from the “Methodist People.”

In 1923 to 1925 there was much discussion about where was the best place for a permanent church to be located. In 1925 the Church and one acre of land was offered for sale for $500 but no takers were found so the congregation voted to take the building down and use the lumber to build a new church in Vinton.

The church was erected on a lot purchased for $450 and is the site of the current church fellowship area Augustana Hall. The construction of the church was started in the fall of 1925 and completed in 1926. Much of the labor was done by members of the congregation and all materials were purchased from local are business. The building project cost including the lot was reported in the financial repot of 1926 to be $4,231.74. It was said that quite a bit of discussion occurred as to the size of the coal room with some wanting a larger room to take advantage of bigger savings from larger coal purchases. Those Sweeds were shred business men. In the end a room 4’ by 10’ was decided upon and in later years this room became a Sunday school classroom. After many changes to the original building in the it was decided in the late1990’s to build a new sanctuary and the old structure would be used for Sunday School and fellowship hall. The new sanctuary was dedicated in 1998.and the old building continued to serve until 20—when it was removed to make room for the new fellowship area Augustana Hall.

A scale model of that original church was built by Joseph Vermedahl, longtime Bethlehem member and father of current church member David Vermedahl, for the 50th Anniversary of the congregation in 1963. That model is pictured above along with a picture of the current church building. The church model along with other pieces of memorabilia will be on exhibit at an open house on June 10at the church. The public is invited to come and enjoy looking at all kinds exhibits including many pictures of historical events of the church like Smorgasbord dinners and fall festivals. There also will be many exhibits of Swedish items and an opportunity to tour the present church and fellowship hall. Come reminisce with us about all the people, places and events that have made these 100 years such a blessing. And oh yes it would not be a Swedish gathering without food and coffee so come and enjoy.