Bethlehem Lutheran Church

File

Bethlehem Lutheran Church

This folder contains two booklets from their 80th anniversary, yearbooks from 1955-57 and 1959, a church directory, a 1965 pictorial directory, two newspaper clippings and copies with articles about the church’s 75th anniversary, two bulletins from dedication service 1960, two bulletins from the installation service of Reverend Eldon L. Pickering, a bulletin from the installation of Reverend Norman E. Wear, a booklet from their 50th anniversary, an anniversary banquet program, a history of the church, a congregational historical record, a copy of their newsletter from 1923, and various letters.

As early as 1903, Pastor B. S. Nystrom from Bethsaida in nearby LaConner came to Sedro Woolley and conducted services in the homes of interested Swedish settlers. By 1910 it was clear that Sedro Woolley was ready for a church. Augustana student David A. Knock was present at the organizational meeting on October 5, 1910, when 14 adults and 11 children helped bring this new church into being. A Ladies’ Aid had organized even earlier. Services were held in the Sedro Woolley Presbyterian Church at first. In the spring of 1911, the old Catholic Church was purchased for $1,600. In 1922 Swedish was dropped as the official language, although there were Swedish services, in addition to English, until 1933. The church was nearly destroyed by fire in 1938. The depression made it difficult to pay the pastor. Students helped and so did the pastor of Salem in Mount Vernon. By 1954 an “Expansion Committee” was formed and in 1955 a three-acre tract was purchased on Wicker Road. On September 11, 1960 the present church was dedicated. More expansion followed with a remodeled parish hall, an Educational Unit, and a new parsonage.