About Us
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT BETHLEHEM UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
In 1906, 14 German heritage farm families founded Bethlehem Evangelical Church and purchased an abandoned Methodist Church, sanctuary pictured above, with eleven acres of ground. They later purchased an adjoining eleven acre tract and part of the land was plotted for a cemetery. A log house on the property served as a parsonage until a new one could be built.
In 1924, the old church was torn down and the present church was built for $18,000 with most of the labor being done by volunteer members. During this time they had to worship in the Hooker School across the road. A bell was given to Bethlehem which came from the abandoned Emmanuel Evangelical Church in Union Township near Cypress, Indiana and this bell was used to call members to worship as well as bring people’s attention to fires, deaths, and other neighborhood events.
In 1934 worship services in German were discontinued and a merger with the Evangelical and Reformed Church was approved in 1935. To recognize this merger the name of the church was changed to Bethlehem Evangelical and Reformed Church. The first organ was installed in 1937. Also, in 1937 Bethlehem became aware of the worldly needs of others and purchased 20 acres of land in India for a leper hospital and later another ten acres were purchased. The year 1938 was very special because the first women were installed as Deacons.
Until 1948, Bethlehem’s minister also served Zoar Evangelical and Reformed Church in Campbell Township, Warrick County and the partnership was dissolved as Bethlehem needed a full time minister. During World War II, Bethlehem was very involved in “Heifers for Hungry Children.”
A renovation of the church was approved in 1949 and stained glass windows were added to the Sanctuary, all given as a gift or as a memorial to loved ones. A new organ fund began at that time. The first kindergarten classes started in 1952 and property north of the Church was purchased as a parsonage which is now used for Sunday School classes and youth functions. The old parsonage south of the church was converted into classrooms and a church office. In 1956, the 50th Anniversary was celebrated. A merger with the Congregational Christian Church took place and in 1961, the name of Bethlehem United Church of Christ was adopted.
In 1960, a new educational building was underway at a cost of $120,000 which added a Fellowship Hall, new classrooms, a Pastor’s Study and a Church Office. During the period of 1960 – 1970; Vacation Bible School was offered, tennis and basketball courts, baseball field, paved parking lots, playgrounds were added, and a new burgoo building was built. The church chancel was redecorated, and air conditioning was added. Bethlehem ordained the first member from their congregation.
The 75th Anniversary was celebrated in 1981 and the position of Associate Pastor became a reality as well as a Minister of Visitation.
In 1984, a major remodeling of the Sanctuary took place to provide more seating with a bid of $400,000. A second Bethlehem member was ordained into the ministry at this time. A second worship service was approved in 1991. Bethlehem has sponsored missionaries since 1959 and this has been a continuous ministry, as well as being involved in Habitat for Humanity. Participation in Habitat was with other churches in the beginning, but in 1995 and 2000, during a “Blitz,” Bethlehem funded and built a house entirely on their own. The Habitat project continues in participation with other churches.
In 1995 a Youth Deacon was added to the Church Council. The position of Lay Associate/Pastor was approved as was the Mission Statement in 2000. The front of the church was remodeled adding a ramp to make Bethlehem more handicapped accessible in 2001. New pew Bibles were purchased and dedicated in 2001. In 2003 lay people became very involved in several organized visitation ministries. They visit newcomers to the church, homebound members, the sick, and the grieving.
In 2004 a Director of Contemporary Worship was called to the church to start a third worship service on Saturday evening. In 2005 the church sponsored the first adult mission trip in its history. Fourteen church members spent a week helping flood victims in Harlan, Kentucky. Since then there has been mission trips to Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans. In 2006 a second ordained minister, associate pastor of family life, was added to the ministry team. The last time two ordained ministers served the church was in the mid 1980's. Also in 2006 a quarter million dollar in renovations were completed. Some of the renovations included the installation of a large retractable screen in the sanctuary, the altar area was given a new look, and carpet was replaced throughout the building.
We celebrated our 100th Anniversary in 2006. In 2007 we made extra efforts to use our building as a place to provide social and educational opportunities. We invited the community to come hear a Holocaust survivor share his powerful story and put on Cooking with Christian evenings once a month, where local chefs shared their secrets and prepared an affordable meal. We are a church which embraces our rich traditions but also looks forward to where God is leading us in this postmodern world. We believe God is still speaking to us in powerful ways, challenging us to stretch in new directions.
