• Article Photo. Rev. Dr. Philip L. Hougen, past bishop of the SE Iowa Synod of ELCA, spoke at Centennial event.
    Rev. Dr. Philip L. Hougen, past bishop of the SE Iowa Synod of ELCA, spoke at Centennial event.
  • Article Photo. Rev. Mark Urlaub leads the service that begins the 3-year Centennial celebration.
    Rev. Mark Urlaub leads the service that begins the 3-year Centennial celebration.
  • Article Photo. The procession during the first of many Centennial celebrations at Bethlehem Lutheran.
    The procession during the first of many Centennial celebrations at Bethlehem Lutheran.
  • Article Photo. The church's Swedish heritage was honored during the celebration in food and song.
    The church's Swedish heritage was honored during the celebration in food and song.
  • Article Photo. Bethlehem Lutheran Church began its three-year Centennial celebration Sunday, June 6.
    Bethlehem Lutheran Church began its three-year Centennial celebration Sunday, June 6.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church launched a three-year observance of the centennial of the congregation in a special worship service on Sunday, June 6, 2010. 

The Rev. Dr. Philip L. Hougen, past bishop of the Southeastern Iowa Synod of the ELCA, was the preacher.  Pr. Hougen is a son of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church of Cedar Rapids. 

That congregation, then known as Saron Lutheran Church, helped organize the Bethlehem congregation in Vinton in 1913. 

The Rev. Mark C. Urlaub, pastor at Bethlehem, was the presiding minister with Alyssa Hanson as assisting minister and Lois Martin as organist. 

This first celebration service recalled the Swedish heritage of the congregation with hymns from the Swedish tradition.  Brenda Sutton, a descendent of early members of the congregation, sang a verse of the beloved hymn, “Children of the Heavenly Father” in Swedish and recited the Lord’s Prayer in Swedish.

            This service included a reunion of the YoungStars Choir directed by the founding director, LuAnn Urlaub.  Many former choir members returned to join with childhood friends and current choir members in singing the “signature song” of the choir, Shine, Jesus, Shine.

            More than 100 were served at dinner in Augustana Hall.  Swedish foods were featured:  Swedish meatballs, potatisgratang with sausage, homemade rye bread, “Lutheran Jello” salads, Swedish crème wafers, rice pudding with lingonberries, and many other treats.

            The centennial observance will culminate on Sunday,  June 9, 2013, when the congregation will reach its one-hundredth year.  Several more events will be held before that important date.  

Spoke Folk Bicycle Ministry coming June 28
 
Bethlehem Lutheran will be hosting Spoke Folk (a ministry group made of teens and young adults) on Monday evening, June 28th.  We will be doing an outside on the lawn concert/program (weather providing) on Monday, June 28th at 7:00 p.m.  People are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on.  Ice cream sundaes will be served.
 
The group will be staying overnight at the Inns and moving on (by bycycles) the next day.
 
For more info on the group you can go to:   www.spokefolk.org.