History:

On December 5, 1899 in the small community of Norumtown, a group of Norwegian Americans met to discuss forming a church. Ed Norum, a local carpenter, called an organizational meeting to order on December 21,1899 and following the adoption of a constitution, Bethlehem Lutheran Church was named.Purchasing an acre of land from Mrs. E. Monson for the price of $10.00, work began to raise funds for the cost of the building and after raising $82.00, work began on the white frame church. In 1903 an addition of 28 X 40 feet was constructed. Swans Trail Church in Snohomish held a special place in the Bethlehem history. Until 1920, worship services were held in both Norwegian and English.In 1905, the congregation withdrew from the Lutheran Free Church, and joined the United Norwegian Lutheran Church. The congregation was served by pastors who also served Fir, Conway, East Stanwood and Everett.

As the years passed the membership continued to grow and a new sanctuary was built in 1956 with additional office and classroom space added in 1960.The last worship service to be held in the white frame church was April 27, 1961. It was then removed to allow the construction of the new sanctuary which, thanks to the dedicated volunteer workers and the "Over the Hill Gang", was dedicated on September 9,1979.Men and women were both involved in the building process. Time and talents were willingly given as the men worked on the construction outside and the ladies created many of the inside amenities. An example is the creation of the communion kneelers which are all hand made. Growth continued with an extension of the narthex, addition of a cry room and library in 1987.

In 1999, the congregation began a year long celebration of its centennial year. On December 5, 1999, one hundred years to the day of the first congregational meeting, a festival worship service and fellowship dinner was held. Special centennial year projects included sponsoring Octavian Kissineme, a Lutheran seminary student from Tanzania, as a student-intern. On the building front, a capital fund campaign began in 1999 and continued through 2002. Funds received allowed the congregation to embark on an ambitious program that eventually doubled the square footage of our facilities and remodeled much of the existing structure. Beginning in the Fall of 2001, a majority of the work was completed in time for the September 29, 2002 Dedication Day.From these humble beginnings evolved the present Bethlehem Lutheran Church. God has been good and his blessings continue as we look forward to the 100th anniversary and the opportunity to provide spiritual growth in our expanding community. Praise be to God!