About - Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Bethlehem Lutheran Church was founded in 1958 and moved to its current location in 1960. The new sanctuary was completed in 1979 and the nine room Koiner Education Wing was dedicated in 1993. Located in western Lynchburg, its six acres provide space for future growth and ministry.

Pastor Rosemary Backer was called to Bethlehem in the fall of 2002. Pastor Rosemary graduated from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg in 1999 with a Master of Divinity degree.

Important Dates

1957 Pastor Frank P. Cauble called as Mission Developer
1958 Nov. 2 Bethlehem Lutheran Church officially organized
1959 Pastor Frank P. Cauble installed by Dr. J. L. Mauney
1960 Land purchased for site of the new church building
1961 Groundbreaking service conducted
1962 First service held in the new sanctuary
1967 Parish House purchased
1971 Pastor J. S. Koiner called, Pastor Cauble retires
1979 Pastor Larry W. Matthew begins serving as third pastor
1979 Ground breaking for new sanctuary
1980 Dedication service for new sanctuary
1986 Pastor John Herman begins serving as fourth pastor
1987 Walker pipe organ installed; sanctuary renovations
1988 30th Anniversary service; all 4 pastors of BLC participate
1992 Cauble Hall renovations
1993 Educational wing dedicated in honor of Pastor Koiner
1997 First Intern, Vicar Rosemary Backer begins internship year
1997 First PACE Lay Ministers commissioned
1998 Picnic Pavilion, Eagle Scout project of Nicholas Hundstad, is dedicated in memory of Wayne Westphal
1998 Deb Tenny commissioned as part-time Christian Ed Director
1998 40th Anniversary and "Rekindle the Gifts of God" appeal
1999 Pastor Rosemary Backer ordained and installed as Associate Pastor
1999 Council Retreat-God's vision "Called to invite the community to know and grow in Christ"
2000 Pastor John on sabbatical; Small groups studying the vision
2001 March 1 A New Song Contemporary Worship begins
2001 VIT Team studies the Leadership Team Structure
2002 Jan. New structure; suspended rules of Constitution
2002 Pastor John Herman and Pastor Rosemary Backer resign
2002 Pastor Rosemary Backer called as Senior Pastor
2003 Parking Lot paved
2003 Heifer, Inc. purchased an ark
2004 New Constitution and By-Laws based on Leadership Team

Pastors

The Rev. Frank P. Cauble February 1959 January 1971
The Rev. J. S. Koiner July 1971 November 1978
The Rev. Larry W. Matthews June 1979 July 1985
The Rev. John D. Herman January 1986 June 2002
The Rev. Rosemary W. Backer January 1999
The Rev. Matthew Diehl, November 2007

PACE
Prayer, Availability, Contact and Example. Intentional care ministry based on the book, Can the Pastor Do It Alone? Gina Hyres and Mary Beth Rank are Shepherds/Coordinators. Susan Baughman reports on contacts

ORGANIZATIONS
Central Virginia Area Agency on Aging (CVAAA) 3024 Forest Hills Circle Lynchburg, VA 24501 Provides meals and essential services such as transportation and homemaker assistance that allows seniors to live independently.

Daily Bread
721 Clay Street Lynchburg, VA 24504 845.5703 A soup kitchen where the needy can be fed one nutritious meal per day at no cost in a Christian atmosphere and be given shelter for a portion of the day.

Free Clinic of Central VA
Provides medical, dental and pharmaceutical services to the uninsured and under insured. Arlette Stanecker volunteers her nursing skills, Carol Birce has been a volunteer and staff member. The clinic celebrates its 20th year of service to Central Virginia this year (2007).

Gateway-New Samaritan Inns
300 12th Street P.O. Box 1255 Lynchburg, VA 24505 846.3311 Gateway houses men who are in transition (across from the armory down from the YMCA). We provide the meal to the men at the Gateway House on the 2nd Thursday of each month. A schedule is posted in the hallway.

Gideons
Gideon Lynchburg South Camp P.O. Box 4723 Lynchburg, VA 24502 The Gideons provides God's written word, the Holy Bible throughout the world.

Habitat for Humanity
1117 Virginia Street Lynchburg, VA 24504 528.3774 Builds homes for the poor. Lynchburg has built 237 homes since 1988.

Heifer, Inc.
BLC raised $5000 for the purchase of their first ark. The SCS continues to raise money to work toward a second ark.

Helping Hands part of Timberlake Area Ministries
The ministry provides clothing and bed and bath linen to those in need. Judy Friel is the coordinator. Participating churches: Bethlehem Lutheran; St. Andrew Presbyterian; St. Thomas More (Roman Catholic); Timberlake United Methodist; Covenant Presbyterian; Grace Episcopal. Volunteers are always needed to help sort donations and to serve clients.

Interfaith Outreach Association
701 Clay Street P.O. Box 1125 Lynchburg, VA 24505 846.6098 Offers a hand-up with financial assistance for rent, utilities and other emergencies. Offers food for those who need assistance.

Johnson Health Center
A federally qualified community health center (not the free clinic). Patients pay as they are able on a sliding scale.

Kid's Haven: A Center for Grieving Children
P.O. Box 3508 Lynchburg, VA 24503

Knitters and Prayers
A group of women from BLC and from the community meet on the first and third Saturday mornings from 9 to 12 to knit, crochet, talk and pray. The prayer shawls, lap robes, scarves and other creations go to folks who need a warm hug whether it be a sad or joyous occasion. We welcome anyone who would like to join us.

Meds Help
(part of Johnson Health Center) (provide medicine for low income) 320 Federal Street Lynchburg, VA 24504 947.5137

Scrappers
Quilts are sent to Church World Service in New Windsor, MD.

The Compassionate Friends
For people who have lost children or siblings to death by illness, suicide, accidents. The local chapter is now run out of Centra Health at VBH.

T.E.A.M. Timberlake Emergency Assistance Ministry
Provides non-perishable and perishable food to those in need. Member church’s volunteers rotate taking calls and serving on an 8 week schedule. Participating churches: St. Thomas More (Roman Catholic), St. Andrew Presbyterian, Timberlake Christian (Disciples of Christ), Timberlake United Methodist, Covenant Presbyterian, Heritage United Methodist and Marsh Memorial. (Of course, BLC). The TEAM Food Pantry is located in Covenant Presbyterian Church. Schedule is kept on secretary’s bulletin board. Betty Schaefer coordinates for BLC. Food and payments to Food Lion, whom we have a charge account with, are all provided by donations from member churches, other area churches and a grant.