Welcome to our church community, we are glad you are visiting! Our mission is to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ in faith, unity, maturity, and knowledge.

Bethlehem Lutheran has a rich history dating back to October, 1868 when The Swede Grove Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation was organized and began meeting in area homes. Services were conducted in homes until October, 1869 when a church site was decided upon. The Reverend T.H. Dahl was the first pastor and on October 17, 1870 the name of the new congregation was changed to Trondhjem Congregation of Meeker County, Minnesota. This church was initially located one and half miles east of Atwater in Acton Township.

In February of 1885 a vote was taken to move the church to the town of Atwater. This location was one block west of the present church. The present church site was dedicated in October 1917, with Dr. T.H. Dahl assisted by the reverends J.N. Anderson, Sotendahl, Weeks, N.J. Njus, Engel Olson, Dr. O. M. Norlie, and the congregations pastor, Johannes Hoifjeld in attendance.

Sunday morning worship services were held in Norwegian until January 1927 when English was used for Sunday morning and Norwegian services were later held in the afternoon. In the mid 1930’s Norwegian services were replaced entirely by English. The church remains tied to its deep heritage and history yet today.

We are a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America .