320.963.3592
7809 County Road 35 W
Middleville Township
Annandale, Minnesota
2005 -2024
Pastor Machula answered our call to be our vacancy pastor after Pastor Bendix's resignation. In January of 2012 the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod recognized Pastor Machula as a called Pastor to Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
The congregation celebrated the church's 135th Anniversary on October 27, 2014. Pastor Machula had a special sermon to celebrate the occasion. Following the service everyone enjoyed a chicken dinner catered by Elbows Allowed from Cokato.
On June 4, 2017 we bid farewell to Pastor Machula and Sandy as Pastor began his retirement. Many of Pastor and Sandy's friends, relatives and former church members attended the service and the potluck dinner.
Pastor Machula's Retirement Day
Pastor Lynn Machula and Sandy Machula
Congregation singing along with Pastor Machula after the worship service
(June 4, 2017 - his last day as Bethlehem's Pastor)
Bethlehem entered into a dual parish agreement with Hosanna Lutheran Church in Buffalo. On Sunday, June 11, 2017, Pastor Rob Jarvis was installed as Bethlehem's Pastor and during the first hymn the power went out and the church went dark because of a thunderstorm. Rev. Bob Schulze, Executive Assistant to the MN South District President, installed Pastor Jarvis using the light from his cell phone to read. Following the service, everyone enjoyed coffee and treats in the church basement by candle light.
In October 2022, Pastor Jarvis left Bethlehem when he accepted a call to serve at the University Lutheran Chapel in Boulder, Colorado.
Pastor Rob Jarvis
Retired Pastor Thomas Queck along with Pastor Mark Loder and Vicar Michael Speckhard (St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake) filled in as vacancy pastors until May 26th, 2024. During the vacancy period, renovations and upgrades were made to the parsonage. Some of the bigger projects included the restoration of the original hardwood floors throughout the house, a new tiled floor entry, LVP flooring installed in the kitchen, upper level bathroom upgraded to a full bath, fresh paint, new trim, and ceiling fans and closet shelving added to each room. The chimney stack and radiators were also removed as they were no longer in use.
