Who Are We?

Bethlehem Lutheran Church LC-MS

 History

 Bethlehem Lutheran is the first Lutheran Church in Colusa and was located at 1600 Wescott Road. Mr. And Mrs. Fred Dommer, of Colusa, deeded the property to the church. Bethlehem Lutheran has remained the only Lutheran church in Colusa County and is affiliated with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

Most of the material and labor for Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Colusa CA building was donated by the church members, except for some plumbing and electrical work. The building was dedicated on February 17, 1955. Vicar Norman Betke served the congregation from September 1956, to August 1958. The lighting in the sanctuary was installed in February 1975, and a new roof was put on in the fall of 1976. The Sanctuary light was given to Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Colusa CA by the confirmation class of 1994. The two rank pipe organ was given to Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Colusa CA in 1995, by Chapel of the Chimes, Alameda, CA.

Prior to Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Colusa CA incorporation in 1952, the members held their services in the Women's Club Hall on Oak Street, with Rev. Goehring, from Willows, officiating until 1954. Rev. Henry C. Ebeling arrived in October of 1954 and served until September 1956. The congregation was officially incorporated on March 16, 1955. Rev. Clarence Pickelman, who served from December 1958, to April 1965, was the first Lutheran pastor to reside in Colusa. After his death, Bethlehem Lutheran shared its pastors with the Gridley congregation.

The Rev. Val Hergasheimer of Gridley served approximately four years. Rev. John Stehr came in July 1969 to replace Rev. Hergasheimer and served Gridley and Colusa for two years, leaving in August 1971. Rev. Wilbur May came in December 1971, and retired in May 1989, also from Gridley.

Rev. David L. Bunting was installed as pastor for Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Colusa CA only, on August 13, 1989. Pastor Schedler serve as a vacancy pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Colusa CAafter pastor Bunting. Pastor Zabdi Lopez came from the PSWD in the LA area with his wife Elizabeth, daughter Hannah and mother Fabiana. He was installed as our new pastor in July 2010. Pastor Lopez is faithfully serving at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Colusa CA.

The Mary-Martha Society, made up of women members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Colusa CA, is designated to do Mission work for the needy and the handicapped, not only in Colusa, but also throughout the world.

Chronological Listing:

Pastors                                                           Service

Rev. Goehring                                              1952 - 1954

Rev. Henry C. Ebeling                                 1954 - 1956

Vicar Norman Betke                                   1956 - 1958

Rev. Clarence Pickelman                            1958 - 1965

Rev. Val Hergasheimer (Gridley/Colusa)   1965 - 1969

Rev. John Stehr (Gridley/Colusa)               1969 - 1971

Rev. Wilbur May (Gridley/Colusa)             1971 - 1989

Rev. David L. Bunting                                 1989 - 2007

Rev. Walt Schedler                                      2007 - 2010

Rev. Zabdi Lopez (Gridley/Colusa)             2010-Present