Fall City Methodist celebrates 100th Christmas

This year, Fall City United Methodist Church will be celebrating

its 100th year of worshiping Christmas Eve together with the

surrounding community. As part of the commemoration, the congregation invites

Valley residents to join them for both Christmas Eve services, the 7 p.m.

family service and the 10 p.m. candlelight communion service.

In April 1889, Charles Cooper of North Bend built a church in what

was then Falls City. Most of the materials came by boat up the Snoqualmie

River from Everett and Seattle, while local mills on Tokul Creek and other

locations provided the lumber. The church was dedicated in August of that

year, with the Rev. Morgan as minister.

The church was originally built for the Baptist congregation of Falls

City. They celebrated their first Christmas service in 1889, decorating the

sanctuary using cedar and holly and Douglas fir from the area.

The church fell on hard times in 1913. The Rev. Hyler, a supply

minister from North Bend, went to New York to help the church solve the

situation, but he was refused and came home empty handed.

According to the story, he wrote a letter stating the Baptist church

would either have to become a tavern or a Methodist church. The people of

Falls City chose the lesser of two evils, and the historic old church has been

affiliated with the Methodists ever since. During the 1920s, it was moved

from its corner lot across the street to where it sits today.

Hyler can rest easy because the church passed its 100th year,

and Christmas will be celebrated for the 100th time this year. The Rev.

Laura L. Dahlstrom, minister for Fall City United Methodist, advises both

services will be filled with the familiar story from Luke's Gospel, music

and praise for the light God brought into a dark and despairing world, through

the birth of his son Jesus Christ, on this holy night.

"All are welcome to come and celebrate with us," she adds. "We will

be ending a century and a millennium together in one grand worship

experience! Blessed Christmas to all!"

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