We welcome all children to our Sunday school program 3 yr. old – senior high. We strive to offer children a positive learning environment where their faith is nurtured and strengthened. We seek to model Christian community through safe, caring relationships and shared experiences among students, teachers, parents, pastors, and others in the congregation. Sunday school meets between the two worship services from 9:30 – 10:30 throughout the school year.
We invite children to participate in worship services and encourage their sense of belonging within our worshipping community. Children’s bulletins are available from the ushers. Children’s soft bags can be found in the entry area. “Taking Faith Home” inserts are added to the worship bulletin and are family-friendly devotions for the week ahead. A children’s message often precedes the sermon in the service.
Sunday morning child care – our Nursery is located on the lower level in the northeast wing of the parish ed building. We have child care for newborns to children age four throughout the morning.
Children’s Groups:
Little’s – Sunday school choir sings once a month during the late service under the direction of the Sunday school music director.
GYFTS (Growing Young Families Together Socially) events are planned throughout the year to give young children and their parents opportunities to connect with one another in a social setting.
VBS – Vacation Bible School is held for one week during the summer. Our 3, 4, and 5 year olds have a great time learning about Jesus through story, craft, music, snack and outdoor activities.
Parish Education Committee, is responsible for developing and supervising the education and programs for our children from infants through senior high school including Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Day Camp, Basket Bonanza, Confirmation, and the GYFTS program. The committee meets the last Thursday of each month at 6pm
Youth
Our Youth Ministry Mission Statement is: Cradled by... Gathering in God's presence Reaching out to those in need Accepted and forgiven Called to follow Jesus Encouraging others to join us
We have three youth groups at Bethlehem, one for senior high, one for middle school, and one for upper elementary. They are aptly named after Bible verses:
9:12 Cell Group, Weds 7:30-9 pm “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but those who are sick.” Matthew 9:12
6:8 Confirmation, Weds 6-7:30 pm “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8
Here are some details about our Confirmation program:
6th Grade with Pastor Paul: 10 Commandments and Old Testament
7th Grade with Pastor Kate: Lord’s Prayer, Apostles’ Creed, and New Testament
8th Grade with Pastor Matthew: Sacraments, Lutheranism, and Faith & Life
9th Grade: Expressions of Faith, Retreat, and Affirmation of Faith on Reformation Sunday
4:5 After School Program, 2nd & 4th Weds 3:30-5 pm “We proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:5
We are exploring the Exemplary Youth Ministry model. Studies have shown that basically nine things impact the faith of our youth [corresponding spiritual gifts are listed too]:
Trusted relationships [Exhortation]
Engaging Worship [Artistry, Music—Vocal or Instrumental, & Writing]
Focused Prayer [Intercession]
Small Groups [Faith]
Experiential Bible Study [Knowledge, Teaching, & Wisdom]
Service Projects [Evangelism, Mercy, Service, & Skilled Craft]
By the time our youth get confirmed, we expect them to be using their gifts to serve in the church AND in the world. We also provide ample opportunities for them to give, encouraging them to establish the habit of tithing early in life.
The Youth Team is responsible for developing and supervising educational programs, events, and activities for our youth starting in fourth grade through high school including fellowship opportunities, bible studies, mission trips, and funraising for local and global missions. The Youth Team meets the second Sunday of the month at 12:00p.m.
At Bethlehem we offer a variety of educational opportunities for adults that include bible studies and book groups. Sunday mornings we have Open Forum, an adult Christian educational program that features issues of faith and life, discussions lead by a pastor, or guest speaker. Open forum is held during the school year between worship services in the Chapel/Library.
Bible Studies
Young Adult Bible Study Sundays at 9:30a.m. meets in the large conference room at Bethlehem. A gathering for young adults (confrimed students through roughly age 35). We will meet starting on September 7 and discuss what we want to do as a group. We have a number of books or DVDs available, or we may want to do something totally different. It's up to us to decide what we want. Questions contact Becky Boyd at boyds@prtel.com or Pastor Matthew at pastormatthew@prtel.com.
Brown Bag & Bible is a Wednesday noon (12-1:00 p.m.) Bible study led by Pastor Paul. Participants are encouraged to bring their brown bag lunch and their Bibles. The longest book of the Bible – Psalms - is the ancient prayer/hymnal of God’s people in Old Testament times. The most familiar verses for Jews and Christians are found in this book of the Bible.The Bible Study will encourage this ancient and contemporary practice of prayer – the use of the Psalms. Participants will catalog the most important psalms for their lives and become more comfortable with the use of the psalms in personal and corporate prayer, perhaps even being inspired to compose their own. A recommended participant book is Eugene Peterson’s Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer.
Womens Tuesday morning Bible study meets at 9:30a.m. starting Sept. 23 for coffee, fellowship, and inspirational reading. This year they will be reading and talking about Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver; “Like Mary, you long to sit at the Lord’s feet, but the daily demands of a busy world just won’t leave you alone. Like Martha, you love Jesus and really want to serve him, yet you struggle with weariness, resentment, and feelings of inadequacy. Then Jesus comes into the midst of your busy life and extends the same invitation: to choose the better part.” (led by Pastor Kate)
Bethlehem WELCA Bible Study Sarah Circle 3rd Tues. at 2pm, Mary & Naomi Circles 3rd Thur. at 9:30am, Rachel 3rd Thur. at 1:00p.m., Martha Circle 3rd Thur. at 7pm. Bible Study Leaders meet in the large conference room the second Thursday of the month starting Sept. 11 at 4:15p.m. Each of the circles will be studying The Hidden Hand of God: Wisdom Stories from Ruth, Daniel, and Esther by Ann Fritschel and Gwen Sayler at Wartburg Seminary.The Lutheran Women Today Bible study looks carefully at three wisdom themes: hesed (the Hebrew word meaning loving loyalty, faithfulness or lovingkindness); heroic action (taking action for the sake of others that involves great risk); and the hidden hand of God (God’s presence and action) in each of these three books of the Bible. The two authors, Revs.Gwen Sayler and Ann Fritschel, teach at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, IA. (led by Pastor Kate)
There are two Men’s Bible study groups, one meets Monday’s at 7:00p.m. and is reading Mere Christianity. If you would like to join this group please contact Brad Skogen. The Other group meets Thursdays at 6:30a.m. and will be reading Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller this fall. If you would like to join this group contact Pastor Matthew Martin at pastormatthew@prtel.com.
Young Women’s Bible study and book club
Augustana Apartment Bible study/book club meets Mondays at 1:00p.m. and will start again Sept. 22 They will be reading and talking about the book Don’t Put a Period where God Puts a Comma, Self-Esteem for Christians by Nell W. Mohney. The eight sessions include discussions on being a new creation in Christ; the Christian value system; changing yourself on the inside and outside; attitudes that build up and those that are deadly; mental “termites”; learning how to live optimistically; and how faith enhances self-confidence. (led by Pastor Kate) Young Parent’s Bible Study Sundays at 6:30p.m. meets at the church starting Sept. 14 , and will be viewing the video and reading and discussing Parenting—the Early Years with Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott. Childcare will be provided.
Couple’s and Single’s Adult Bible Study Sundays at 7:00p.m. – the study on the Acts of the Apostles - Into the World (begins at Pr. Kate and Walt’s house – 516 N. Union - on Sun. Sept. 21.) Why study Acts? The Bible study’s author argues, “Acts is Luke’s extended description of the nature and purpose of the Christian church in all times and among all peoples. If we desire to know what the church is for, where its power and direction come from, and how to be the church today, Acts is the book to study!” We are being challenged to measure the church we know by Luke’s understanding of what God has called the church in all ages to be and to do.
Senior Ministry Bethlehem believes that we are never too old to live boldly and joyfully. We believe that we can set aside the misconceptions and myths about older adults. Bethlehem’s history is an active one with a variety of activities and ministries.
VSP (Very Special People) “55 and Better” is an organization of older folks who meet monthly for worship with Holy Communion, food, fellowship, and fun. The festive lunches in December and May and the field trips to interesting places are popular and looked-forward-to events. Women of the ELCA (WELCA) at Bethlehem Bethlehem’s WELCA involves all confirmed women of the church in Bible study, service projects, and fundraisers.
There are five circles that meet once a month for fellowship and Bible study. The women collect items for school, health, sewing, layette, and midwife kits to benefit Lutheran World Relief.
In the fall of the year, the women organize a bazaar and in the spring a salad luncheon to raise funds to support church projects and community needs. They also meet for dinner or brunch three times a year for special programs and in the middle of the summer for a picnic.
Bethlehem is part of Cluster 8 and attend (and take their turn hosting) fall and spring gatherings
Services in Mission/Social Action
Service in Mission awareness and opportunities are encouraged and supported in local and global contexts in the following ways.
Local
Habitat for Humanity
Fergus Falls Food Shelf
Meals by Wheels
Tree of Hope
Matthew House
Someplace Safe (Women’s crisis shelter)
Salvation Army (centered crisis and transient ministry)
Global
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Companion Synod Covenant between the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church-India and the NW MN Synod & Reach Orphanage
Operation Bootstrap Africa
Missionary support
Lutheran World Relief
Multiple Mission Trips have been made by Bethlehem members in recent years.
2008
Youth Mission trip to South Carolina
Youth Mission trip to Michigan
2007
Mission Trip to the Gulf Coast with the NW MN Synod / Lutheran Disaster Relief
2006
Mission Trip to the Gulf Coast with the NW MN Synod / Lutheran Disaster Relief
2005
Youth and Adult Mission trip to Alaska
Caring Ministry
Bethlehem promotes caring ministries within the congregation and beyond.
Parish nurses - The church employs two parish nurses who administer blood pressure checks, educate the congregation about health issues through the monthly newsletter, and participate in various events such as healing services throughout the year.
Stephen Ministry – Bethlehem has three trained Stephen Leaders and twenty-one Stephen Ministers who weekly visit people within and outside the congregation who are going through crises in their lives.
Friendly Visitors – Bethlehem has fifty-five home-bound seniors who enjoy a monthly visit from their “friendly visitor”.
Eucharistic Ministers – Bethlehem has an average of twelve – fifteen members who welcome Eucharistic ministers into their home Sunday morning who have directly from the Holy Communion service at church and distribute the sacrament to them.
Prayer Chain – Bethlehem has six prayer chains that receive prayer requests to pass the information along the chain of pray-ers.
Prayer shawls, Cards and Flowers, Christmas and Easter cards – Prayer shawls are knit and crocheted by members for people going through a crisis and then taken to them. They are wrapped in the shawl and in the prayers. Cards are sent to members at significant moments in their lives. Flowers are taken to members who are hospitalized. Christmas and Easter cards are sent to the home-bound members.
The pastors regularly schedule visits to the church’s home-bound members and give group communions to members living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Evangelism/Hospitality Ministry
Hospitality Ministry at Bethlehem is the "recognition that God comes to us through strangers and that by receiving another we open ourselves to the expanding message of an incarnate God." (Gerald Hoffman, Hospitable Community booklet, 1990, Augsburg/Fortress, p. 8)
We invite strangers to become friends at Bethlehem. "Hospitality is the very nature of God. To be of the body of Christ is to reflect an openness to receive others. We serve as Christ's hosts. Our status is a gift from a gracious God and is to be reflected in our lives." (Hoffman, p.10)
The primary focus of this ministry is to welcome new members who are making a transition into our community of faith. Twice each year we go through a formal time of welcome and entry. Throughout the year we practice relationship building, grow in Christian education, and participate in worship and service.
Sunday hospitality is another dimension of this ministry. Greeters, Food Servers, Church Bus Drivers, Eucharistic Ministers, Nursery Attendants, and Ushers all serve on Sundays throughout the year to welcome one another in Christ's name.
Worship & Music
Worship is central to the Christian life. Bethlehem’s Sunday worship gives shape to our week, rhythm to our life, and good news for our living. Word and Sacrament are the foundation for everything else that we do as Christians. We need the forgiveness God gives through Christ at the end of our week, and that same good news supports us throughout the following week until the next Sunday.
Bethlehem has a proud history of excellence in music. In recent years the music ministry has been enhanced and extended to include a Worship Team for the 10:45 Sunday worship, the remodeling of the Moeller Pipe Organ in 2007 & 2008, the addition of a Youth Worship Team, the periodic production of a youth musical, and a new sanctuary sound system.
Two distinct worship styles are offered at Bethlehem each Sunday morning. The 8:30 a.m. worship service is accompanied by the organ as the principle instrument, and the congregation sings traditional hymns and liturgies. The 10:45 a.m. worship service is contemporary in style and accompanied by a “worship team” playing guitars, drums, keyboard, violin, etc. All musicians have been using the new Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW) hymnal for hymns and liturgies. Additional contemporary worship resources are used by the worship team to supplement the hymnal.
Holy Communion is currently offered on the first and third Sundays of the month and all festival occasions.
Our worship service is broadcast on KBRF radio (1250 AM) every Sunday, at 8:30 a.m. and for special mid-week services during Christmas and Lent.
We invite children to participate in worship services and encourage their sense of belonging within our worshipping community. Children’s bulletins are available from the ushers. Children’s soft bags can be found in the entry area. “Taking Faith Home” inserts are added to the worship bulletin and are family-friendly devotions for the week ahead. A children’s message often precedes the sermon in the service.
Sunday morning child care – our Nursery is located on the lower level in the northeast wing of the parish ed building. We have child care for newborns to children age four throughout the morning.
Why Worship? Worship is the people of God using the human speech of adoration for God and is addressed to God. Worship is God’s language heard by the worshipping assembly to inspire us and to equip us to live out both our earthly and heavenly lives and to bear witness to the presence of God in our lives. Worship is ritual; it is practiced repetition that offers order into the chaos of human existence by providing stability and integrity at the beginning of our week. Worship is prayer because it encourages two-way communication with our God who created us, loves, and abides with us.
Current Issues: Age of communion – Bethlehem asks families with children to make an informed decision regarding their receiving of communion at an earlier age than the traditional 5th grade class model. The pastors will continue to teach the 5th grade class about Holy Communion, and the congregation welcomes all youth who have received instruction to the communion table.
Frequency of communion – The leadership of Bethlehem is in the process of examining the current practice of frequency of communion. Requests for more frequent communion are being taken seriously, as this is the central service in worship for Lutheran Christians.
Music Groups
Jubilee Choir: The Jubilee Choir is Bethlehem’s adult choir. The choir provides special music and worship leading at the 8:30 worship service. They also present a Christmas and Easter Cantata each year. The Jubilee Choir meets weekly at 7pm in the balcony. No audition is needed!
Triple Trio: The Triple Trio is Bethlehem’s women’s ensemble. It is comprised of 9 ladies and just celebrated it’s 20th Anniversary! The Triple Trio provides special music a the 8:30a.m. worship service once a month.
Worship Team: The Bethlehem Worship Team is a worship band that leads music at the 10:45 Worship Service. The band rehearses each Wednesday at 8pm in the Sanctuary and is always looking for new members. The worship team will also be offering a pre-service sing-along starting this fall in the sanctuary at 10:30.
The Littles: The Littles are our 3 year old through 4th grade Sunday School children. They enjoy a music time during the Sunday School hour and also provide special music once a month at the 10:45 Worship Service.
New Life Choir: The New Life Choir is open to young people in grades 1-5. It meets once per week and performs during the 10:45 church service once per month. Weekly rehearsal times will be from 5:15-5:45 p.m. on Wednesday nights and are held in the sanctuary. A New Life Choir Christmas Concert is held at the Broen Home Light and Life Auditorium in December and is a chance for the group to showcase many of their favorite tunes. An end of the year pizza party in mid May is a great way that we top off the year!! A New Life Choir t-shirt is provided to all participants. Students are encouraged to move, dance and sing God's praise while learning some great Christian songs! All 1st-5th graders who have a desire to sing are encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Beth Monke at 739-9366
Middle School Musical: Once every two years, the Middle School students at Bethlehem have the opportunity to audition for and perform in a musical. Generally, rehearsals begin in mid February and performances are in April. Performance week generally includes 6 performances in Fergus Falls at various locations and one weekend overnight at a church in Moorhead that includes a Sunday morning performance as well. Musicals are light-hearted, but with a powerful message and have been a wonderful evangelical tool in our community. For more information, contact Beth Monke at 739-9366
Bethlehem Brass: The Bethlehem Brass provides excellent special music at Christmas and Easter and also special Sundays throughout the year.
Altar Guild: The work of the Altar Guild is to assist in creating and maintaing a climate of worship for the congregation. Through our worship service, we seek the message of the Gospel of Christ and respond to it. The preaching, liturgy, administering of the Sacrament all are for the primary purpose of communicating this message and responding to it. The communication is two-way, from God to us and from us to God. We build our churches, furnish our chancels in such a way as to help this communication. The flowers, candles, altar hangings with their symbols are not just decorations. Each is meaningful, and it is the duty of the Guild members to help members of the congregation understand the symbolism in their own church.
Stewardship
Stewardship, Finance, Lay Ministry Coordination, and Interpretation Ministries join together in regular planning to coordinate the ministry from Bethlehem’s Mission Center. Responsibilities include fall mission support commitment (Consecration Sunday style), Time & Talent invitations and coordination, communication and interpretation for the congregation and community, and assessment of financial situations and goals.
