BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN CHURCH
OUR MINISTRIES
Our worship does not just happen in the sanctuary of our church building. We worship God by being the living body of Christ in the world as we serve our neighbors near and far. If you are interested in learning more about these ministries, contact us.
Mission Transformation Teams
Our congregation has selected three areas of priority for mission and service in our community. Each mission transformation team works with ministries in our congregation to help them focus on our special mission areas, as well as sponsoring events which serve our community at large. Our Mission Transformation Teams are: Poverty Mission Team, Mental Health Mission Team, Intergenerational Youth Ministry Mission Team.
Family Promise
Bethlehem is blessed to be the Day Center of Family Promise of Skagit Valley, a nonprofit that serves homeless children and their families. Bethlehem serves both as the Day Center and as a night host for Family Promise. As the night host, we provide private bedrooms and meals for 3-4 families without homes four times a year (11 other churches rotate with us as night hosts). As the Day Center, we provide offices for the Family Promise director and case worker, as well as showers and laundry facility, lounge, nursery, and play and work space for the Family Promise families from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, 7 days a week. The Day Center is a vital resource for families as they get back on their feet and find long term jobs and housing. Bethlehem partners closely with the Family Promise staff and families, and considers them all a part of our church family, whether they worship with us or not.
Children, Youth, Confirmation
Our Youth Group for teens meets Tuesday evenings as part of our GROW program. Youth are active leaders in our congregation, helping lead worship not just at our youth-led services, but every Sunday morning. Our youth are involved in service ministry in our community and recently did a servant trip working in Houston, Texas. We participated in the ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston in July of 2018 where we experienced inspirational speakers, bible study, classes, Christian contemporary music, and service projects around the Houston metropolitan area. Our youth can't wait for the next Gathering in Minnesota in 2021.
Our Confirmation Program meets on the second Sunday of the month following worship. This is an opportunity for preteens and teens to meet for two years of intensive and intentional Christian faith formation. They grow deeper in faith and learn to put their faith into action. Our next two year confirmation program will begin in the fall of 2019, with any youth grades 6 and up.
Children are highly involved in our worship service where they serve as ushers, candle-lighters, and communion servers. There is a special children's message every Sunday service. We also have a special worship space for toddlers in the back of our sanctuary where they have a bit more space to spread out and move!
Bible Studies & Small Groups
We have Bible Studies that meet weekly and throughout the month. Our groups are always open to new participants. Our pastor leads a weekly bible study on Sundays at 8:45 am during the school year.
We currently have one women's group that meets monthly. Our evening Women of the ELCA group is the second Monday of each month for bible study or a book study.
Hospitality Ministry
Hospitality is a ministry of all the people of Bethlehem. We welcome all people with a smile and warm greeting, providing refreshments following worship as well as meals on the first Sunday of each month during the school year. Our hospitality ministry includes refreshments or meals following memorial services and funerals that are held at Bethlehem.
Property Ministry
We consider our property as a gift from God for the service of our community. We have a dedicated group of volunteers who work tirelessly to help keep our building and grounds beautiful and welcoming. Join them any Wednesday morning at 9:00 followed by lunch together at Joy's Bakery.
Quilting and Project Linus
Bethlehem has many talented crafters who create beautiful quilts and blankets to warm the bodies and spirits of people going through trauma / illness and in celebration of their baptisms.
Quilters with a Bible meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6pm (not in July and August) for bible study and a monthly quilt block. This group also creates blankets for Project Linus, a ministry to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need.
Skagit County Chapter of Project Linus is housed within our building. Many women sew, quilt, crochet and knit wonderful blankets for distribution to children ages birth to 18 who have been traumatized. Contact Teri Bever for more information. Blankets are blessed once or twice a year when the sanctuary is filled with beautiful, loving pieces of art.
Worship & Music Ministry
Our choir, musicians, and worship leaders help make our worship life more joyful and meaningful. The Bethlehem Choir sings seasonally during Advent and Holy Week and on special occasions. They typically rehearse before or after worship the month prior to singing. Our many gifted musicians praise God through their instruments and voices through special music on a regular basis. Our Worship and Music team helps to equip more people to share their gifts during worship. We are always looking for children and adults who would like to serve as ushers, greeters, readers, communion servers, musicians, and prayer leaders.
Wood Cutting and Delivery
A dedicated group of men from Bethlehem meet regularly to cut wood and deliver it to low-income families in the Skagit Valley to help them heat their homes during the cold and wet winter months. Referals for wood are made via Community Action of Skagit County. Please contact them if you are in need of wood to heat your home.