New to Bethlehem?

Welcome! We're glad you found us. Here are a few ways for you to get to know Bethlehem and for Bethlehem to get to know you.

On Sundays, join us for Worship! Morning services are at 8:00, 9:00, 10:15, and 11:30. Or come to Holden Evening Prayer, a service of Holy Communion, offered at 7:00 pm each week.

Childcare-Nursery available at 9:00, 10:15 and 11:30 services.

Sunday School, Confirmation, and Senior High discussions at 9:00 and 10:15 on Sunday mornings.

Stop at the Welcome Center for information and directions!

Interested in joining? We have a membership process which helps you explore where you are on your faith journey and how Bethlehem can help you take the next steps.

Wednesday Church Night provides opportunities for Junior High, Senior High and adult learning, and choir for all ages. You can have supper here, too, from 5:45 to 6:30! (No reservations necessary.) Join us!

Connecting Point is a great, short-term way to check out small groups.

Contact the staff with any questions or comments.

Receive Livewire or The Beacon

Group Ministries

Whether they gather around a study, a shared interest, neighborhood or life stage - a group is a great place to make connections at church and take a next step of faith.  The point of groups is to pursue healthy lives together though significant connections, service, prayer, learning and reaching beyond ourselves. 

Check Out Connecting Point

A comfortable, short-term way to experience a slice of small group life for six weeks. Develop friendships with others and explore the dynamics of community, your faith and your next steps. New groups launch each season.

Explore Other Connecting Opportunities

In addition to groups, you'll find opportunities to connect and develop friendships at Bethlehem through classes, events, ministry teams and existing groups.

Existing Groups

Looking for a group for shared interest or life stage? Here are some groups we already have going. Contact Wendy for more information or contact numbers, wosman@bethlehem-church.org.

• Women's Groups
  BLCW (Bethlehem
  Lutheran Church Women) Circles
  LOCA (Ladies of a Certain Age)
  Moms' Bible Study    
• Parents of Teens
• Discovering Parenthood (parents of babies and toddlers)
• Sailing
• PEP Club
• Book Groups 
• WWII Veterans
• Quilters Group
• Knitters Groups
• Crosstown (young adults)

Bethlehem Sails the Apostle Islands

This Summer you are invited to join Bethlehem's sailing ministry on the beautiful waters of Lake Superior's Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. July 18-20 or September 12-14. Be sure to sign up for the July trip by May 31.  (video)

Whether you've sailed all your life, sailed with us before, or have never been on a boat, this will be a trip you will enjoy and remember. Join Bethlehem members and friends on a 3-day cruise aboard a group of 34 to 38 foot boats where you will learn the skill of sailing, make friends, and grow in faith. Each trip boards Thursday night, sleeps aboard and sails Friday through Sunday afternoon.

• July 18 - 20, 2008
• September 12 - 14, 2008

For a taste of the adventure, our promotional video is available here. (video link)

Call 612 760 0973 or 651 632 1303, for more information, or register on-line.

Greetings Sailors!

STUFF YOU NEED TO KNOW

HOW DOES THIS TRIP WORK?

We will be sailing 3, 4 or 5 boats out of Bayfield, WI, all 34-38 feet long. They each sleep six people to 10 people, have bathrooms (the head) and kitchens (the galley). This is sailing in-style on fine boats among some of the most beautiful cruising waters and wilderness islands in the world. Each boat has a charter-certified skipper from Bethlehem or a Bethlehem friend; including Jeff LeMunyon, Carl Craven, Kris Meyer, Jill Olsen, Tim Kunau, Dan Nelson, Joan Nelson, Charlie Stark, Dave Linnes-Bagley and John Haugen. We will teach you about handling sails and lines, navigation, taking the helm, you name it. We will also be sharing chores of cooking, clean up, etc., but we'll keep that simple. Don't worry, this is vacation!

While these boats are very luxurious, they are cozy. You won't have a personal space or room, and sometimes one gets a single berth, other times we share doubles. During the trip there is a lot of great sailing, spending nights at anchor, 19th century lighthouses, mile long beaches, sea caves, wildlife, great company, food and just a great chance to relax away from the routines of life. We also have a light, but very meaningful spiritual component to the trip that will enhance the meaning of the experience for you.
QUESTIONS?

CONTACT: Charlie Stark, 612.822.4129 or 651.632.1303.

TRAVEL DETAILS: We have possession of the boats beginning the Thursday afternoon before each trip. But we can't leave the harbor until Friday morning. We need you to arrive in Bayfield anytime (even late at night) on the Thursday before we set sail. We then sleep aboard the boat (i.e. no hotel costs).

You will be arriving in Bayfield under one of the two scenarios below. I need to know which before we go so that I know when to expect you.

PLAN #1 - Drive up early on Thursday, help buy groceries and ready the boats and enjoy Bayfield (it's a wonderful and scenic village!) and eat in town (your expense). Sleep aboard and leave ASAP on Friday a.m.

PLAN #2 - Drive up after work on Thursday evening, sleep aboard and set sail on Friday a.m. Please try to arrive by 9 or 9:30, if possible, so that we can hold Ground School that night.

Consider coming up early and help the skippers get the boats ready.

GENERAL ITINERARY

Thursday: For those who are able, arrive in Port Superior (just south of Bayfield, directions below) by about 2 p.m., prepare the boats and board. Others drive up that evening. Meals Thursday at your own expense! We will have an important Ground School about 9 p.m. or so at Port Superior.

Friday: Breakfast aboard as we set sail. Lunch & dinner aboard. Rendezvous with other boats later in afternoon to anchor for the night. Devotion material is done boat-by-boat during day, and as a whole group in evening; same Saturday.

Saturday: Sail all day, explore beaches, lighthouses, islands as you wish. All meals aboard. Gather with other boats for evening, sleep at anchor.

Sunday: Large group communion service in morning. Sail until mid-afternoon. Return to Port Superior 3-4 p.m., clean out boats and leave Bayfield in late afternoon. Have dinner in Bayfield or on way home at your own expense. Arrive Mpls 10 p.m. or so.

DRIVING TIME & DIRECTIONS:

Mpls to Bayfield... about 4½ hours, if you drive like I do. Kinda fast... It's a nice drive. I-35 to Duluth, across to Superior on Hwy 2, then just beyond Superior, WI take Hwy 13 South (but it starts out heading north, go figure) across the tip of Wisconsin to Bayfield. Port Superior is 3 miles south of Bayfield on Hwy 13. There is only a small sign there, and it is only a marina. You can also stay on Hwy 2 East out of Superior and turn north (left) on Hwy 13 just before Ashland. Port Superior is about 3 miles before you get to Bayfield, just after the fish hatchery.

At the Marina look for the bulletin board beside the double glass door entrance of the Port Side Restaurant for information about where the boats are and where we all might be. Those doors are also the side entrance to the Superior Charters office in the same building.

STUFF YOU NEED TO BRING

• A soft-sided duffelbag for gear.
• 1 pr. white or crepe soled shoes to wear when aboard (absolutely required).
• 1 pr. shoes for shore; tennies, Tevas, or day-hikers, etc.
• 2-3 prs warm socks. Polyester is best.
• Rain jacket or suit (ponchos don't work well), rain pants or wind pants too if you have them!
• Sweatsuit, sweater or jacket (polarfleece is great!).
• Shorts, T's, 1 turtleneck, pair of gloves for warmth and handling lines if you would like that, and a knit hat (especially for September trips).
• At least 1 pr long pants. (Warning: Jeans dry slowly. Bring light pair or windpants.)
• Sunblock 30+, sunglasses. The light reflection off the water can be intense in all seasons.
• Swimsuit, Hat with brim.
• Toiletries, towel, washcloth, flashlight. (For environmental reason we'll have biodegradeable soap/shampoo for use on board. You can use your own shampoo on shore or at the marina before we leave on Friday a.m.)
• Book to read, pen, pencil, playing cards, cribbage board, whatever you want.
• Camera, film CDs tapes (all optional). Boats have radios, cassette/CD players.
• Sleeping bag & pillow. (Need not fit in duffel bag).
• Seasick prone? Bring some non-drowsy Dramamine or patches. Many people have reported that the wrist pressure bands work well for them, but don't worry, we will work hard to avoid conditions that promote seasickness.
• Beer & wine are welcome in moderation, but respect those who choose to not have any alcohol by not presuming everyone wants to drink.

There is no shopping available once we leave the marina. Souvenirs available in Bayfield.

Remember to layer clothing, temperatures vary widely and quickly on the lake. September trips are likely to have cooler temps than August. But boats are warm inside at night. You will receive a heavyweight, cotton Bethlehem Sailing long sleeve mock T-shirt. You can count on it as part of your clothing for the trip.

STUFF I NEED TO KNOW FROM YOU

Email, call or use on-line registration:

• Your name, phone and email (if possible) and which trip.
• Payment in full is required to hold your reservation. Total cost: $350/person.
• Is there a person(s) that you want to be sure to be on your boat? Let us know.
• Do you have any special dietary or medical needs? Let me know. None of these should be a problem, but I need to know in advance.
• Will you be arriving at Port Superior on Plan #1 or #2? (see above).
• Can you drive and can take other riders? Or would you like a ride with someone else?
• What size shirt do you want? Let us know your best guess. We'll bring extras.

MISCELLANEOUS: EMERGENCY CONTACT

is possible while we are sailing. For real emergencies you can call Superior Charters, Inc. (1.800.772.5124) and have them radio to any of our boats, they will know which ones the Bethlehem group is using. If no answer at Superior Charters call the Apostle Islands Marina in Bayfield or the National Park Service headquarters in Bayfield or the U.S. Coast Guard in Bayfield (715.779.5100). They can all radio our boats, which monitor radio broadcasts throughout the day.

This trip will be fun and exciting, but also very safe. Every boat has all necessary navigation and safety equipment, and every skipper has plenty of experience in the Apostle Islands. There is always some awesome sailing, and we have some fabulous places to show you, including some neat surprises!

Bethlehem WWII Vets and Friends Visit Camp Ripley

LOCA

LOCA (Ladies of a Certain Age) is a group of Bethlehem women who gather together to support each other as we grow in faith, offer service to the church and community at large, and participate in social activities.

Our meetings on the first Monday evening of each month focus on faith development. We have participated in Bible studies, watched an discussed films from the Nooma series, and read contemporary nonfiction such as Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love."

For the past 2 1/2 years, we have prepared and served a monthly dinner at the women's shelter of Simpson Housing Services. We also serve coffee at Bethlehem on the first Sunday of each month and use the proceeds to support programs of Simpson House, the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, and Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry. We alternate service projects with social activities including a progressive dinner, movies, museum visits and theater performances.

If you are interested in learning more or joining our group, please contact Carole Peterson or Linda Korman.

Moms' Bible Study

Be a part of Moms' Ministry this year. Groups now meeting Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30-11:00 am in Langemo Lounge. Childcare is available. Questions call Amy Rimington or contact Wendy Osman, wosman@bethlehem-church.org.

Parents of Teens

Parents of Teens is a group of men and women with teenaged children. We generally meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month, with a break over the summer. We discuss the issues, challenges and concerns we face as we parent our teens to adulthood. And we celebrate the humor and joy of the journey! We often choose a book to use in our discussions.

PEP Club

PEP (People Enjoying People) Club meets monthly and enjoys a variety of very interesting programs. Most meetings are on the evening of the second Saturday. Bulletin announcements, Beacon articles and flyer mailings will notify members.

Our service project is serving coffee, donut holes, and donuts on Sunday mornings in the Gallery and Iverson Hall.

This past year the Club donated $5,000 in proceeds to a number of different worthwhile projects.

If you would like to volunteer serving with an experienced PEP Club member please call Nancy Garwick.

We are grateful to the PEP Club members who volunteer each Sunday morning and to Bethlehem members who enjoy their efforts and make voluntary contributions for coffee and donuts. Your generosity makes it possible to fund many worthwhile projects. Fellowship is one of the purposes of our church.

Won’t you come and participate in this outstanding Bethlehem social organization?

PEP Club Movie Night
Saturday, January 12,
6:30 pm in Cinema featuring Sweetland

Winner of multiple film festival awards, "Sweetland" is a haunting tale of love, struggle and endurance and offers a view of this country often overlooked by the history books.

Inge is a feisty German mail-order bride who has come to Minnesota to marry Olaf, a young Norwegian immigrant farmer of few words. But in a post WWII, anti-German climate, the difficulties faced by the couple from a variety of the townspeople sets the stage for a moving and compelling story.

Join us for a wonderful movie and yummy refreshments.

Connecting Point

Find a place to Connect, Relax and Recharge

Connecting Point is a comfortable, short-term way to experience a slice of small group life for six weeks. Develop friendships with others and explore the dynamics of community, your faith and your next steps. 

Changed Lives

Life-Changing Stories from Small Groups

Susan's story:

We gathered hopefully and hesitantly at Bethlehem Lutheran on a cold Tuesday night in January, each of us in various stages of hurting, healing, hoping and seeking. None of us knew quite what to expect, but all of us were willing to dive in and let God's plan for us unfold.  At that first meeting, I sensed a lot of energy, chemistry and optimism within our all-female group.  I also sensed a lot of deep personal history and the energy of our group grew and became more intimate and powerful the more we shared our personal (hi)stories. This is an unintended pun, but appropriate nonetheless. Little time elapsed between our greetings and the telling of our stories. We might as well have said, "Hi, this is my story."  That night each of us told our "Hi Stories".

The common thread through each story was a desire for a closer relationship with God, a greater understanding of that relationship and a group of friends with whom to ponder and discuss spiritual matters.  To some extent, it seemed that we had all struggled to understand ourselves, our lives and our relationships. Now we were turning with increased attention and focus to something higher and greater than all of this - either as a means to finally understand it all or to render the understanding of it all unnecessary.

This was one group of strong, passionate and courageous women, as I discovered.   Collectively, we are an ex-corporate PR executive turned aspiring organic dairy farmer, a poetry-writing marketing and strategy manager, an academic advisor considering a switch to corporate HR, two tri-athletes, two aspiring tri-athletes, a soon-to-be CPA...As it turned out, each of us was able to lend strength, courage and support to each other in various ways and for various reasons whenever one of us needed an infusion. Not only were we able to inspire each other with our own strength and love, we were able to remind each other of God's strength and love.  I truly believe that God brought us together intentionally - and that in ways that maybe even we are individually unaware of, we served some of his purposes through our participation in the Connecting Point Group.          

I don't mind sharing some of the more personal details of my own story. I hadn't actually been to church at all in a long time before I started coming to Bethlehem Lutheran. This new habit started on December 31^st, 2006 and was an attempt to deal with a personal crisis. I was falling deeper into a depression that was affecting every aspect of my life. I would show up at church every Sunday, sit in the back or off to the side in a corner by myself, and cry through most of the service. On one occasion, Pastor Beth came down the aisle to wish peace to the congregants and to shake their hands. She looked into my sniveling face, into my tearful eyes, shook my hand, smiled and said, "Peace be with you".  

I eventually spoke to Beth directly about what I was going through and she prayed with me and for me. Toward the end of our conversation, she mentioned the upcoming Connecting Point Groups, but quickly suggested that maybe I wasn't ready for that. The seed had been planted in my mind, however. I had begun attending church again because for the first time in my life perhaps since I was a little girl, I felt that I had a relationship with God. In fact, I felt that I had never had a relationship with God like the one I was now cultivating and enjoying. Yet I lacked friends with whom I could talk about God and I wanted and needed someone with whom to ponder the many questions this new relationship with God had raised and would continue to raise for me. So, I showed up shyly and cautiously that cold, dark Tuesday night for the inaugural Connecting Point small group meetings.

The first member of my group that I met was Maryanne. It was strange to learn that we had BOTH just moved back to Minneapolis, that we had BOTH just moved from Connecticut and that we were both attending Bethlehem Lutheran because that is where we used to worship with our significant others. And, as it turns out, each of us was mourning the loss of that significant other - the one that had introduced us to Bethlehem Lutheran in the first place. There were too many coincidences for me NOT to believe that God had brought us together intentionally.

Week after week, Heidi, Linae, Monica, Miriam, Nicole, Maryanne, Andrea and I eagerly looked forward to our two hours together to watch a Nooma video, eat Monica's homemade cookies, discuss the message and meaning of the Nooma, and trade viewpoints, experiences, advice and the occasional recipe. It wasn't long before we were sharing hugs, smiles, tears and dating advice along with our perspectives on all things spiritual. Together, we helped each other deal with depression, divorce, death, family difficulties, professional ambivalence if not outright disillusionment and a general seeking of meaning and purpose in life. We discussed free will vs. God's will, we volunteered at Feed My Starving Children and we started a Yahoo Online Group Forum for easier communication. We watched and continue to watch each other embark on new relationships, new careers, new pet ownership and in general the writing of bright, new chapters of our lives.

Some of the relationships among group members are closer than others, but all of them grew starting with that first night.  My sense is that our group experienced the best that could be hoped for - but that we did not necessarily expect this outcome. I think this openness, this hopefulness, this desire to share and connect - without specific expectations about what that would look like or how it would work - were the ingredients that made our group's brew so special. Perhaps it's one more recipe worth sharing - along with the recipe for Monica's butterscotch chocolate-chip oatmeal cookies.

Our group would like to collectively thank Beth Warpmaeker, Wendy Osman, Bethlehem Lutheran, God and each other.

August 8, 2007

Membership

How do I become a member of Bethlehem?

At Bethlehem we believe that it is important for all new members to participate in the membership sessions. These sessions are designed to:

· learn to know you and your hopes and dreams for your faith journey at Bethlehem,

· explore and share our Christian faith,

· introduce you to many opportunities for ministry at Bethlehem, and

· assist you in building relationships in the Bethlehem community.

Becoming a member of Bethlehem is making a personal commitment to grow in your discipleship and to become a partner in the ministry of the church.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church warmly welcomes you to consider membership. We invite you to worship regularly with us and participate in education and ministry opportunities of interest to you. We are eager to answer your questions and assist you in making connections with your special interests and needs for ministry.

Membership Director

Pamela Paulson

612.312.3415

ppaulson@bethlehem-church.org

New Member series dates

Women's Retreat

Renew, Refresh, Replenish Your Spirit at the Bethlehem Women's Retreat
Saturday, April 19, 9:15-3:00 pm

Come for a day of laughter, relaxation, learning and fun, with women of all ages and all talents. Keynote speakers are Pastor Beth and Joan Pechauer, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. Take your pick from over 20 different sessions ranging from felting to finances to acupressure stress to yoga. Come and be empowered and leave feeling renewed, refreshed and replenished with the Spirit of God!

Cost is $35 for supplies and lunch. Scholarships are available. Open the attachment and check out all the opportunities. Sign up in the gallery on Sundays, April 6 & 13.